Denise,

<<Second, and more difficult, is a term kiddo of difficult delivery with vacuum
extraction who from the first had this problem. When tried at breast (with my
help), baby acts like a nipple pref. baby-screams, fights, etc. I noted that
she did NOT like her head held at ALL, even behind the neck, and fussed when
you turned her head, esp. to the right. She also had a bit of a grimace at
rest, as tho she were not comfortable.>>

After some almost miracle cures in babies who present like this, I would suggest
a chiropractic consult if baby is still reacting this way in a couple of days.
It makes perfect sense to me that babies who have traumatic births have
sustained a lot of traction on their cervical (neck) area.  If something is out
of whack (note the use of clinical terms--it's almost midnight) in that area, I
can understand why some babies have trouble with positioning at the breast
and/or suckling correctly.  (Have you ever slept funny and woke up with a stiff
neck that you can barely turn?)  I have heard other LC's refer to cranio-sacral
therapists for similar situations (don't have any of those around here).

I usually ask the parents if they have ever seen a chiropractor; if so, did they
like him/her and does he/she treat babies.  If they are not familiar with
anyone, I know several that have given very good results that I trust, and I
will give out their names.  All the ones "my" parents have dealt with have been
extremely gentle, and the manipulation is described by the parents as more like
a massage of the area--no cracking of any baby body parts!  I would be careful
of recommending just anybody--there are nuts out there.  I've also learned to be
very careful about how I present this as a possibility--I tell about how chiro's
have helped similar babies I have seen, that there's a good chance their MD will
think this is advice from the devil himself, but that I think they deserve to
know all the possibilities.  I've had quite a few mothers go reluctantly, in
desperation, and later call to thank me and offering to be a reference for the
next mother.

Hope this helps--if you want to hear about some of the "miracles," I'll be at
ILCA.

Becky Krumwiede, RN, IBCLC
73741.2117Wcompuserve.com
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