On Thu, 16 May 1996 12:10:36 -0400 Elizabeth Puzar wrote:
>I'm seeing a 17 day old infant with a retracting tongue.  Her mom's nipples
>and areolas are very tender.  The nipples are the cracked-bleeding-blistered
>type.
>
>The baby gained six ounces over birthweight in the first two weeks.  It was a
>normal pregnancy and unmedicated birth.  She has a normal tongue peristalsis
>with the expected cupped tongue configuration, but of course it's humped up
>in the back.  Palate normal.  Frenulum okay.  When she's placed tummy down,
>she can extend her tongue beyond the gumline, but she's not consistent with
>this.  At rest, the tongue is held against the palate.  When her jaw drops,
>the tongue retracts.
>
>At the breast, she latches on with both lips flanged.  Her mouth is open to
>about 90 degrees.  The tongue is not visible at the corner of the mouth.  No
>clicking.  The cheeks aren't sucked in.  She has a well-coordinated
>suck/swallow/breathe cycle at the normal one per second rate for a nutritive
>suck.  During let-downs, there is audible gulping.  She makes happy baby
>sounds.  After the feed, the nipple is wedge-shaped.

Dear Elizabeth,

You might have the mom try sticking her tongue out at the baby (holding her in
position, but away from the breast) before latching her on .  When the baby
imitates the mom, mom can reward her by latching her on.  She may have to
use Rapid Arm Movement (RAM the baby on the breast) to get baby on before
her tongue goes back in.

Jonathan