Dear Friends:
The mother is 46, has been a high-powered attorney, partner in the firm,
expert in her domain. First baby, via IVF. Every resource: money, a full-time
housekeeper, loving husband who works at home. She has silicon implants, put
in in 1985 because her breasts were so small she didn't feel like a woman.
Cesarean without labor as the docs felt there wasn't enough fluied in
side. Baby in NICU first 2 days, bottle fed formula. Mother was "out of it."
Horrendous forced lactation management in hospital, with lots of "screw in
the lightbulb" to get baby onto breast.
Terrible time with mothering, also with breastfeeding. Oversupply,
finally resolved. Wonderful nipples and areolas. Shallow latch, resulting in
breast pain. Unable to surrender to a baby's pattern. Fighting with baby at
breast, to the point that baby will only be coaxed to latch on about twice a
day now. Rest of time is bottle and pumped milk. Hates pumping.
Baby is 5 weeks old. Thriving, adorable. Mother only just beginning to
surrender, just started taking naps in the day time. Was presented with the
concept of remedial co-bathing. Very skeptical, Postponed the first
appointment.
Kept wanting to know what to expect. All I would tell her was that sometimes
babies can start over, and that we won't know what happens in the bath except
that it will be fun. That we would just have to see what the baby would do.
I wasn't sure that a 5 week old baby would re-start. HA! We lit candles
in the bathroom because the light was too bright. Got mom in tub. Got Baby
undressed and laid her on mom's chest. Baby made a beeline for the left
breast, threw back her head, gaped wide and latched on like she had been
watching the Mandy and Mat video all her life!! Hallelujah! Mother astounded.
"She wants it. She can do it."
Baby took herself off; no pain during or after feed. Left nipple normal
shape.
Rested a bit. Then Baby took off for the right breast, where she latched
(although more shallowly.....I wonder if the implant keeps a deep latch away
on that side. When I palpated, it felt soft enough around the areola for a
good latch.) Mom took her off when it started to hurt. Baby charged right
back on. This went on for a while, with Baby demonstrating a vigorous,
determined attitude about going to the breast. Right nipple lipstick shaped
after feed. Baby got more milk from right breast, although mother states she
gets more pumping from the left. Baby finally done after 4-5 latch/relatches.
No fighting. Baby never fussed, except when she couldn't get on the nipple
herself immediately and had to search.
So I can report that rooting is intact in this baby at 5 weeks, as is
crawling and self-attachment.
Now what will this mother do?
Warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MSN, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CIMI, CSTP
Elkins Park (a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; northeastern USA)
supporter of the WHO Code and the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative
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