Kathleen:  I hear your frustration!  It is so painful to see struggling
moms who so desperately want BF to work.

If you have a BF-friendly occupational therapist or osteopath in your area,
it may be worthwhile to have a consult. In my area there is a wonderful
osteopath who can often work wonders in this type of situation.

If this help is not available, time may be the best solution.  I would
recommend that mom spend as much time skin-to-skin with her baby (i.e.,
stripped down to the waist, "wearing" her baby, who should also be stripped
to the waist.)

I have worked with several moms who reported that at four to five weeks,
something just "clicked" for the baby, and baby suddenly started latching
well. Perhaps it is a delayed development or growth of mouth/palate/tongue
system, etc. Many of these babes did not do well with a bottle either.

I have worked with a few moms who were unable to last this long with the
double work of pumping and bottlefeeding.

This mom is fortunate to have your emotional support!


Cindy Turner-Maffei, MA, IBCLC