Appendix D
Procedure for Test-Weighing Infants to Assess Breastmilk Intake
Test-weighing involves weighing the clothed infant before and after the feeding under exactly the same conditions; the weight gain (in grams) is equal to the volume of milk consumed (in mLs). The accuracy and acceptability of in-home test weighing has been well documented. Appropriate electronic rental scales are portable, operate on household current or with batteries, and automatically calculate milk intake from the pre- and post-feed weights. Mothers are given a minimum amount of milk her baby should consume each day (not every 3 - 4 hours); this volume can be further divided into 6-hour or 12-hour volumes to ensure adequate hydration. For example, a mother might decide with her baby's doctor that she will measure intake at each breastfeeding and will complement breastfeedings after a 6-hour or 8-hour period of demand feeding.
