Saw a mother today who is having problems.  Baby is 4 days old, has only had 2
'good' feeds, plus some cup feeds .  Baby is showing signs of dehydration
(midwife gave some water by bottle).  Mother is sore, some cracking, engorged,
and thoroughly miserable.  Baby - no wet nappy for 14 hours.  Still meconium.  I
encouraged to get medical help if midwife doesn't visit again today.

Baby is keen to be at breast, but obviously not sucking properly at all.  Does a
few strange sucks with huge in out movement at corner of mouth, then comes off,
but wants to be at breast and feeding.   I did not check mouth other than to
observe that no tongue tie.  (more outside lay counsellor remit IMO).  V rapid
delivery, 1 hour, following induction (reason history of precipitate labour).
Don't see any signs of unusual moulding of head - in fact I was surprised to see
so little.   Induction was attempted with prostaglandin gel, and both mother and
baby reacted badly to this.  Mother's lungs were affected, and baby's heartbeat
went v low, almost an emergency cs.  Mother says she was told it was an allergic
reaction.

My question is - has anyone heard of this before?  Is anyone surprised that this
baby is having problems?  I suggested pumping to keep options open, I'm not sure
she will do this.

TIA

Mary Broadfoot, Paisley, Scotland

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