Well.which do I start with?  I'll start with the vent.

 

Mom has baby - 30 min later in recovery, lactation nurse sees breasts -
tells mom that she has flat nipples and hands her a nipple shield telling
her baby (who had not even attempted to latch yet!!!) would never be able to
latch on.  Mom was NOT shown how to use or place nipple shield correctly,
nor how to ensure a deep latch with baby.  Grandma told me she got so ticked
at this lactation nurse she had to leave the room for fear of her saying or
doing something that would make the situation worse for her daughter.  She
told her daughter that the baby didn't know she had flat nipples - let him
give it a shot first before resorting to the shield.  Daughter told her that
the lactation nurse knew better.sigh.  Personally, I think grandma was
right.

 

2 days later I get a call from this mom who is extremely engorged (worst
case I've seen in a long time), nipples blistered from too small flanges
from pumping and rubbing caused by baby trying to nurse on a nipple shield
(very shallow latch, no milk transfer and much discomfort for mom).  Parents
had resorted to pumping (Symphony) because baby was clearly not getting
enough from the breast - they didn't know why - and were feeding with a
bottle.  When I was washing up I noticed a 2 ounce bottle of 5% glucose on
the counter - opened - with a small syringe next to it.  I asked who gave
them the glucose.  They said the lactation nurse (the same one who gave them
the nipple shield) did and told them that every time they tried to nurse the
baby they should fill the nipple shield with glucose in order to get baby to
latch - the sweet would make him latch!  

 

I asked grandma if she had seen my little brick wall that I bang my head
on.she said, and I quote, "Sorry honey - I'm using it right now!"  This
family was fabulous, btw.great sense of humor - lots of laughter.among the
tears of frustration.

 

Yes we got things working - baby latched on just fine - tho the breasts were
still too swollen to get as deep a latch as I'd like, but he did get milk
and mom reported LESS discomfort than when using the shield.  Go figure.
Changed out flanges and got more milk and no more blistering.  What a mess -
that could have so easily been avoided.dad is a pharma rep (not ABM) for
this hospital and will be writing a letter of complaint.

 

Now for the good news:  Another mom calls me asking for input on bringing
her milk supply up.  Currently nursing a (just turned) 6 yr old a couple
times a day and got word that the baby they were adopting was coming home in
a couple days.  Baby is 3 months old.  I did an in home visit and watched in
amazement as this adorable kid, who has never been on a breast, felt skin on
his cheek, turned and latched and nursed as if he'd been doing it all his
little life!  We used and SNS to give him a meal (mom's supply isn't up just
yet) and he was fine with it!  Mom and I both amazed - daddy very proud of
his new little boy!  Very happy story for me.just had to share.  They are
co-sleeping and doing lots of skin to skin.  Baby loves to nurse just
because, to go to sleep, for comfort - whatever.How cool is that?

 

Hope y'all have a great weekend.

 

Warmly

Jaye

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

Breastfeeding Network

Sacramento, CA

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 


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