Some suggestions for this mom:

1) Check into finding a speech pathologist who is both CCC-SLP and IBCLC --
even to do a phone consult.  She does not seem to have breastfeeding-friendly
HCPs here.

2) Ask what their rationale could possibly be for using ABM with rice cereal,
rather than EBM.  Trace aspiration remains possible even with thick foods,
particularly if baby is taking them unwillingly.  Why on earth would they
want to raise the baby's risk of aspiration pneumonia with ABM?

3) Explore alternate positioning for nursing on a relatively empty breast.
At 6 months, baby probably has enough trunk control to straddle mom's leg,
perhaps elevated on pillows so chin can be tucked, improving airway
protection.  Or mom could be semi-reclined, so baby is semi-prone (is that a
word?).  That way the small volume of milk is flowing against gravity and
baby's airway is less vulnerable.  Just a couple of ideas -- there must be
lots of possibilities.

4) Encourage mom to reject the "they made me..." mentality.  She might try
phrases like, "So your *recommendation* for *my* baby is that I *consider*..."

5) What's being done to find a cause for this problem?  Something is
seriously wrong when a baby can't juggle maintaining an open airway and
taking in nourishment.  Temporary fixes don't address the real issue.

Poor mom.  Poor baby.  Please keep us posted.

Jamie in Oak Park, IL
CCC-SLP and volunteer bfing supporter

P.S.  Does this mom have OALD?  Seems like a possiblity with a forceful
letdown after pumping 7 oz.  That could make a big difference for baby.

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