Saw a g1p1 mom last Friday when baby was 11 days old. BW 6-13, had some
jaundice up to 18.4, last checked at 9 days when baby was at birth weight
and bili was 12. (Bili no longer a problem--baby pink except for nose and
has yellow seedy stools) At that time you could see that this baby's tongue
just seemed too big for her mouth and she "worked" it alot. On my gloved
finger she curled the back and then seems to slide the tongue way forward so
that it protrudes a bit at the corners of her mouth. Mom had 1 1/2 cm open
areas on both nipples. Mom said that her nipples had been very inverted but
she had been referred by her OB in her 8th month to my colleague, the LC at
the hospital, who had her wearing shells. Was given nipple shields in
hospital and admitted to me that she was using them nearly every feeeding.
Baby did latch well initially w/o them so we d/c those.At this point they
are graspable. We worked on suck training, positioning, blah, blah, blah. Is
using Second Skin and the shells on nipples. When I sat down on the couch
with her I noticed the E**o Babyw**e book on the table. We discussed it and
she and DH are taking classes at a local church. Grandma, bless her, was
there and she discredited the whole "method". Mom and Dad seemed open to the
idea that this schedule was not a good idea on many levels.
Mom called over w/e and things seemed ok--6-8 wet dipes and 4 yellow seedy
stools. Saw her last night and everything was a mess. She cried practically
the whole time I was there and said she'd cried all day,"I'm ready to quit;
I'm not enjoying my baby."  Last night the baby's tongue is CONSTANTLY
working (looks like elderly people with tardive dyskenesia) and baby can't
make a seal on Mom, my finger, or a bottle nipple (the only alternative
method they wanted to use). I've never seen a tongue quite like this. It
protrudes out both corners of her mouth to a much greater degree than last
Fri. Mom's right nipple looks better (still open area) and her left is
unchanged. Baby had not nursed much all day, according to Mom, and seemed
hungry. Seemed hungry when I was there but very disorganized suck pattern.
After talking to this exhausted (dark circles under eyes) Mom with the
PERFECTLY CLEAN house (not even a dirty dish in the sink)I found out that
Grandma had gone home for the w/e and I wonder if the baby was being allowed
to "cry to get really hungry to eat well" as Dad had asked about on Fri.
Well, that's what happened. This baby is so much worse and I think the poor
little thing really did a lot of lonely crying this weekend. Can a weekend
of Growing Kids G.E.'s Way screw up a baby's suck this radically? We're
talking MAJOR downhill slide.
She has an electric pump (N3) and pumped an ounce which Dad fed with a
bottle--she needs sleep--could hardly keep her eyes open at 8 pm. Baby's
tongue protrudes out both corners and there is a slurping sound with the
artificial nipple too. What can I do next? Good news is Grandma is coming
back today and she won't let that baby cry. I've called a mutual friend who
attends her church and is a bf peer counsellor; she'll call her for moral
support today and to discourage the E**o stuff. Poor, poor, baby.........

Mary Alice
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