Five Finger Rule???

[sweetfiend]

My friend has a newborn (c-section), now a month old. The baby hasn't been gaining weight as fast as the ped would like (I have no details, but the baby is alert, happy) so the ped recommended a lactation consultation. Weirdly, I thought, the consultant is is a city 25 miles away and we have many right here in town, but oh well.

The consultant told my friend that she must supplement because her breasts violate the "5 finger rule" which is that if you can put 5 fingers between your breasts without touching the breasts, you are "too small to breastfeed." She also said that she was shocked that the hospital nurses hadn't told my friend this.

To my friend's credit so is continuing to breastfeed and to pump (although she gets very little), but now the babe is half on formula too

Has anyone heard of the 5 finger rule?

[laohaire]

Um..... no...

[sunflowerkelli]

WTH?! No!

[Mama~Love]

Breast size is NO indication of a woman's ability to breastfeed. I know there are rare conditions where some can't, but for the most part, most women can. What a dumb-a$$ rule! Where in the world did she get that misinformation from?!?

[asunlitrose]

Completely incorrect.

[sweetfiend]

Well, I'm glad I'm not misinformed (like the lactation consultant may be). I am sooooo tired of dealing with the mounds of misinformation my poor friend has been given. She has been a victim of the medical establishment every step of her pregnancy and birth. I kind of thought things would settle down after the baby, but no.

The ped's office has two scales and they are not calibrated. They weigh almost a pound different! So you can imagine how accurate the medical advice that they give new mothers is.

Sigh.

[Ellien C]

Well - dang. someone should have told my 5 yo and I that we couldn't BF! We weaned at 4.5 and had no issues, never needed to supplement.

My breasts have gone from size - "nearly A" to "A". I don't wear a bra to work and never even needed on while jogging or doing rigorous exercise. The LC is WAY off base and she should find another one. Just move on - fine a new LC. I have this secret unconfirmed notion that there are more bad LCs than good ones out there.

[Banana731]

Originally Posted by Ellien C

I have this secret unconfirmed notion that there are more bad LCs than good ones out there.

I think you are unfortunately, correct. An LC who claims to have studied with Jack Newman told my sister to pump for stop nursing and pump for 48 hours to see if her supply was adequate. I'm so sure Newman taught her that one...

one of the "symptoms" of IGT can be breasts that are widely spaced apart, but IGT is so rare and so difficult to diagnose acurately that I can't imagine why a BF professional would say something so stupid to your friend.

[rmzbm]

5 fingers? That's the weirdest thing I've ever heard...

[tbone_kneegrabber]

I violate the 5 finger rule (just checked because I had never heard of it) and my 11 month old 25lb 5oz baby seems to be just fine!

[MiamiMami]

I think one of the characteristics of hypoplastic breasts is that you can fit your fist between them. However, that alone is not the way to determine whether or not she can produce an adequate milk supply.

Please have your friend see another LC asap.

[homewithtwinsmama]

Not only is that crazy, but that LC ought to be reported to her certifying organization. That is insane. BUT, I had another LC tell a client after feeling her up that she didn't have enough milk ducts and had to supplement. After nearly ending her supply I helped the client build back up to exclusive nursing with no problems. There are some seriously scary LCs out there!!!!!

[marisa724]

Like MiamiMami said, there *is* a condition where one of the indicators is widely-spaced, tube-shaped breasts, and this *can* cause a mom to have a low supply (insufficient breast tissue). But this "diagnosis" sounds kind of flippant and shouldn't be taken as the "last word" on the subject. She should get a second (and maybe third!) opinion, at least!

This is a great site about hypoplastic breasts, and small breasts in general, w/ regards to breastfeeding: http://www.007b.com/breast_size_breastfeeding.php

[Llyra]

When I'm not lactating, I HAVE no breasts. They're what you'd call AAA-- training bra size. And yet I've breastfed twins with no trouble. Breast size itself means nothing.

Insufficient glandular tissue does happen. But a "five-finger" rule sounds like BS to me.

[Apple Girl]

Wow, according to that rule I shouldn't be able to tandem nurse my 2 year old and 2 month old. And yet, here I am.

My youngest is 95th percentile for weight... so I figure he must be getting SOME food from them... especially since he gets no formula. Unless he's a new breed of baby that can gain weight without food.

[Tine]

Just another eensy-weensy-boober chiming in here. I have AAs. They were A at their largest. And somehow I managed nearly four full years of breastfeeding, and nary a drop of formula ever crossed my kiddos' lips.

: to that LC

[bandgeek]

That's quite possibly one of the craziest things I've ever heard in my life.

[mytwogirls]

Originally Posted by Apple Girl

Unless he's a new breed of baby that can gain weight without food.

Hahaha! Good one! And I completely agree....NO SUCH THING AS FIVE FINGER RULE!!!!! What a load of bull doo doo.

[Mosaic]

Hee hee... I'm sorry, that's just so bizarre I can't help but laugh.

I wonder if that consultant also bought that sweet little seaside cottage in Utah or the won the Nigerian lotto.

[MommytoHHH]

I wonder if she is really a LC? Wow. Never heard that. I hope that your friend can see someone how is knowlegeable and helpful.