Dear LACTNET list memebers,
I have been reading the list for about a yer but this is my first post.
I have been a breastfeeding counselor on and off for many years; my
original accredation is ICEC.
Before I start, I want to say that this list is fantastic.
I have a client who has me stumped. I have refered them to a lactation
consultant but they are reluctant to go, I'm not sure why.
The baby, first baby, was born full term. His mother started labor
spontaneously, but progression was slow so they gave her pitocin. She had
an epidural and, at the end, the baby was delivered by vacuum.
She didn't manage to nurse him right away, although she tried, and
throughout the entire hospital stay the baby didn't nurse at all. They were
unable to hook up with the hospital's lactation consultant,for whatever
reason.
I first saw the baby at three days old. He is lively and alert. After
looking in his mouth I thought, perhaps, his tounge was a bit short but I
am leery of making snap diagnosis. If he has tounge tie, it is not obvious.
The mother has flattish nipples but I've seen much worse. Her breasts were
full, but not yet engorged. She is calm, relaxed, and determined.
We snuggled the baby up in classic nursing position,he nuzzled, opened
lovely and wide and seemed to latch, just for a moment. Then he stopped and
that was that. He was happy to sit at the breast with his mouth open. We
sat until he was ready to try again. Same story. This went on for an hour.
Everthing looks perfect but baby can't seem to latch.
We tried other positions and again, no latch. As it was getting late and
the mother was very tired,we called it quits. They were happy to spoonfeed
him formula as pumping was not working yet.
The next day we tried for two hours. Again the atmosphere was calm. Still
no latch.
The baby has a strong suck; finger feeding and bottlefeeding are no
problem, but he can't seem to make a leakproof seal in order to pull the
breast into place. He can't make a leakproof seal on the loose skin on the
side of my lower arm either, if you know what I mean.
When he sucks on a finger his tongue slips back and forth. With a little
encouragement he can bring it forward.
This seems like a tounge problem to me but I feel out of my depth.
Help?
Thank you,
Yael Edelstein
Jerusalem, Israel
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