Well I am out of lurkdom for a while, dropped a x-mas gift on my foot on the
eve of the big day missed midnight mass (bummer) but i now had time to catch
up.  warm moist heat across the back of the neck seems to work wonders to
loosen up a new moms stressed out muscles (my own pt has shown what wonders
this will do after tooooo many hours at the computer).

If I am not there -- I have mom set up (or better yet the moms helper if she
is lucky enough  to have one)  both the ice cold packs for her breasts (never
on bare skin) and the warm -- (a dish towel run under really hot tap water
wrung out and  rolled long ways and wrapped in another dish towel (the thin
cotton diapers work well also) to put across  the back of her neck 1st -- then
apply the cold packs to the breasts -- sit back and relax for 10-20 minutes --
I always caution mom about never ice on bare skin and if it gets uncomfortable
it is ok to remove the ice or hot for her comfort.

After this type of tlc I have seen moms who could not even get out drops --
let alone get a baby to latch on -- express up to a couple of ounces of milk
per breast and be able to be relaxed enough, to get their little one to latch
on and do the rest of the work of moving the milk.  This is the point I praise
mom lots about her liquid gold -- OH the wonderful colors that come out of the
breast at this early time.

Warning -- be very specific on what directions you give mom -- at least in my
area of the USA -- one is good two is better seems to be the patients goal --
they can over do it -- and probably will if you are not real specific.

Hope all of you other lactnuts have a wonderful & healthy New Year

Anne Norton-Krawciw RPh, IBCLC

Lactation Consultant -- Pharmacist
Breastfeeding Specialists Inc
Sterling Heights Michigan USA