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Mon, 9 Sep 1996 12:36:16 -0700 |
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Karen,
There are many ways to help a baby suck better. I hope there is an LC in
your area that knows how to help infants suck better. Usually gumming
and biting happens when the baby's tongue is retracted, due to habit,
guarding the palate or airway, a short frenulum, or low or high tone. I
have posted on this ad nauseum, look in the archives.
In the case you cite, I would suspect a short frenulum/tongue-tie
as this is the second baby this mom has that has caused sore nipples
(this is a hereditary condition). She can have the frenulum evaluated by
a dentist, oral surgeon, pediatric surgeon, or ENT. Ask around for one
who is experienced with frenotomy in newborns. Sometimes breastfeeding
management changes can help: positioning the baby in a football hold, as
upright as possible, and making sure the tongue contacts the breast
first; eliciting a wide gape before baby is allowed to latch on; having
mom lean back so gravity assists the tongue in extending.
It is sometimes appropriate to encourage a mom on the verge of
giving up bf to use alternative feeding methods to give her sore nipples
a break, this needs to be done very carefully. Some tongue-tied babies
choke a lot or bottle feed ineffectively.
--
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC NYC [log in to unmask]
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