MER = let-down reflex.  Of course you have to have MER to successfully
breastfeed.  This is the problem with mothers who have had breast surgery
where the nerve connections and/or ducts have been severed.  The baby sends
the signal by suckling on the breast, but the nerves don't take the message
to the brain.  Oxytocin increases occur regularly even when the breast is not
being suckled (I remeber one study that showed increases every 1/2 hour in
the less than 2 month postpartum period and every 4 hours later).  Remember
Niles Newton's classic research on MER?  It is extremely doubtful that such a
mechanism basic to human survival would NOT be present.  Mothers may not feel
the MER or the MER may not function optimally with opposition of adrenalin,
but it still is there.  So often professionals pick the technically rare
possible cause of a problem (low weight gain, etc.) instead of the more
obvious latch-on problem.  It's much easier to hand out a pill than put your
hands on someone and actually HELP them fix the real problem.  It's TOO
SIMPLE!  Yet, not simple.  A friend of mine (MD) who just sat the IBCLC exam
said she had to take off her doctor cap to take the exam.  Thank goodness for
everyone out there that is willing to put away their degree, etc and use
their eyes, hands and heart.
Just my .02.

Jane Kershaw  mailto:[log in to unmask]