>Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 14:08:36 -0400
>To: [log in to unmask]
>From: Susan Majoris <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Refusal of the breast since birth
>
>Your input on this will be greatly appreciated privately or posted.
>I saw a mom/baby in our maternity center post birth by 16hours.
>Mom did not have outstanding nipples but they protracted and baby was able
to latch. There was a "resistance" in latching though. A night shift nurse
had given mom a manual pump and breast shield to "pull nipples out more"
since baby was very fretful and not latching well.
>I stayed with mom - went through several position changes, calmed baby,
and finally achieved a latch. Baby however was tight and pulling in with
lower lip. So we gently encouraged the chin down. Baby sucked for a couple
of minutes and then lost interest. I stayed, coaxed baby and talked with
mom and gave usual bf information, discussed lots of exposure to breast for
baby documented the problem in chart, discussed with the nursery nurse and
explained the need for follow-up by staff and discouraged the shield. 1 1/2
hours later I left.  At five days mom and dad came to visit me at my
office.  Baby was not eating! Refusing the breast with behavior that was
very physical. Fretful, rigid, and arching. Off the breast baby was
complacent and sleepy. Signs of dehydration - dry loose skin, jaundice,
scant to no stools. Not sure why mom waited - she thought about calling me.
I had a scavenged manual pump in my office and we pumped milk from mom
-Plentiful- and gave to baby in a bottle (only thing I had in my office) in
hindsight wished I would've gone for a paper cup. Mom and dad were so
relieved to see baby eat. First good feed in five days. Mom has continued
to pump and bottlefeed. Baby is 16 days now and alert/ plumping up and very
content. Baby at the breast refuses - same physical signs as followed at
birth.  Baby does not respond to oral stimulation, has "never brought
tongue out" (frenulum-tongue looks ok) Mom said when baby is "really"
hungry she'll root, never brings tongue out and pulls lower lip in under
upper lip.
>Baby seems very tight with her mouth in general - refuses milk from a cup
feed, pulls a bottle nipple deeply into her mouth.  mom wants desperately
to get baby to the breast now. hmmmm
>I need help! I would like to hear from those of you who have dealt with
such to hear what you are thinking. I told mom I would post.
>We spent two hours together today - reading, talking, watching baby at
breast(NOT) cup(Not) and bottle(yes) The best thing is it's breastmilk.
TIA,  Sue
>It's 78 here overcast - but ah the beauty of everything opening up and the
delightful fragrances in the air.

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