Thank you for your testimonial and your vote of confidence Esther. Just one thing I would like to see changed in your practice as you described it: <Short strokes at first, then longer ones. It is quite painful, but you feel results immediately.> This technique need not be, in fact, ought not be painful. It just takes a little more time when you gauge the speed of what you are doing by the mother's body language. If it is done gently, and slowly, it may take longer, but I would not want to cause bruising, painful memories or other types of trauma. I can't help but think that it has to be less traumatic to the subareolar tissues than the vigorous use of a breast pump when the breast is beginning to swell or already swollen. (This includes hospital grade breast pumps.) Trouble is, with short maternity stays, much of the aftermath of "superengorgement" partially due to IV's., etc., happens shortly after the mom gets home. But with so many inferior grade pumps readily available in the nearest drugstore, too many moms report very painful pumping experiences in trying to deal with this problem. The technique can be taught on the phone, but I find it's more effective in person. In fact, I suspect that teaching it in the hospital before too much swelling has set in might actually head off worse swelling by facilitating good latching early on. I doubt that I can take either of your suggestions, but I surely do want to make it better known so others can try it and see what they think. I know this isn't "real research" other than having read a lot of background literature, but sometimes, we have to crawl before we can walk! I don't think slapping a pump on every other mom is exactly research-based either. A lot of folks seem to be "pump-happy", but I don't think it's always as innoccuous as many HCP's seem to think. Sometimes I wish I could say to them "Folks, we're not dealing with a straw immersed in liquid, or a syringe and needle directly in contact with a liquid here. Think about it. Suction doesn't pull on milk. It pulls on flesh!" I suppose "hands-on" and "hands-off" issues may play a part in that, but we won't go there now. Jean ***************** K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC Dayton, Ohio USA *********************************************** 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