I encourage the mother to rest skin-to-skin; chest-to-chest with
>baby so the breast becomes a "pleasant place to hang out." Baby gets used to
>the feel and smell without negative memories or pressure to perform.

I have been using this as well, also encouraging the father to use a
Snuggli (chest carrier for baby) when he's up and about and having the baby
sleep on his bare chest.  One baby whom we worried might be possibly
potentially autistic, with severe aversion to being held, became a chubby
little breastfeeder.  How much we owe to this approach is unknown, but the
mother seemed to be willing to walk on hot coals, if necessary, and
displayed enormous perserverance.  I do tell mothers I want to avoid a
head-on power struggle if the baby is really fighting, and come around to
breastfeeding in a gentle manner.

Arly Helm

[log in to unmask] (Arly Helm, LC)