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Subject:
From:
Pamela Morrison IBCLC <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 28 Apr 1997 01:37:00 GMT+0200
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Anne asked how it is that some babies will latch easily for the first two
days of life and then "forget" what to do. I heard a good reason for this
from a paediatrician. Pethedine administered to the mother for pain-relief
during labour can have a negative impact on the baby's sucking and latching
abilities which may last for four days (I've seen somewhere this can last
for up to 10 days).  Sometimes the baby is given the antidote naloxone after
delivery, to reverse the effects of the pethedine received via the placenta.
The naloxone wears off after two days.  Thus the baby latches easily for two
days, then forgets when the naloxone wears off.  Perhaps someone else could
put this into more technical language for us?  But I've seen this phenomenon
too Anne, and this "explanation" makes sense to me!

Another possibility is as you suggest - the breast feels different.  As the
milk starts to come in the breast becomes firmer and the baby is unable to
take such a nice, large, squashy mouthful, this may be more noticeable where
the mother has less protruberant nipples.  Mother may need to express milk
before latching to make the areola as soft and elastic as it was in the
first two days.

Outrageous that someone else (clearly with less expertise!) took over your
consult for you though!

Pamela, Zimbabwe

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