This is a response to Annelies Bon, who posted on breastfeeding after a
breast reduction.
   You may find it encouraging to hear of some other women who
hand-expressed or pumped their breasts for an extended period. The
longest time of the women I've supported personally was achieved by a
mother who hand-expressed for 8 months for a baby with a cleft palate.
I know of others who, for various reasons, have done so for similar
times, including a woman (in my current research)who  hand expressed for
8 months for each of three babies (i.e. 3x8 months) some years ago.
Isn't she wonderful!
   When I mentioned this at a recent Queensland Lactation College
meeting, a colleague mentioned that the longest she knew of was 18
months.  I'm not sure if that was pumping or hand expressing.  Anneleis,
you are doing a great job already, and I hope the above comments give
you courage to continue.  You've already learnt so much and it is great
that you have shared it.
   The other point from Anneleis's letter I'd like to comment on is the
use of the so-called *orthodontic* teats.  Here in Brisbane, a lot of us
discourage mothers from using these as we are not happy about the sort
of suck encouraged, which is forced to flatten or triangulate the rigid
nipple.  If the same action is done on Mum's nipple - OUCH!!! Anyway,
the design pre-dated by many years the research by Mike Woolridge on
what actually DOES happen in the baby's mouth during breastfeeding.
SEE:
*Denise Drane's article in Breastfeeding Reeview (I think it was May
'97), and
*Robyn Noble and Anne Bovey's article, also in BF Review (Nov. '97).
   Cheers,
          Virginia
          Virginia Thorley, OAM, IBCLC
          (Lactation consultant in private practice)

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