In a message dated 96-09-16 15:02:34 EDT,Lisa Marasco wrote (sorry I am so
behind on my reading) in a  note about premies and sucking needs:


. I am wondering if the
>haberman feeder might be an excellent alternative--- it is supposed to allow
>baby to do more stripping action, giving him more control; the flow is
>adjustable, and it is more malleable and perhaps less likely to alter the
>premie's soft oral structures. Currently it is recommended more for cleft
>palate babies, but should we consider this as a more primary alternative to
>the breast? I'd be interested on the expert's thoughts on this.
>
>
I amcertainly no expert but I am interested in the use of Haberman feeders
with premies and with full term , "normal" babies to correct uncoordinated
sucks. I asked Pat Bull for some information about the haberman and she gave
me some articles that have been written about it. Unfortunately there was no
research, as I had hoped to have more to go on than just a description of
it's development.  But that is helpful in understanding how it might help.
 One of the articles is Nursing Times Jan 13, Vol 84, No.2, 1988.  For those
of you who do not know, it was invented by the mother of a child with Pierre
Robin Syndrome to solve her daughter's feeding problem.  She visited
hospitals, consulted with cleft lip and palate association and speech
therapists to learn about feeding problems in general.  She studied
cine-radiographs of suckling infants and in 1984 the prototypes were produced
and " tested on six healthy babies to assess the feeder ergonomically and for
efficiency"  " The feeder seemed to promote a sucking action very close to
breastfeeding."  The main advantages that I see are the length of the nipple
which brings it back far enough in the mouth to mimic the breast, the
softness of the silicone teat, and the slit opening which allows a variety of
flows within the feeding for rewarding sucking effort, but control over
faster flow, so as not to overwelm.  The teat was designed to respond to
tongue action rather than strong suction.  When I have used this feeder with
babies who are unable to breastfeed-- they are not always immediately
successful, and they seem not to be able to remove milk by chewing like with
a normal bottle nipple.  But they are rewarded for more correct sucking and
this can be controlled by turning the teat to allow for a faster flow.  I
also use finger feeding for these infants with success, but feel that it is
more difficult to teach to mothers in the limited time I have and, in some
babies, I feel that the haberman is better accepted than a finger--especially
a gloved one.
I would be interested in knowing of anyone else who has had success with the
haberman, and also anyone who knows of if  the original research was
published.
I think it is a worthwhile alternative to other feeding methods when baby
cannot feed at the breast.
Thoughts, anyone?
Chris Lundberg RN, IBCLC