[Below is a "re-run" of a former post. I apologize to Lactnetters who have
read my two posts a couple of times before.]

Last week I wrote about a mom with terrible engorgement.  Thanks for the
responses.  I want to give you an update.

I had been called in on this case by a fellow Lactnetter (Spanish speaker)
who had to be away for the weekend.  The mom continued throughout the
weekend with cabbage, ibuprophen, Rescue Remedy, and pumping.  She would
not give her baby the  milk.  She told me several times through her
friend/translator that she didn't want to breastfeed, just to get her
normal breasts back.

As her breasts softened so did her spirits.  My daughter (who speaks
Spanish and is close to the mom in age) went with me a couple of times to
translate and as they talked and laughed the milk flowed.  I couldn't
understand what they were saying so I watched the pump and acted like a
technician, and I didn't talk about breastfeeding.

On Monday the Lactation Educator (hopefully IBCLC this summer) returned,
along with her determination to assist this mother to breastfeed her baby.
The mom had been in her b'feeding class before the birth, where she had
expressed enthusiasm for b'feeding, as most of her friends were doing it.
The LE just "didn't hear" of her decision to not breastfeed, but continued
measures as if, of course, she would feed the baby at the breast. Mom had
discontinued the ibuprophen but was still using the cabbage.

I arrived on the scene during one of these learning sessions, in which the
LE had worked on the baby's suck. The mother was standing in the room and
her breasts began to leak and she had most accessible nipples.  I walked
forward holding the baby and "THOMP" she latched on to the breast and
suckled a bit as we just stood there. (Not a great latch, but a latch.) Then
the little one looked up at mom and SMILED. Well, this mom of one week just
melted.  We suggested that if she pumped a bit the baby might be able to
latch on to the breast. She did...and she did!  We had, fortunately,
progressed to a chair instead of standing in the middle of the room and now
the mom held the baby. The baby fed beautifully for a long time and mom had
what I call a "full-body smile." There was true joy in that room.

The LE continued to instruct and encourage the mom for the long night to
come.  I wondered if she would be able to keep going, being without
assistance.  I had my doubts, but the LE didn't. She had given of her time
and energy and caring and never gave up on this mom.

The last I heard, breastfeeding is going well and mom, baby, and dad are all
sooooo happy, and grateful to the LE who helped this mom, in the face of
seemingly impossible odds, realize her dream. I had a role in this
case--shrink the breasts--and I did have deep compassion for the mom and
hoped that she would change her mind about the feeding.  But the LE was the
real support person because she had established a relationship with this
woman, and gave her all.

What we do is important, but who we are while we do it is much more
important. We all can remember cases in which we were able to rise above our
own limitations and help a mom and baby launch a beautiful breastfeeding
experience. It's what keeps us keeping on.

I feel fortunate to have been witness to such a life drama.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee
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