Leslie,
   I don't think it is hopeless to get Laney to breast past 6 weeks of age,
nor is it hopeless for mom to pump for a year.  I have had moms in my practice
do both.
        Bottlefeeding is not neccessarily a bad thing in this case.  Try to
look at two things:  the baby's need for nutrition and the baby's need to
learn oral motor skills.  The bottle is potentially helpful in both
situations, but if it is shoved into the baby's mouth and squeezed it is not
teaching the baby breastfeeding skills.
        Fingerfeeding may be an appropriate way of teaching Laney to draw
something into her mouth and suck using her tongue to compress the finger.  In
her situation, I would prefer a syringe and tube, so the parent can control
the milk flow and time it to her sucking.  Have you tried all the
interventions for hypotonic or hypertonic infants?  If Laney is neurologically
impaired, she is likely to be either, more usually hypotonic.  Sometimes a
hypotonic baby nurses better in prone - try having mom supine, and placing
Laney on her chest, with her face right between the breasts to see if she
roots.  If she does not, mom can bring her directly to the nipple.
Fingerfeeding can also be done in prone...
        Let me have more details about Laney's attempts to latch and suck, and
her basic skills and tone, and I will be happy to throw more suggestions...
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC  NYC  [log in to unmask]