Hello Everyone,
I have recently subsribed to Lactnet and am enjoying reading the variety of
posts.
I sat 'the exam' on Monday and my mind is still swirling around thinking
about the questions.
Briefly... I have been a BF Counsellor with Nursing Mothers'(now Australian
Breastfeeding Assoc from today) in Australia for 10yrs.
Is it possible to encourage a 10week baby back onto the breast? He has never
breastfed "properly', lost weight and was hospitalised at about 3weeks, for
a few days. Seemed to latch on, take the let-down of milk but not continue
to feed. Has had bottles of expressed milk for at least 6weeks now and
refuses the breast completely now. Seems to have a bubble palate and doesn't
seem to maintain a strong suck on bottle or finger. Mum still hanging in
there, this is baby 4. She has tried supply line tubing at the breast and
recently a nipple shield which the baby initially liked but still wouldn't
maintain suction to keep feeding. The mum is not ready to throw it all in
yet. She'd like to get rid of the bottle and perhaps finger feed, is that
reasonable? At this stage in my life I have no experience with suck training
(and not part of lay counselling) but can the mother do something in this
way? Is it her only option now?
We live in a small rural isolated community.... I'm all she's got!! Mum had
trouble bfing 1st 2 babies, stopped after a few months, they both later on
had some speech problems. Baby 3 was 10lb ++ and fed vigorously. Sorry this
is long. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Sue Cowcher
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