Netters all,

I have a wonderful story for y'all -- to give you each hope...(sometimes we
don't get enough of these).

I had a mom come to me the middle of last month -- her last resort.  She's 19,
single, living with her parents.  Baby was born mid December, apparently
latched on well in the hospital, but when mom's milk came in, she absolutely
refused to take the breast.  Someone suggested a nipple shield, which she
started using.  Baby did fine on the nipple shield, and mom was working on
getting her off to no avail.  Mom also had a ton of milk.  (Well, she's 19,
whaddya expect?? <g>)  She went to a mother support group for advice, the
person panicked over use of the nipple shield and told her she had to stop
using it immediately, and if the baby wouldn't take the breast, then she
should finger feed, instead.  They gave her a starter SNS to use for finger
feeding, which she dutifully did.  She was also given all kinds of advice
about the baby's poor suck and funny tongue -- which is how she got to me --
mom REALLY tired of finger feeding (it's now been over 6 weeks of this).
Furthermore, she needs to go back to work one of these days and the baby
refuses to even take a bottle.  Mom is exhausted, but can't give up, cuz baby
won't do ANYTHING but finger feed.

Well, I saw her -- healthy, gorgeous baby, sweet mom, the grandmom is SO
supportive of this all.  Punkin refused to go to breast.  Refused the nipple
shield.  Balked at the bottle.  LOVED finger feeding.  We worked on several
things, and finally decided that mom should try to get her back to the breast
with the nipple shield at the very least -- work in short cycles; and then
also see if she can't work with her to take a bottle.  My follow up a couple
of days later indicated no change.  Had latched on to the nipple shield --
maybe once briefly.  Refused the breast.  Howled at the bottle.  LOVED finger
feeding.

I've been gone for awhile, so finally got back to mom again today.  "Jan!
You'll never believe it!! She's totally on the breast!!!"  It transpired that
the nipple shield was NOT going to work, so they determined to work on just
taking a bottle.  Baby HATED the Avent bottle, so they decided to use a
Playtex nurser.  Not my first choice, but hey, any port in a storm, right?
The first time, she took about an ounce before she went ballistic and back to
the finger.  The second time, same thing happened, only this time the mom
decided she wouldn't give her the finger (that sounds vaguely obscene, you
know?), and fed her little bits at a time.  Within 6 hours, punkin was taking
the bottle like she had never had a problem.  The next day, mom had just
pumped, and grandmom said, "Why don't you just try the baby at the breast --
your breasts are nice and soft...maybe."  Baby latched on -- and the rest is
history.  She's been totally and solely breastfed for a week now.  Mom is SO
happy; grandmom is delighted, I'm tickled pink, and want to put her in the
persistant hall of fame.  It took three months, but our baby is finally
breastfeeding.

This is one cool 19 year old single mom!!!

Jan B -- happy in Wheaton!