I have seen two situations this week where non-nursing babies were brought
to breast successfully.  A set of 3.5 week-old twins, and a singleton 2
week-old whom I saw today.  Skin-to-skin, side-lying and allowing baby to
crawl to nipple worked in both cases.  Little girl twin required nipple
shield, other two kids went on without.  More is less when working with
these breast refusers.  Letting them find the nipple themselves, not
interfering or doing too much, letting them doze and nibble  and come on and
off a few times while you and mom talk and laugh.  No wrestling anyone into
submission.  In a lot of situations, I prefer seeing these kids at 2 weeks
or so no matter how many bottles they've had.  They can't nurse at first
anyway, or they'd have BEEN nursing.  By two weeks many of them have finally
cleared birth meds and are recovering from trauma.  It's actually a rather
nice time to work with them.  'Course the ideal is no delays and a baby with
no problems, but how often do I get those clients? I always tell moms that
if they follow 3 rules we can almost always get babies to go to breast:
1.  Protect the baby;s intake by feeding generously however you can best
manage
2. Protect the milk supply -- full breasts and a quick flow are rewarding
3.  Keep some kind of action going at breast -- even just nuzzling -- so
baby doesn't lose the orientation.
When the baby can manage it, then there they are.  This way MOTHER doesn't
become "nipple confused."


Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates, Austin, Texas
http://www.jump.net/~bwc/lactnews.html

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