Just thought I'd pass this on. I received a call from the mom on Friday to thank me. Baby is now about 5 months old. I had insisted that she push for a neurology consult for her baby. The baby had too many irritability symptoms that I could not pass off as problems related to the trauma from the repeated oral intrusions. OT/PT/NDT theraphy was not reducing the irritability. I didn't feel right about this baby, neither did mom or the OT. She said my *insistence* gave her the courage to threaten to sue if the baby wasn't at least examined by a neurologist (Yes, she did have to go that far, 2 ped docs said the baby was fine neurologically) The threat resulted in immediate referral. The neurologist ran tests. A CAT scan showed that there was a minor defect in the foramen ovalle (an opening at the base of the skull through which the brain stem passes) that was causing slight herniation (the brain was *falling* through the opening) of the brain and brain stem producing the irritability symptom (from meningeal tearing?). The baby was taken to surgery immediately and appears to be doing better. He's not as stiff and is nursing occasionally, mom pumps the rest of the feedings. The neurologist told mom that I quite possibility saved this baby's life and higher brain functions. We sat on the phone for a while and cried together. I can't take all the credit here she did most of the foot work herself. I feel like it was just another case where I was doing my job to emotionally support the mother. Like a mother bear protecting a cub, once I agreed with what she already knew, she pushed HARD. Don't get me wrong I am not a genius, but I did listen to the mother and I did watch this baby enough to trigger that little sixth sense that said *this doesn't look or feel right.* I can't explain it, but there was something about looking into the baby's eyes that send a chill through me. Also I think I've been in OB/Peds long enough to see that where's there is one defect there is a strong possibility that there is another. So I never ruled out the possibility that there might be neurological involvement in the baby's symptoms like the ped docs apparently did. I am sure that here will be other things for this family (they have four older children) before this is all over but hopefully I helped in some little way to make this baby's future a bit better. Marie ps. Just so we're clear, I would never suggest that anyone threaten to sue. duh.