Carolyn and Linda,

As usual both of you make good points.  Initially, the baby was causing the
sore nipples and after two sessions of cranial/sacral treatment there was no
visible nipple trauma, and no nipple pain.  There is a lot going on here
that, I believe, relates to Carolyn's post.  I have talked to the ped. about
ppd and recommended a referral to our local ppd. support group. There is a
part of this mother that doesn't want to be Mother.  I think that she feels
that if the baby were not b'fed she could sleep the 10 hours at night  and a
nap in the afternoon that she "needs" and that the baby would go to sleep
after feeding, etc. She feels that baby never sleeps, though her records
have several 3-4 hour sleep periods every day and some longer ones at night.

I observed that the baby never makes eye contact with mother.  She does with
me and with Dad.  Mom said baby never looks at her. She can never comfort
the baby, whereas Dad and I can. She doesn't call the baby by name.

I think the problem is not a breastfeeding problem, but, with my bias, I
believe that this baby and mother NEED to breastfeed.  We're playing it one
day at a time.  Presently she is choosing to pump and feed with a bottle.
She really wants to wean, but can't bring herself to feed what is in the abm
can.  She, herself, had many childhood illnesses that she believes were due
to abm. Is some of her blockage a feeling that she MUST b'feed, that she is
trapped?

I guess long ago this baby would either be wet-nursed or would die. I have
worked with other reluctant mothers and found that if they will continue
b'feeding the chains of their own histories are disolved and they fall in
love with their babies.

Patricia Gima,IBCLC
Milwaukee