In a message dated 1/28/98 1:36:56 PM, you wrote:

<<Furthermore, there is no guarantee she will produce milk.  The baby does
take her breast. Shouldn't that be enough?  ............Interested in your
thoughts.>>

I had a similar situation in a hospital setting, so it was very early
postpartum. The partner had the baby to breast out of curiosity, she told the
nurses. The baby's nurse was in a tizzy over this. I explained to the mother
and partner about how milk is produced and supply established and regulated by
the baby. I encouraged them to let the baby satisfy all his sucking needs at
the mother's breast so that this process would progress well. I explained how
non-nutritive sucking on the non-lactating breast may cause fatigue in this
small newborn which could lead to inadequate intake of fluid and nutrition
from the lactating breast, and would lead to insufficient milk production and
supply in the mother. They did not express a interest in establishing supply
in the partner

In your situation, as you said , breastfeeding is going well with the mom and
baby. I would be concerned about how this would be effected by putting the
baby to partners breast. Age of baby and current milk supply in mom would be
factors. Could the partner initially use the meds and pumping to see if she
will produce milk?

Deb

Deborah Tobin RN BSN ACCE IBCLC
Springfield, VA