A session entitled: Women with physical disabilities who choose to bf:
Can lactation consultants make a difference? presented by Noreen
Siebenaler, RN, MSN, LCCE, IBCLC and Judi Rogers OTR/L at ILCA this year
had some information that might help this mother. Perhaps you could buy
the tape and get more info, but from my notes and my memory, some
suggestions include:
feeding in a babysling adapted with a rubberized flannelized cloth (the
ones people put under baby's bottom on the changing table or crib) to
keep baby from slipping around.
Slings, annaproducts giant pillow, kidcozy, boppy may be helpful.
Instruct mom to use trunk to help pick baby up as well to avoid overuse
of arms and wrist.
Specialty bra- hole cut in a bra to pull back the nipple and areola a
little for better access and shaping without hands.
Positioning and latch – off center latch, rolled towel under breast,
latch using one hand.
Udderly yours breast pillow under breast to hold it if it needs lifting.
Through the Looking Glass – online support for moms with disabilities.
http://lookingglass.org/index.php
Personally, I would suggest sidelying on the side with no arm, then
using the arm she does have to position her baby lower against her body
than she thinks she should. This leads to a nice asymmetrical latch. To
breastfeed using the upper breast, mom pushes baby away from her a bit,
and rolls down almost onto her belly, so the upper breast is now
accessible to the baby.
She could also recline or lay on her back in a chair or couch, and place
baby on her trunk, and let baby self attach. Babies are very capable.
Often getting breastfeeding right requires making it work for mom -
getting her comfortable, and teaching her to bring baby close enough so
that the baby's chin touches the breast and the nipple touches the
philtrum (the ridge between baby's nose and mouth) and baby does the rest.
I'd encourage you to check out mom's environment, think about what
things you usually teach that would be inapplicable to this mother, and
think of ways to adapt them.
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC NYC
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