I'm back on the lactnet after weeks of travelling, including 12 days in Thailand checking out their breastfeeding project. Very impressive, will post about it soon. Meanwhile I have weeks of Lactnets to compete with sleep and all the other work that has piled up in my absences. As an OT (occupational therapist) and IBCLC I have seen a few breastfeeding babies with neurological problems and all I can say is that thare are no general rules. It depends where the damage is. The most damaged baby I have worked with was deaf, almost blind, had only half of her brain developed - and breastfed beautifully with no sucking problems. Mother needed heaps of support to cope with her depression and its subsequent impact on her relationship with the baby, plus medication issues. Unfortunately the mother did not breastfeed for long, but three years later this very disabled child was still easy to feed solids to. Anyone who has ever spent time with disabled children will know what a blessing it is when feeding is not a difficult, frustrating, time consuming part of the day. On the other end of the scale are babies who have difficulty with breastfeeding and then show developmental delays. I always watch for other problems in babies who I can't get to the breast successfully. Some turn out to have problems, some are fine. There are no general rules and few predictors. Ros Escott Tasmania, Australia