Dianne:  YES!  I've witnessed this but not with winter mittens.  It seems as
though the babies who have the soft cotton flip over kind to stop themselves
from scratching can do this as well.  I have a theory on this...if you've
ever witnessed kittens, lambs or piglets nursing they "knead" the
breast/teat.  Well, in fact, the older ones are down right rough and really
poke and prod the breast to stimulate MER.  I wonder if the lack of those
little groping hands (which can definitely get in the way and make moms wish
they were an octopus mom) help MER via skin to skin contact and alternating
pressure.

Chris Hafner-Eaton, PhD, MPH, CHES, IBCLC    [log in to unmask]
mom, wife, educator, lactation consultant, researcher, author, organic
gardener, photographer, lapidary creator, lousy cleaner.

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