Lactnetters, I am currently working with a mother who appears quite "spacey". She has a baby whose weight gain has been inadequate (still at birth weight at 3 weeks/at 3.5 week recheck weight was down 1.7 ounces). She has a rash that she claims is from a reaction to amoxicillan. She handles her baby poorly and doesn't grasp instruction well. She has virtually no support system in place. After the second visit, where I sent her home with instructions to feed the baby, full supplement of ABM I called the pediatrician. His take on her was that she has a low IQ (he estimated 80-90) and was not capable of making decisions but must be told what to do each step of the way. He was very nice and concerned and also informed me that he intended to tell the mother to stop breastfeeding and bottlefeed because he felt that she wasn't capable to doing breastfeeding with supplementation without becoming confused. He felt the rash was definately not from antibiotics but rather scabbies or severe eczema that is further aggrivated by nerves. Last night I had a call from an LLL Leader who also happens to work at the clinic where I saw this mother. The mother called and wanted meeting information and informed the leader that she was working with an LC and giving some supplement as needed. The mother has an appointment to see me today. Any information any of you have about working with low functioning adults, tips on social services that may be able to step in and provide some assistance and support, other thoughts would be appreciated. I intend to explore other local resources today also but would appreciate your input. While I do have some expereience with this population it was in a much smaller community than southern CA where I could drop by daily on my way home from work and provide some information and support. This is not realistic here. Denise Parker, BA, IBCLC