In a message dated 11/27/98 10:46:45 AM, Carol writes:

<<...was a baby who was refusing to open her mouth at all, whose tongue was
humped up in the back from the start, and was literally not opening or
attempting to latch. the baby was born with a significant nursing blister on
the upper lip, and the mother has observed her sucking her tongue since
birth.......the birth was traumatic..........,>>

I hear ya sister. I'd love to get through a whole day at work without seeing
one of these little punkin doodle boogers. And yes, you are of course right
that the easing chin down bit is useless with a baby who won't latch in the
first place. As for the type of babies described above: Etiology? One guess:
These babies could be prenatal finger suckers, who were suctioned rather
vigorously at birth, leading to the "oral aversion" response.(?)

<<......to provide doctor's reports and reports to anyone else involved with
someone who becomes your client. in this particular case, there needs to be a
report to both the ob/gyn and the pediatrician.>>

Yes, good point. This professional responsibility is routine for outpt
consults in my hospital based experience.

<<...i remind them that they are a consumer of the health care they received,
and writing a letter will have a big impact on the institution or company
involved. sometimes it happens.>>

In the larger hospital that I work for, this happens very frequently because
the patient care director has greatly facilitated this process by having a
note to pts encouraging feedback along with her name, title, address, and
phone number, on the pt info board in every postpartum room ( 5-6 pp nursing
units housed on two floors). Pt feedback cards are also readily available.

Deb

Deborah Tobin
RN BSN IBCLC LCCE - Hospital based
Springfield, Virginia USA
In the suburbs outside the Washington DC beltway
mailto:[log in to unmask]