Okay, wise ones.  I know this topic has been brought up probably countless
times, and I have delved into the archives, but I wondered if anyone had
any further helpful musings to contribute for this distraught mom.

Baby girl is seven weeks old; mother breastfed two of her three other
children. Baby had been on bottle for first (?) two weeks due to mother's
antibiotics (I know, I know; but I didn't go there on this call), but
since going to breast has been attached nonstop (smart girl). Now, mom has
to go back to work in one week and has been trying to get baby to take
other feeding methods, all without success (dropper, cup, different
bottles given by different family members and by mom, at different times
of day). Basically, mom is frantic and very worried that her baby will do
nothing but cry during her absence, thereby jeopardizing her placement
with the caregivers.

Mother works for the NYC Board of Education -- for those who aren't
familiar, this is the ultimate bureaucratic machine, so I was surprised
this lady was even able to extend her maternity leave by two weeks. Baby
will be cared for in a daycare setting eight blocks from mom's work. There
are no family members available, nor is a private nanny a possibility.
There will be 10 babies, of whom this little girl is the youngest; mom
thinks there are around four caregivers. Just to give you an idea of the
background.

We discussed that this little one is especially sensitive and needs her
mom very much. (Previous child had accepted bottle.) This seems to me to
be more a case of baby needing to be in mom's arms, doing lots of comfort
suckling, rather than a matter of feeding. But we also discussed using a
slow-flow bottle and having caregiver simulate a breastfeeding experience
as closely as possible (i.e. have baby initiate feed, control amount and
pace of feed); finding  a piece of mom's clothing to wrap bottle in or use
around baby; sitting caregiver team down to discuss importance of holding
baby; having mom come to nurse baby during lunch hour; pumping during work
(mom said she'll be able to)...

I let the mom know how vital this time is that she has to be with her
baby, and that it is important to make the most of this exclusive nursing
period. It's going to be stressful enough, as it is, for both of them. But
I also would like to know if anyone has any particular recommendation for
a slower-flow nipple, just to have something concrete to have the family
try. And, of course, if anyone has additional suggestions that might be
helpful...

Thanks so much!

Warmly,
Marjorie





Marjorie Vera
LLLL in Brooklyn, NY

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