Hi all,

Just needed to share one success story to remind us all that sometimes we can
make a difference -- and sometimes, all it takes is listening and asking
questions and MOM can figure out the problem for herself:

Mom had called several times -- baby 3 weeks old, and said that she was at
her wits end.  For several feedings during the morning, and the two feedings
at night, baby was a basket case -- on & off the breast, screaming within
just a few minutes, and would take a LONG time to console.  Baby's weight
great -- yes, gulped & sometimes choked at the breast.  Yes, lots of milk.
 Easy, thought I.  Went through usual routine for several days -- bf only on
one side per feed; try & cut milk supply down somewhat....  no go.  She was
sure that wasn't it.  OK, lets observe a feed.

She came in a couple of days ago; we planned a time when baby was at his
worst (fortunately, she didn't opt for the 2:00 am feeding, but the 10:00 am
feeding!!).  Sure enough, punkin's weight is great, he latches on nicely to
the full br, suckles & gulps a bit, and starts fussing; on & off, on & off.
 But, he's taken only about 1 ounce.  Not much.  We play around with this for
awhile -- he finally takes about 2 1/2 ounces total....by this time, he has
come off the breast and is SCREAMING (much like Anne's English Muffin!!).
 He's unconsolable.  He's mad.  He's ballistic...you name it, he's it.  This
isn't just a bit too much milk to take at once.  Hmmmmm....

Nope, no allergies in the family.  We discuss dairy for awhile anyway -- she
doesn't take in too much.  "Just don't tell me I have to give up chocolate"
she says.  Bingo!  "Do you eat a lot?"  "Yeah, every day."  (You'd never know
it.  If I ate that much I would rival the Goodyear Blimp instead of just the
Fuji Blimp I do now...)  "And coffee...I have a cup of coffee in the morning
& a cup of decaf at night."  Another hmmmm.....  (Normally, I don't
discourage coffee; especially a relatively small amount like that).  "Would
you be willing to try giving up your coffee, even your decaf, and your
chocolate for two or three days and see if that works?"

She called me today.  "You must have switched babies on me.  He's a totally
different child.  Nurses contentedly and isn't having any fussy times.  I
can't believe it!"

Me neither -- but boy, I needed to hear that!  It's been a tough week.....

Jan Barger, in Wheaton, IL  where we have the most snow we've had in 3 years!