Lisa,
It seems to me that the most straightforward approach in helping this
mom is to take care of the biting problem.  The supply issue should
be easier to resolve with baby at the breast.  It may even take care of
itself.  Pumping and bottlefeeding is time-consuming, tiring, and often
disheartening, and this may impede mom's ability to manage her
depression.

Some tried and true anti-biting strategies include the following:

* keep a close eye on the baby, and intervene before biting happens
(baby must slide back from good latch position in order to bite, and
often this happens as a nursing session is winding down)

* take special care to focus on and interact with the baby while nursing

* consider what might be bothering the baby -- changes in home
environment, mother's busy-ness, etc

* for simple "experimental" biting, mom can pull baby into her breast
so that baby's nose is covered and breathing is blocked -- this will
make baby open mouth to breathe, and thus unlatch

I also second someone else's suggestion of the Breastfeeding
Answer Book for more anti-biting ideas.

Margaret
LLLL
Longmont, Colorado
(back reading Lactnet as I nurse my new babe-in-arms, a boy born at
home October 5th!)

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