Did these mothers have epidurals during labour? I've seen similar behaviours 
at times with babies whose mothers have had epidurals, especially when it 
was administered for many hours. The baby will latch on nicely but then 
doesn't seem to know what to do. Just sits there with the nipple in his 
mouth.

Obviously this doesn't happen with all post-epidural babies and I think your 
comment on the anatomy is interesting. I wonder if it's the combination - 
the epidural somehow reduces the sucking reflex in general, but then the 
anatomy you describe means the baby isn't gettting the breast/palate contact 
he needs to signal "suck now, get milk!"

Sometimes I've found using a nipple shield helps these mothers, I'm assuming 
because it gives the baby more pressure inside his mouth to stimulate 
sucking.

Teresa 

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