Dear Lactnetters,

Yet another "if we keep up the milk supply, the baby will eventually get
it".  For your information.  No strokes for me, just for the mother.  But it
tells you about the importance of encouraging the mothers to keep going.

By the way, I would have suggested, and probably did, that the mother not
continue finger feeding for that long. (I know that this is a mother I did
not see personally, because we don't use syringes for finger feeding, a
complication most mothers do not need, and which is not necessary).  Too
tiring.  It seems that *switching* feeding techniques around 2 or 3 weeks
does wonders.  So, in this case going from finger feeding to bottle feeding.
In other cases instituting finger feeding, at least just before attempting
the baby on the breast.  In others, going to a nipple shield (note at 2 or 3
weeks, when the mother has an abundant supply), not a 2 or 3 days, which
still drives me crazy.

I'm not sure what studies she refers to, just that this is something I've
noticed (the baby will take the breast regardless between 4 and 8 weeks, *as
long as the mother's supply is good*).

I won't comment on what the pediatrician said.  (My usual good taste and
diplomatic approach).

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

"I am writing to follow up on my previous requests for help, to which you
both so kindly and thoroughly responded time and again.

Last Friday, for the first time in almost five-week-long life, and
consistent with what you have written about, Dr. Newman, regarding the
four-to-eight-week window for "getting it," William latched and nursed.  I'm
still in shock.

I had turned an emotional corner the previous day (the whole process was
wearing on me, to say the least) and took the day off from finger-feeding,
skin-to-skin time, baths, etc., and only offered bottles and snuggles to
William.  On Friday morning, William seemed hungry at around 8AM, so I
prepared
my finger-feeding stuff (syringe, nursing pillow) and sat down with him,
took off my shirt and offered him my breast first. I wasn't even paying much
attention.

LO AND BEHOLD, HE LATCHED AND HE ***NURSED***. He nursed for about 10-15
minutes on each side, and I got a great letdown that kept him going.  You
can't imagine (or maybe you can!) the elation that I felt.

A half-hour later, he seemed hungry again, so I offered it again, and he
latched and nursed for another 15 minutes. He fell asleep at my breast.
THIS is what I've been wanting so badly for for the past month.

Since then, he's nursed almost 100%.  We had three rough spots last night
and I had to resort to finger-feeding him (~yawn~), but he hasn't had a
bottle for 36 hours.  I really think - for the first time in any meaningful
way - that this might actually happen.  I am beside myself with relief and
happiness.


Had you not encouraged me, and had you not published your studies regarding
the 4-8 week "window," as I call it, I would never have hung in there for
long enough to make this work.  I told our neighbor, a pediatrician, about
this this afternoon, and she is astonished - she said that she has "never"
seen this happen.

Thank you so, so very much again for all of your support and help."

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