Hi All,

 

Permission to post:

 

Baby born (by c-sec) at term on 4-22-06.  Had serious breast aversion issues
due to routine forcing to the breast in the first 3 days.  Baby has a
somewhat high palate but not really high.

 

After several days of skin to skin, no attempt at breast, etc I saw mom
(4-27).  Baby could not latch or BF well at all.  Did a suck eval and the
suck was all off - very disorganized.  We tried with a nipple shield to see
if that would help - no milk transfer, but baby loved it!  Mom continued
with pumping (great supply!) skin to skin and worked with suck training.
Mom put baby to breast with and without shield several times a day and as
soon as she started hearing swallows and feeling that firm tug got a scale
and started doing test weights.

 

I came back on 5-10 due to soreness with mom's nipples whenever baby latched
without the shield.  Suck was still a bit off, baby's milk transfer wasn't
great, but had been improving a little each day.  We went back to using the
shield and baby got a great transfer of milk.  So mom continued to use the
shield and has been able to NOT do any supplementation by bottle for several
weeks now.  They have not had me come back because baby is nursing very well
- with the shield.  They returned the scale and are watching the baby (pee
and poop and gain like crazy!)

 

Mom called yesterday - she wants to try to wean off the shield - BUT every
time baby latches without the shield (which she will) the latch is weak and
baby can slide right off the breast as if there is no suction whatsoever and
baby gets little to no milk transfer.  WITH the shield baby maintains a
strong latch - gets lots of milk and does just fine.  Obviously I need to go
back and do another suck eval - BUT my question is why would a full term
baby (now 6.5 wks old) have this latch that reminds me of a premie who needs
a nipple shield to maintain suction and stability?  Maybe I am just really
tired lately (I am, actually) but what am I missing here?  Could the higher
than average palate (which isn't the highest I've ever seen) be causing this
issue?  

 

All input and ideas will be greatly appreciated.

 

Warmly,

Jaye

 

PS - mom has no problem using the shield, but I am concerned - it's one
thing when the baby doesn't want to give it up - another when the (term)
baby can't successfully BF without it.


             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html