Thanks to Kathy and Melissa for this discussion.  I've also worked with a few
of these dyads, including some family members and have and the great fortune
to find a wonderful OT who understands the breastfeeding infant, both from
her personal and professional experiences.  Together we have been able to
learn quite a bit to help mothers.

While sensory problems are often found in babies with autism or birth trauma,
the fact of the matter is that sometimes there is no known etiology and the
baby may seem normal in virtually every other way.  There are so many
unknowns.  We also know that there are developmental disorders that fall
short of diagnoses such as Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder., but
are exemplified by these sensory problems.

<<Andrew is both hypo- and
hyper-sensitive to touch, but primarily he is a sensory seeker>>

This is one of the things that is so confounding (and a current bone of
contention in a professional discussion I'm participating in) .  Some of
these kids *crave* sensory input, hence chewing holes in things, while others
avoid it like crazy, hence breast refusal or possible weird suckling.  Then
there are the most confusing--those who avoid, then crave, then avoid the
exact same sensation but at different times/settings.  I am convinced that a
lot of these babies drop through the breastfeeding black hole because of the
tremendous lack of information for those of us who do the breastfeeding work.
 I'm hoping that the near future will hold much more professional exchange on
this topic.

Meanwhile, other resources for those interested:  The work of the late Jean
Ayers Ph.D., particularly a little booklet, "Sensory Integration and the
Child", is a good primer.  Also about 6 months ago or so, Parents magazine
had an article entitled "The Child who didn't like Hugs".  And, if you know a
Family Therapist who takes the Networker magazine, they also did a good
article about 4 months ago (I'm sorry I don't have exact references--they are
at my office.)

Nancy Williams, MA, MFT, CCE, IBCLC

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