>
>Lisa,
>I am interested in your shaping of the breast into a V.  I particularly
>discourage any shaping of the breast.  Simply supporting the breast while the
>baby nurses.  In my experience, forming the breast makes it difficult for the
>baby to attach well.  It may be that I do not understand your definition of
>forming the breast into a V.  Please clarify.  Thanks.
>Pardee
>
Pardee,
I agree with Lisa.

If the mother's milk has come in, and until she has lost the extra
circulating blood volume from the pregnancy, (approx. 10 days normally but
up to 21 days if Mom has had noticeable fluid retention), I find that in
most mothers it is necessary to wedge the tissue to assist the baby in
taking a full mouthfull of breast tissue.

If the baby is in cradle
position , then the mother must bring her hand up from underneath the
breast,ie. like a U, in order to wedge tissue in line with baby's mouth
from corner to corner.  Using a C wedge is going against what the baby is
trying to do.  When the mother's breasts have returned to "normal"
softness, this is not usually necessary any more.


--
******Joan M. Fisher, RN, BN, MEd, IBCLC******
***********Ottawa, Ontario, Canada************
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