Pat - thank you for keeping my note - that made my day get even better. ;)

I wanted to update you all on a comp visit I did back on 10-25 for a 19 yr
old mom.  She is on welfare, no help and little support.  Sounds like a
situation I was in about 17 yrs ago...

When I saw her the first time, it was for sore nipples - baby was 3 days
old - bw 7'6" current wt 7' even- milk coming in with a vengance!  Fixed L-O
and positioning - all was well.  Baby took 2.5 ounces in about 20 minutes.
wow!   Mom has called me here and there to ask this question and that
question - I have been there for her for obvious reasons (what I think are
obvious, anyway).  She called me last week (10-31), baby sick hard time
breathing, crying, fussy - told her to take to Ped for check-up.  All OK.
Baby's wt documented as 7' 8" at Peds (bb 9 days old).

She calls on Mon - baby getting really fussy now.  Wakes and cries the
second he is laid down - mom has had little sleep.  Tell her to take back to
Ped to have babies ears checked as he is still battling the stuffy nose.
Still lots of wets and poops (15+ diaper changes a day - diaper overflowing
with poop) - but nursing getting more frustrating.  Baby gulps frantically,
she takes himm off as the milk sprays across the room and she soaks 2-3 bra
pads on the breast not being nursed on.  She has tried nursing on one side
then the next going back and forth with no success at baby calming down and
settling or sleeping for more than 15 minutes.  If he is on her then he
sleeps better.  Tell her to keep baby on her and take to Doc, call me with
results - and btw, sounds like she may have an abundant milk supply -
possible foremilk-hindmilk imbalance - what color are poopies?  Getting
frothy, blowouts, and green.  Discuss techniques of working with this
situation - suggest one sided nursing in 4 hr time increments.

Tues - Doc says baby is fine - no ear infections - lungs clear.  BUT - baby
only weighs 7' 7" and appears to have lost 1 ounce.  Doc says baby is not
being fed enough...supplement with ABM.  grrr...  Mom reports 15+ wet and
poops - going through diapers like crazy, milk everywhere, poop even more
green and frothy - will now start the 4 hr technique I suggested - does NOT
want to give ABM.  I tell her I'll see her Thurs morning and we'll take a
look.

This morning.  I walk in to see a very healthy looking baby - no jaundice at
all...  Mom says that she has been doing the 4 hr thing since Tues morn.
Poopies yellow - baby calmer.  He slept for 6-7 hours last night and so did
she.  She looks great.  Put baby on scale - 8' 4.5" - hmmm...could Docs
scale be off??  According to my scale the baby has gained 1.5 oz per day
since I saw him last.  Took 3 ounces at breast, mom says she is leaking less
profusely (only soaking 2 bra pads instead of 3) feels more comfortable and
baby's poops are now yellow and firming up a bit - less frothy/liquidy.
Still 15+ diapers in 24 hours...  Suggested 3 hour one-sided nursing.

During our visit, she asked questions about feelings she has had that
confused her - she was molested for 5 yrs and needed clarification that
changing her baby's diaper and cleaning him wasn't also molesting him.  She
also wanted to make sure that she was normal for enjoying holding har baby
and watching him nurse.  She wants so very much to right by this child - I
shared with her that I had been in her shoes 17 yrs ago...and assured her
that she was fine and that what she was doing was fine.  I will be working
with this mom for many months I think...

At the end of our visit - mom hands me a card that says "Thank you for being
a random act of kindness in my life"  and "Jaye, just wanted to thank you
for being such an angle.  It is so nice of you to spend your much needed
time on helping me and Gage.  Thank You So Much!"  Then she hands me a
present that her friend bought for her to give to me - a spun glass music
box with dolphins - It isn't exactly my style of home decor - but this one I
love.  This girl has no money - but she and her friend took the time to find
something they thought I might like as a thank you.  She told me to never
underestimate how much impact a person can have on another person's life -
and that I had made a huge difference in hers.

I must tell you all, that I am overwhelmed right now because even tho I know
that I make a difference, and even tho some moms tell me that I have, I have
never had a mom tell me in this manner that made such an impact on me.  I am
profoundly aware of the difference I am making in her life - but I wonder if
she is aware of the difference she is making in mine...I am healing my 19yr
old inner child (teenage mom) while helping her and enjoying every minute of
it.

Jaye
What a day...   :)

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