I  just wanted to share a real-life story that happened to us this week.  A
client delivered at a nearby hospital which does not have an organized
lactation consultation service as we do.  She contacted our RN/lactation
consultant on-call for assistance when the baby was having trouble
latching.  The nurse did all the right things.. had her pump till breasts
were softer, warm shower etc.  The client also had flat nipples
contributing to the problem so she was given hobbit shells.   All seemed
well and the babe latched and contentedly nursed while she was at our birth
center.

The next day engorgement returned and the baby was crying and frustrated.
Mom apparently forgot all she was told and called again for instructions.
The power was out  and none of our pagers which rely on the hospital system
were operative.  The mother tried three times then called the operator who
told her she might call 911!!!  When the power came back on and our LC
recieved the pages and called the client, the paramedics were at her home
... MAKING HOT COMPRESSES!  Is this hilarious?!  The LC was very kind and
reassurring and we decided the paramedics got an education and it
reinforced for us the value of that link between breastfeeding moms and all
those who assist them.  How fortunate all your clients are to have you a
phone call away...most of the time anyway.
PS.  Don't you think William Shatner would cover this case on 911??  Might
be a little breastfeeding publicity.

For Milee who wrote in about the baby losing milk , has the physician ruled
out some type of esophageal atresia or stricture.  Neurologically is the
baby's swallow intact?  Sounds like a problem no bottle will fix.  Suggest
a barium swallow or passing an NG tube to try to aspirate stomach contents.
 I'm no pediatritian so take this with a grain of salt.

Beth Hall CNM, MSN
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