Hi all,

I've been in Valley Forge for over a week at the BSC lactation management
workshop, and am now just getting caught up with my posts.  I was interested
in Karen Graham's questions about home birth babies and ability to latch
on...

My personal experience is that dear Timothy, age 11, the most perfect home
birth imaginable (thunderstorms, no electricity, flooding -- the midwife
didn't get there; "caught" by my husband, candlelight, etc etc) is the reason
I am a lactation consultant.  Tim couldn't/wouldn't latch on -- acted just
like the babies I see now with epidurals.  Took him 5 days -- we fed with a
syringe and a makeshift supplementer (syringe & feeding tube -- this was in
the days before the SNS).  Never did bf well, and my milk supply was tenuous
at best, though we lasted a year.  My LC then was my current partner, Pat
Bull.

I have been called to see three or four home birth babies that can't latch on
in the course of my 11 years as an LC.

Saw a punkin yesterday -- a home birth; baby 11 days old, hasn't been bf well
-- (Mom was engorged before I left for Valley Forge & rented a pump because
baby wasn't bf well.  I offered to see her, but she had bf 2 others for 2
years apiece so didn't want to see me).  I sent home the latch on care plan
with her husband, the engorgement care plan and instructions to FEED THE BABY
(watch for pees/poops) (yesterday I told someone to watch for poos & peeps --
oh well); gave her a diary.  She wanted to come in for a weight check
yesterday because baby still not bf well.  Oh guys, my heart sank when she
came in -- baby looking pale, listless, obviously had Down Syndrome (the
midwife hadn't told her that until the day before yesterday and parents were
still in shock).  Weight wasn't too bad -- though I'm not sure how accurate
the hanging scales are -- bw 6-4; weight yesterday 5-14.4.  Skin dry &
peeling.  Mom has a fabulous milk supply -- baby "latches" just enough to
stimulate let down, and then lets all the milk dribble out of his mouth.  I
tried a Haberman feeder (takes dad 1 hour to get an ounce in with a soft 3 cc
pipette dropper), and it took me 45 minutes to get in 1/2 ounce.  Baby has
simply shut down, and absolutely will NOT suck/swallow.  When I did hear him
swallow, there was no choking, and he did pee all over the scale.  His mucus
membranes are moist, and fontenel is OK, so he's a little dry, but not really
dehydrated.  I'm not sure what is going on.... will keep you posted.  Called
the baby's doc (parents haven't taken him in yet), and she never bothered to
return my call.  I didn't sleep well last night.....

Jan Barger in Wheaton, IL where Torrey is going to her senior prom tomorrow
night & it is expected to be cold & rain....