This is in response to the question about vigorous suctioning affecting
baby's ability to suck.  The author also mentioned that the mother had an
epidural.  My experience would implicate the epidural in the baby's inability
to suck.  I have seen it repeatedly in my patients who have had epidurals to
the extent that I would tell mothers this when it applied to their baby, long
before I heard it given as a side effect of epidurals at a breastfeeding
conference I attended.  As it was explained at the conference, the epidural
affects the baby's coordination which affects their ability to suck.  As I
tell moms, it makes them "discombobulated" for a period of time, 12-36 hours,
after which they do fine.  Of course this does not apply to all babies.  I
have seen many nurse beautifully after an epidural-controlled delivery.  But,
what I often see is a baby who has the rooting reflex and after the
lip-tickle will open it's mouth then sit there, with mouth open, like it just
doesn't know what to do next.  Time is the key.  When the meds wear off,
breastfeeding will usually proceed as it should.
     There is another possibility, too. Babies go through a "sleepy phase"
for approximately 24 hours after delivery.  Some babies nurse fine through
this and some will not wake up "for love nor money" as I tell moms.  It is
notable that babies who do not suck well at the breast usually do not
bottlefeed well either.  It is the suck that is the problem and in both of
these cases, time and patience are the cure!!!  Hope this helps.