Dear janet,
     I once had a client whose baby couldn't nurse without coming off the
breast to breathe.  Turned out he had a tumor in his nasopharynx requiring
some very tricky surgery.  He would latch, suck several times, then come off
to breathe---through his mouth.
    I remember learning in neonatal assessment once upon a time that babies
are obligatory nose breathers.  My eyes 'tell' me otherwise!
-Debi Page Ferrarello, RN, IBCLC