1. Allergies, I have a G2 P1 mom who will be delivering 3/5/99 via repeat C-S. Her first child has severe allergies to milk, fish, eggs and nuts. The child has anapylactic reactions to eggs. Mom wants to do all she can for this child to avoid allergies. I asked her to stop elimiante any dairy products from her diet, although her child allergist didn't feel this is necessary. Would you have this mother also eliminate eggs, fish and nuts from her diet? Mom has a Rice product she uses but I can't remember the name right now. 2.Wanted to share this story with folks who can really appreciate the benefits of breastfeeding. We had a full term male infant delivered Wednesday afternoon. Mom, a primip, was bottle feeding. By 10PM, the baby had barely taken 3/4 oz of formula. When I came to work on Thursday (I also work as a case manager), I was informed that the baby had not retained any feedings, regardless of the formula. We sent my daughter to the store to buy a P_____Nurser because the mother told us her sisters baby also had this problem and it was solved with the P______ Nurser. Well, our baby gagged with this bottle nipple also. I suggested that we try cup feeding, but after seeing the baby suck without difficulty on the mothers finger, I suggested finger feeding. While the nurse caring for this Mom/Baby couplet was out getting the feeding tube, I asked the mother if she had ever considered breastfeeding her baby. As I was asking the mother, who was cradling the baby in her arms, this little boy turned his head completely toward me as if to say, "that's right, I want to breastfeed!" She told me she would if it would help her baby. Although my colleague informed both mother and myself that breastfeeding wouldn't make any difference, we decided to give it a try after the baby gagged with finger feeding each time the feeding tube was introduced. (I suspect that it was the larger bolus of food that was affecting the baby.) The baby went to breast and nursed well, then went to sleep. After 24 hours of no feedings, the baby fed on demand for the next 24 hours, started voiding and stooling and was quite content. Mom, who is a red head, and we all know what that's supposed to mean, had intact nipples, no evidence of poor positioning. I pray she will continue - she was quite proud of herself. Thanks for the opportunity to share my long story - Christine Raasch, RN, IBCLC Menomonee Falls WI [log in to unmask] ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]