Just to share. I got a call the night before last from a grandmother. She said her daughter and brand new grandchild were staying with her after birth and the baby wasn't nursing well, the mom was engorged and they were concerned. Since it was late, very late, I gave over-the-phone advice on engorgement and said if things hadn't improved by the morning she should call me and I would come over. (I didn't tell her take two asprin, though) The next day she calls at 11 AM but I coulnd't get there until 2 PM and here is what I found: Four day old baby girl, born 40th week, normal pregnanacy, no medication at birth (amazing!) 2.3 kilo (!), New mother is small and very fine boned with breasts large for her size, almost flat nipples that point downish (if that's a word), mildly engorged. Baby was sleepy and floppy and she hadn't had a wet diaper for 6 hours and wasn't really having them and no bowel movements! (Mild panic sets in) We're in the middle of a heat wave here in the dry mountains of Jerusalem. the baby was in two layers and under a blanket and the room was stifling. (Panic rising) So I said to myself if I can't wake this baby up, I'm sending them to the hospital. I stripped the baby and she woke up and was actually quite alert (whew) I had a quick peek at her mouth and gave her to Mom. Mom tried cross-latch, baby rooted and rooted and couldn't seem to latch. Mom didn't seem able to hold her close. Tried classic nursing position and still no go, baby getting frantic. Calmed baby down and tried football hold, still no go. So, I requested lots of pillows. I had Mom remove much clothing (She was wearing a zip up robe and a t-shirt underneath) and recline on her back on the pillows with baby on top of her, tummy to tummy, straight up and down her body. Baby stopped crying at once. It took twenty minutes, but the baby was calm and active the whole time and, you guessed it, she self latched. (It was gorgeous to watch) The story ain't over. Baby's suck was inefficient. She clicked and you could see she wasn't getting milk, which there was; Mom's other side was dripping. I decided to wait and see. Baby unlatched and latched a couple of times herself and each time the latch improved. After an hour from when I came this little darling was nursing beautifully! (wheee!) and she did it all by herself (so to speak). I was still worried. (what can I say) So I left the following instructions: Baby must have fluids every hour no matter what. I showed her how to spoon feed, stressing that first we try nursing. She must nurse at least every hour and a half, even a short nurse. If she wants to stay latched she can stay all day, please. Absolutely no bottles or pacifiers (She'd gotten a couple of bottles) If she does not have two lovely wet diapers by 9 PM, then they have to go to the hospital (I'm sorry, but I'm not a big risk taker) From midnight, she can nurse every two hours; grandma and Daddy can give baby fluids in between. If Mommy feels that she is going to fall to pieces if she doesn't sleep she can take on three hour break with Grandma and Daddy on duty. (I did show her how she can nap safely in the reclining nursing position) Lots and lots of skin-to-skin. No clothes on the baby until the end of the heat wave, if it's cooler at night they can put on a t-shirt. (I'm telling you that room was hotter than an incubater) Mommy was very happy to comply. She called at 6 pm. One wet diaper. Baby spit up what looked like her entire meal. I said as long as we have nice wet diapers, don't worry (Because of my concern and belt-and-suspenders, schedule she may have been over-fed for her stomach capacity) She called at 8 pm. One wet diaper and a bowel movement. She called at 10. Another wet diaper. Baby looks much livelier, not sleepy at all! Nursing nicely, ten minutes at a time but fairly often. Well, ladies, isn't that happy-making? Just thought I'd share because I love sharing happy stories. Here's wishing you your own happy stories, one right after the other. Comments welcome. Yael Edelstein ICEC BFC *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html Mail all commands to [log in to unmask] To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask]) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask]) To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]