An Egyptian woman who is here in this country with her husband (in school?)
has a 2 month old, her first.   She was told after one week that she had to
give formula because he was losing wt.   So, she nurses him first, then
gives pumped brmilk, or formula, and so the day goes.  He, however, has
been very colicky since the 2nd week, and she is getting so tired of not
being able to keep him from crying.   We will be able to meet this Tues,
when I will give her more tips on increasing milk supply--two reasons: l.
to see if exclusive brmilk will help the colic  2.  to help her get him to
latch on  for an efficient nursing, so she can at least stop pumping.
    She says when she holds him, he is quiet, so I will offer her a baby
sling so she will be able to carry him more without back strain.  He now
weighs 15#.   Definitely, not fading away!
My question:   Is the orange blossom water she started giving him yesterday
likely to help his colic?   Any other suggestions for her?

Met a wonderful mom of a 5 mo old who can only get baby to nurse 2X/d, and
she pumps and feeds her brmilk from the bottle.  She called me because her
supply is starting to dwindle.   We will be meeting next week to see if the
suggestions I made have worked to increase breastmilk.   Then I will see if
she would like to get the baby on the breast---wonder what the success rate
of training back to breast is?

While I am impressed with these mothers for their dedication, I am dismayed
that pumps and either improper advice or lack of followup, have gotten them
in the predicament they are in.     Does anyone else see that pumps given
in the first few weeks or months, can often have negative effects?
Love our connections here at lactnet!   Michelle Scott, RD,MA,IBCLC