I'm back on the lactnet after weeks of travelling, including 12 days
in Thailand checking out their breastfeeding project.  Very
impressive, will post about it soon.  Meanwhile I have weeks of
Lactnets to compete with sleep and all the other work that has piled
up in my absences.

As an OT (occupational therapist) and IBCLC I have seen a few
breastfeeding babies with neurological problems and all I can say is
that thare are no general rules.  It depends where the damage is. The
most damaged baby I have worked with was deaf, almost blind, had only
half of her brain developed - and breastfed beautifully with no
sucking problems.  Mother needed heaps of support to cope with her
depression and its subsequent impact on her relationship with the
baby, plus medication issues.  Unfortunately the mother did not
breastfeed for long, but three years later this very disabled child
was still easy to feed solids to.  Anyone who has ever spent time
with disabled children will know what a blessing it is when feeding
is not a difficult, frustrating, time consuming part of the day.

On the other end of the scale are babies who have difficulty with
breastfeeding and then show developmental delays.  I always watch
for other problems in babies who I can't get to the breast
successfully.  Some turn out to have problems, some are fine.  There
are no general rules and few predictors.

Ros Escott
Tasmania, Australia