Today I saw a mom who brought her 8 week old in for a visit.  Beautiful
chubby 13 pound baby.  Hair sticking straight up in the air.  I asked her
about family history of allergies, just as an aside.  She stated that her
first child who is now 8 was not breastfed and has been very sick with
allergies his whole life.  Interesting........

Also working with a mom who had a baby about midnight on June 30th, so she
is almost 2 days old now.
This mom had a long labor, a vback,  and the first epidural she got "didn't
take"  so she got another one.
This little baby eagerly opens her mouth and latches to the breast- then
nothing.  She shakes her head back and forth, and begins to cry.  She will
relatch and then repeat the whole scenario.  I was hoping she would be
improved by today, but still no suck.  Mom is pumping and syringe feeding
colostrum. MD is supportive.
I have seen this before in babies whose mom had a "missed epidural" and
wonder if it is a fairly common reaction to the epidural medication, which
has gone someplace.  I'm not getting much support for my theory but have
seen it before.  In fact I asked mom about the repeat epidural before she
told me, because the behavior looked familiar.  Anybody else seen this? 
How long before the little one will be able to sustain a suck?  Dad is
getting worried.  Mom is laid back and willing to syringe feed a day or so
more. Encouraged skin to skin and frequent pumping and small feeds. 
Suggestions?

Ann Calandro,RNC,IBCLC