Hi all,



As many of you know I'm a medical historian who writes extensively about
breastfeeding. But not being a nurse or lactation consultant or a physician,
I NEVER get calls for help from breastfeeding moms. But I just got one. A
local physician, who knows I deliver all the lectures on lactation and
breastfeeding here at the medical school at Ohio University, gave her my
number. Does anyone have any ideas about how to help this mother?



Her third baby was born three months ago via c-section. Her first two births
(12 and 13 years ago) were vaginal births and her first two children were
successfully breastfed: the first for four months and the second for one
year. The oldest is autistic and he self-weaned at four months. Mom says
that with this birth there was almost no bleeding in the weeks after the
birth but thought that might be normal with a sectioned delivery. Baby
weighed 7.8 pounds at birth. Put to breast an hour or two after birth.
Exclusively breastfed. Put to breast for 45 minutes every two hours almost
round the clock but never seemed sated. Weighed only 6.5 pounds at one
month. Mom says baby had plenty of wet and poopy diapers during this time.
But baby just didn't gain weight.



She has been taking fenugreek and supplementing with formula via an SNS for
the last two months. Gives the baby formula via bottle now as well. Baby now
weighs 10.3 pounds. Mom reports that baby's diapers do seem more soaked now
than they did when baby was being exclusively breastfed. Baby continues to
be at the breast 45 minutes every two hours, although less than that at
night. She feels like the baby sucks vigorously for only 10 of the 45
minutes. Mother reports that even if baby sleeps five or six hours at night
her breasts still don't feel full.



Mom has had her pituitary gland checked (it's normal) and her thyroid gland
checked (it's a little low). So: why isn't this Mom producing enough milk
for her baby? She is very depressed about this and is desperate to
successfully and exclusively breastfeed.



Any suggestions? Thanks.



Jackie Wolf





Jacqueline H. Wolf, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Social Medicine

Ohio University




             ***********************************************

To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest)
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
All commands go to [log in to unmask]

The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html