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From:
"Jennifer Tow, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sun, 13 Feb 2011 11:37:03 -0500
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 Coconut oil can be purchased ion any health food store and many large supermarkets, although I prefer moms us organic, it is still better than meds either way. When I works with many of my clients who have complex feeding problems, coconut oil becomes household staple as it is so important for gut health and skin health. Never wash it off--it soaks in quickly. Use after every feeding--more if wanted. It is very soothing and healing. 

Another person asked me privately about using calendula and I want to post my response for anyone interested:

No need to wash off--just use after feedings. Use the calendula and hypericum in tincture forms. Use one dropper of each to the equivalent of 10 droppers of water (or about a 1/4-1/3 cup) Otherwise it will burn, as it is in alcohol. Take a cotton ball and soak with the solution and squeeze over the nipples after each feeding. Don't double-dip and she can use it until gone. The hypericum is for pain. If pain is not so bad, she can actually get calendula oil which she would not dilute and use just that. Yes, calendula is very effective at regranulating tissue and brings about rapid healing. It is very effective for healing perineal wounds as well.

I like medi-honey as well, but coconut oil and herbs are easy to find. When I have attended births with nasty tears, I have used people-paste with great efficacy--raw honey mixed with goldenseal powder, BUT you cannot apply goldenseal to the nipples, so I would either use it alone or maybe with calendula if I had some.

As to TT, it is challenging to be in your position and you are far from alone. We just had another meeting of the IATP (the International Affiliation of TT Professionals) yesterday and are working hard to create consistent assessment and treatment information. It is complicated, given that there are so many different practitioners who treat and with different tools and in different environments. The best advice I can give you as to take this on as your own issue. I just could not tolerate babies not feeding bc peds knew nothing about TT. I think that all of us who have been successful with TT have had to do just that. We had to educate, find practitioners, travel to learn and then persuade practitioners to work with us. Look for an ENT, ped, oral surgeon, GP, anyone who might be interested. I went to Long Island from CT to learn from Betty Coryllos and invited her to CT to teach our doctor. I worked with a chiropractor and sucked her into working and learning with me. I think many others have taken the same approach. I hope that helps, a little.
J

 

Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA)
Intuitive Parenting Network, LLC
 





Date:    Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:52:40 -0500

From:    "Shannon Sanford, IBCLC" <[log in to unmask]>

Subject: Topical Nipple Treatments and Tongue-Tie



Pardon my ignorance here, but is Medihoney a prescription-only item?  

(I found the manufacturer's website and read about it, but could not tell if it 

was a prescription item.)



Secondly, I have recently read several posts about the use of coconut oil for 

some nipple wounds...

Where does a mom locate coconut oil if she wants to try it?   



Both of these are new ideas to me and I am very excited to learn of them! 



How often should these substances be applied?  

Do they soak in well and rather rapidly so that the next feeding is not of a 

concern?

How long might a mom utilize this remedy?



Please, teach me - wise ones!



I hate to keep "bugging" everyone for answers to what I feel like should be 

"basic knowledge" questions, but I am moving through my own steep learning curve 

right now.  After many years in a hospital setting (thus, primarily having 

contact only with newborn/NICU baby and with limited opportunities to ever see 

them again after discharge), I have successfully transitioned into private 

practice.  I am now cognitively working to bring my book-learned knowledge to 

life as I meet new clients.  Knowing about something and the experience of 

seeing something can still be quite different from knowing that you are seeing 

THE something!  (If that makes sense.)  Tongue-tie is driving me crazy!  I 

believe.  And, I know, that I am seeing babies that could benefit from a 

release.  I am very comfortable to tell a mom that in light of x,y, and z, it is 

my professional opinion that her baby could be nursing better if...and the 

reason why is...  But, throughout my entire lactational career, I have never 

once had the opportunity to be with a knowledgable LC as she hands me a baby, 

tells me to confirm the absolute presence of the Grade III or IV tongue tie 

because "this" is what I am seeing and "that" is what I am feeling.  

Never-the-less, I soldier on.  I have read and re-read every resource that I can 

get my hands about this topic.  I hand out "reams" of resources on this topic to 

moms that need it.  Then, their doctor does the dutifully requested "oral exam" 

and laughs at the whole idea (function? puh-shaw!) and discourages further 

action.  I  can stand and argue the virtue and importance of tongue function 

with them anyday, but I honestly find it challenging to reach deep within myself 

and find the confidence to challenge them specifically about precisely this one 

particular baby because...  Am I alone when I feel this way?  I often wonder how 

the "wise ones" got to be so wise.  Who was there 25+ years back, helping them 

gain their own confidence while they gained their own experience?



So, on that note, please be gentle with me as I ask this last question...



If a small, near-term baby is not effectively transferring milk (even with a 

correctly fitted shield) and TT is strongly suspected (but not confidently 

confirmed) AND poor fit is certainly an obvious part of the problem as well (if 

not THE problem), how much time might pass watching a little baby grow big 

enough to eliminate poor fit as any further part of the problem?  Logically, I 

would think that if the problem does not improve as a small baby grows, then 

(with or without a doctor's confirmation), TT must be the best explanation.  

Does poor fit change after weeks or after months? What have you seen?  



Shannon RN, IBCLC (...craving new knowledge, down here in the heart of Texas)



 

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