Last week I posted about a baby who is clicking at the breast and leaving
mother with very sore nipples.  I have recieved many private emails with
lots of good suggestions.   Since I have two kids with the flu- and we are
finishing up the school term today in preparation for the winer term break,
I haven't been able to answer all of you personally. PLus, today is the
Fourth of July and my husband iis the US Consul general here, so we are
pretty busy!  (For you non American's out there- this is America's national
day)  Thanks for all the input- I would welcome more anytime.  Here is an
update.

The baby definitly does not have a tight frenulum.  Nice tongue- can cup the
nipple, but tend to pull back during feeds.  The first two weeks were fine
according to the mom. Mom and baby were treated for thrush before I met
them.   I was out of town and didn't see the baby until he was 10 weeks old.
I suspect that an over-active let down combined with some nipple confusion
are contributing factors.  Possibly some milk/dairy sensitivity too.  I have
gotten the mother to agree to cut dairy for a while and try finger feedsa nd
suck training- she has been using bottles -with NUK nipples because she has
been to tender to put the baby to breast.

Possitioning the baby so that he is facing mom- sitting on her lap seems to
help.  Mother is pretty tense though and cannot sit this way for long with
out back strain.

Baby's father has asthma and lots of allergies, so he is very interested in
keeping this baby on breast milk for as long as possible.  The mother
attended her first La Leche League meeting yesterday and went home feeling
very encouraged!
Nancy Sherwood in cool rainy Perth, Australia