Dear Gima
These cases are really sent to try us! I was working with a mother and baby
recently who had a very poor suck - he was originally gavaged because of
other problems. He was unable to suck on a bottle, but took to cupfeeding
very well. He was impossible to latch at the breast, but seemed to do
better with a nipple shield. He couldn't even suck milk from a tube(finger
feeding). A couple days later it was found that he had a small cleft in his
soft palate! I know this doesn't help your problem but I thought I'd share
it with you.
Have you tried a bath (as per Mandy & Matt)? This baby had a tough start -
induction, vigorous suctioning, etc. A warm bath with his mother may help
to 're-enact the instinctive breast-seeking behaviours that are seen in
newborns who are allowed prolonged skin contact at birth' (quote from Joy
Johnston, Online Birth Center News, 10 June, 1998).

Regards, Roslyn Draper, Midwife, IBCLC, Melboune, Australia.
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