Someone asked whether the weight of the FTT baby I discussed the other day
was in lbs and tenths of a lb. He was 4lb and (now I can't recall exactly
but I think) 14 oz. Birth weight was over 6 lbs.  I too have found that once
preemies (esp) lose this much they can't make any of their oral motor
functions work very well.  Which is why getting milk into them how ever you
can often improves nursing so much.  I communicated to the pedi that I was
not sure what exactly was happening:  whether FTT was due to organic or
neurological or congenital issues, or that management got off to such a poor
start that the oral-motor dysfunction is secondary to starvation. It's a
real chicken or egg situation that must be sorted out, however, as Coach
Smith always reminds us, rule # 1 is FEED THE BABY. To somewhat complicate
matters, the parents are from Taiwan, very sweet, but there is the whole
issue of their being far from home (they are students at UT) and in a
strange culture speaking a 2nd lang.

BTW, someone posted yest. about a baby with RSV who has a lousy suck.  In
the OT/PT lit. this is mentioned as an illnes that can mess up sucking and
compromises respirations to the extent that the work of feeding is
considerably increased (rough on a sick baby who has puny energy.) These
little people may need assistance.  RSV lasts a while (6 weeks?) so don't
expect resolution over night.  Keep mom pumping like crazy, praise her for
offering the immune factors and perfect nutrition to baby, and reassure her
suck will improve as health returns.  In the meantime, remember to feed the
baby generously and don't expect it to do more than it can.

Barbara

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BS, IBCLC
Private Practice, Austin, Texas
Owner, Lactnews On-Line Conference Page
http://moontower.com/bwc/lactnews.html