Presentation Information

How health care providers might use growth charts as an educational tool

• Speaker: Susan Burger , MHS, PHD, IBCLC
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 60 Mins
• Credits: 1 CERP, 1 Nursing CEU, 1 CME, .1 Midwifery CEU

Abstract:

Program experience suggests that growth charts may not be as useful for screening at-risk infants as they are for education and motivation. When mothers are concerned about their baby’s current weight, growth charts can be used to enhance the investigation into her concerns. The visual trajectory of the curve of the baby’s growth can be used to expand the conversation from “how is your baby feeding now” to “how did your baby’s feeding patterns change from this point of the curve to this point of the curve.” This enriches the context from which to delve into the underlying factors that drive the dynamics of growth and determine if any of those factors need to be modified. It can also deflect the tendency to “judge” babies based on how they compare against other babies. Case studies of how the visual display of curves might influence focus will be presented.