Hi Sara,
Yes, it's frustrating when a baby is born with a strong personality
and intense desire to have milk delivered *right now*.  I believe
that if a baby is screaming, he/she is not in the mood to learn
anything at all.  I think it's a kindness (and appropriate) to give
the baby 1-2 oz of expressed milk to calm baby down, then baby may be
more cooperative at the breast.

I have also had good luck with skin-to-skin napping or bathing.
There is something about mom being on her back, baby on his tummy at
the breast that returns control of the feeding to the baby.  Babies
with strong personalities especially seem to do well with this
approach.  I hope it helps your mom.

Cathy,
I agree with Lechia Davis that a rectal check is inappropriate, but
I'm not sure I'd call it sexual abuse.  It certainly was
unnecessarily invasive.  I don't think it takes a baby's body very
long to become accustomed to stooling with suppositories.  It sounds
like the pedi has encouraged the baby to be conditioned to a glycerin
suppository when a less invasive approach might have been better.
(Last time I used a glycerin suppository on myself it was d***d
uncomfortable!)

I was discussing this in the office and Laurie Coker said, "Why not
just let the kid chew on a prune?"  You mentioned the baby is
refusing solids, but I do wonder what type of solids are being
offered?  Would it harm the baby to offer a couple of ounces of
prune juice?  I'd like to offer a wait-and-see approach before going
on to something more invasive.  I'd like to think the baby has merely
been conditioned to the suppository.  If baby does not stool on her
own in a few days, there may be something else to look for.
Meanwhile, let her chew on a prune.

Fondly,


Jeanne Fisher, MSN, RN, IBCLC
Breastfeeding Promotion Nurse
Bureau of Nutrition Services
Texas Department of Health
1100 West 49th Street
Austin, TX   78756
phone: 512-406-0744
fax: 512-406-0722
email: [log in to unmask]