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Subject:
From:
Esther Grunis <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, 29 Jul 2002 18:38:11 +0200
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I have been NO MAIL for a month, so I hope that this has not been discussed
already.

I had two moms this week with similar problems and I wonder if any of you
have experienced this. First mom Primip delivered twins by C birth and did
not breastfeed the first day.
IN her first attempt, when one of the nurses helped her, she expressed
severe pain and discomfort.    The nurse thought that the latch seemed ok,
and indeed it was, but the mom was in tears.  NO ankyglossia nor any
abnormality that would explain.  I asked if she always had nipple
sensitivity even before pregnancy, and sure enough she did.  Even touching
caused unpleasant sensations.  I asked her if she had ever been touched by
anyone in a way that was not correct or proper ( my way to ask if she had
ever been sexually abused) She answered no with some hesitation.  I asked if
she had ever had any unpleasant association with breasts.  She said that all
her life she remembers her mother telling her that when she tried to
breastfeed, she experienced severe nipple trauma and this is the reason she
could not breastfeed.
I did guided imagery with her and gave her some exercises to do with her
nipples  (touching, rolling, etc) and said that we would try to continue the
next day.
The next morning, she told me that she had skipped the exercises and had
tried to breastfeed and wanted to try with me.  Got one of the babies
latched and within a minute or two the mom was smiling and said that the
level of pain had decreased to tolerable.

About a week later, a mom with her 4th birth approached me and asked if she
could talk to me privately.  We went into her room and she asked me to check
the baby's latch.  He only approached the nipple and the mom started crying
hysterically and said that she really wanted to breastfeed this baby but
could not stand anything touching her nipples ever.  She had not even tried
to breastfeed the first 3 kids.
Questions revealed the same hx.  All her life she had heard from her mom how
painful it was to breastfeed, and how her nipples were mascerated, and as a
result she could not stand any nipple contact at all.  She pleaded with me
to help her breastfeed this baby.
Again I did guided imagery with her and lots of TLC.  The baby was so hungry
that he latched by himself, but of course not correctly.  She was so
engourged that it was difficult for him to latch, but we did get him on the
breast.  We talked it through and while the baby was sucking the mom was
squeezing my hand.......gradually her grip lessened, and she relaxed.  I may
never regain use of my hand, but I think this mom will breastfeed this baby.
So now we have second generation breastfeeding trauma here.  Suggested, but
very real pain.
Have any of you ever come across such a phemomenon?

Esther Grunis, IBCLC
Lis Maternity Hospital
Tel Aviv, Israel
mailto:[log in to unmask]

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