Hi All,
Arly wirties:

I heard something new tonight and want to check it out against this
resource:  I am interested in hearing whether very many Lactnetters
observe a personal rule never to touch the breast or the baby when
teaching correct latch.  For those who have this rule, why do you have
it?


Jaye responds:

My personal rule is to not touch unless I need to.  I have never had the
need to hold the mother's breast while helping to attach a baby.  However, I
have had the need to touch in order to feel a lump the mom wants me to
observe/feel.  In regards to the baby, the most I do is help mom to position
baby if she doesn't get it correctly after I have described it to her.  Then
I tell her that I will be placing my hand behind hers to help with the latch
the first time or two then leave her on her own to practice using lots of
verbal reinforcement and a helping hand again if neccessary.  I NEVER attach
the baby myself - I ALWAYS work with the mom my hands guiding hers.  I
rarely have the need to touch at all because I do so much verbal description
using my own breast as a 'demo model' to show proper hand position, etc...
If a mom is anticipating pain, I help (and have even put a hand on her back
to keep her from retreating from the oncoming baby!) so that she can get
that good latch with help so that she can see how it is supposed to feel.
This way she knows - she did it partially on her own, and with practice, she
can do it totally on her own.

Why do I do it this way?  Because if I do it ALL for the mom then how will
she learn to do it herself?  I also try to get to the consult early enough
to go over these positions and hand holds, etc with mom before it is time to
actually put baby to breast.  This way she has some idea of what to expect
and of what she needs to be doing.  I cannot be there for every feed - mom
must be able to figure things out on her own after be given the tools by me.

Hope this helps...
Jaye

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