Cheryl,
I see the "falling asleep as soon as they hit the breast" syndrome to be
common in babies who can't seem to figure out breastfeeding. What they
are actually doing is shutting down, telling us that they are frustrated
and *just don't get it*---- yet. Many new parents interpret this as
either sleepiness (and let them sleep, aargh!) or rejection, but it is
neither. I prefer to finger feed this baby---- some may prefer a nipple
shield--- because it is necessary to insert some kind of firm object over
the tongue and start accustoming baby to relating nourishment with tongue
UNDER the nourisher. What you need to do is allow this, and buy time for
baby. We can't push for results too quickly, we must let baby take her
time in coming 'round to this conclusion herself. Sometimes, after having
fed alternately for a bit and having the tongue kept down by
finger/nipple, you can switch baby quickly to breast, shaping the breast
as firmly beforehand as possible. But again, TIME is usually the
necessary ingredient, along with the positive feeding reinforcement in
the meantime.
-Lisa

******************************************************************************
Lisa A. Marasco, IBCLC                                /  [log in to unmask]
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant    /  [log in to unmask]

******************************************************************************