Hi Amy,
I think that you've probably done a good job of showing and explaining
asymmetrical latch.  But there comes a time when Mom and baby just need to
practice.  Over and over and over.  Not every latch will be as effective but
over time they should get better.  I tend to follow-up every day after a
consult to see if the mom feels that she is getting better at the latch.  I
lend them the video to watch in the middle of the night, when I'm not there.
If latch is not improving, we do an in person follow-up.

I know that I can watch a video on how to do something and read about it,
but when it comes to actually doing it, I seldom get it right the first time
or the second or even the third.  It depends.  Some women are more spatially
oriented, more coordinated and pick up positioning fairly quickly.  Some
women take longer.  Just like some babies take longer to figure out that
they need to keep their tongue down.

I try to encourage the mom to be forgiving of both herself and her baby.  To
remember that they are both learning a new skill and that it will take
practice to get easier.  I think that many women expect to be perfect at
every mothering skill immediately and get really down on themselves if
something is difficult.

As for other methods to get the point across, I sometimes have mom or dad
use their thumb in their mouth with the nail toward the roof of their
mouth... to show them where we want the baby's tongue to be.  I liken the
nail bed and part of the thumb around the nail to the nipple.  I've seen
light bulbs go off over heads with that demonstration.

Regards,
Cindi Swisher, IBCLC
Colorado Springs, CO

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lactation Information and Discussion
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of amyibclc
> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2003 6:10 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: teaching asymmetrical latch
>
>
> Does anyone have the perfect tip for teaching new moms the
> asymmetrical latch, or if we aren't sure that's the perfect
> thing, just a deeper latch?  I have Rebecca Glover's Follow Me

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