In a message dated 11/24/2000 8:37:11 PM Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: Denise said: << <But I do think they could be receiving their own mother's milk, even just trickled into the corner of their mouth so you're doing nothing to mess up their suck. This protects the lactation (my original aim) and keeps the baby in good condition without unduly harming him.> and from Jean: << It would also give the mother a chance to practice it and be expert before she leaves, which, if done regularly and frequently, as you say, would tend to protect the lactation, partly because it helps to stimulate MER's, moving milk forward out of the alveoli, which favors production. I would like to see how many others, at least in the hospital/first 24-48 hours are using this idea, and perhaps encourage others to try it out and discuss their experience. >> I usually only ask questions, but had a great experience with a similar situation recently and thought I'd share. Called in to see mom/baby at 32 hours post partum. I am usually only in on weekends unless I get asked to come in--so this is why so much time had passed. Baby wasn't latching at all still (sucking on tongue, not opening mouth). Baby was a vaginal delivery with vacuum and lots of suctioning. Mom had expressed a strong desire for no artificial nipples, so nurse had done several gavage feeds of ABM when ped. said baby must be fed (dex was 40.....sigh). No one had mom pumping by this time (rolling eyes...arrggg), so when after 45 minutes of attempting every trick I knew for latch did not work, and baby was getting sleepy, I suggested to mom that she hand express colostrum into baby's mouth. I held baby while mom used both hands to express colostrum. To have at least an idea for the baby's nurse of intake, I counted the number of times we did this and got what I think was a fair estimate of the total colostrum expressed (about 10 cc). This was tremendously comforting to the mother, and the baby's dex stablized after that point. The next feeding when the baby didn't latch within 10-15 min. we did the same thing, but this time I showed the dad how to support the baby and encourage mom. It took two more feeds beyond that before the baby latched and suckled at all. I also started mom pumping q 2 hrs. with instructions for how long to continue that. Talked to mom by phone and did one other follow-up visit after dc. Mom called last week; baby is now 4 weeks and is "nursing like a pro." I had only tried having mom hand express colostrum into baby's mouth once before when I "got desperate" with a baby that wouldn't latch and a ped. putting pressure for supplementing with ABM. Worked both times. Laurie B.S., CLC *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html