Several days ago I posted a question here on LN. I realize that the computer takes second priority around Mother's day celebrations, etc. I have only seen one post with even a slight bearing on my question, so I am re-posting it, with a correction re: latching: <The recent posts about "hands off" are very telling, and Ruth's description of her journey to baby-led latching leads me to believe that even I may some day yet "make it". In fact, I heard Dr. Smillie speak just last week, and wondered if she ever sees some of the cases we see among our WIC moms. My question to all of you is, how well does this work, say on the fourth or fifth day or so, in a mother who has become greatly overhydrated by lots of IV fluid and antidiuretic effect of a long pitocin induction, when her breast is rock hard with edema superimposed on Lactogenesis II and her nipples are retracted and/or flattened, and perhaps damaged, and there is a great deal of subareolar tissue resistance? How does the baby react to the extreme firmness, skin to skin? What is the mom's sensation as the baby tries to bob along the swollen breast on his way to the nipple, and is unable to compress the areola with the tongue and jaw??> Yesterday, Christine wrote a comment in her post Assymetrical latch & S2S <... . . . . .but I don't usually see them until they are at least 4-5 days old. I work in home care and they are usually seen by a maternal child nurse first, I am called if they still have difficulty. I have enough trouble getting most patients to try just having the baby on their chest with baby in just a diaper with a blanket around. Many think this is a little crazy. I tell them to put the baby between their breasts or even just resting on the center of their chest with the head to the side. Let the baby sleep and rest there and the baby can decide to self latch if they are ready and at times only half awake> I am trying to collect various views and experiences for an upcoming presentation, so I would especially like to hear from those who see moms about day 3-6 in particular. Jean ******** K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC Dayton, OH USA *********************************************** 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