Alicia, I SO get where you are at?  I also find that the unusual cases find
me.  As a result, I now specialize with suck/swallow disorders, tongue ties
that most others miss because they are so out of the norm, low milk supply
due to hormonal issues/hypoplasia, and babies who have muscles that are like
tight guitar strings in the bodies that subsequently seriously impact their
ability to breastfeed.

 

I don't go looking for this stuff - but I have found myself to be quite good
at spotting 'zebras' when I'd much rather be looking at horses.  Years ago,
I was 'talked to' about seeing 'zebras' in all the moms I work with as this
person seemed to feel I was referring far too many to neuromuscular therapy
for treatment (much needed btw).  She doesn't see that particular population
- but I sure do!  I would say that fully 75% of the moms I work with have
babies in very challenging situations that most other LC's here (seem to)
have little experience with.  I have had several cases over the years where
another LC completely missed a serious issue with a baby or even the mom
(one I thought to be quite obvious) and left a mom and baby in a dangerous
situation with instructions that would have been fine for a healthy baby
with no issues or a mom with a great supply but for these circumstances were
clearly NOT safe and by the time I saw mom and baby - both were crashing and
burning.  I don't understand how such things can be missed, but I can only
surmise that they just don't see what I do.

 

So, Alicia - yes, I am there with you.  :-)  You are not alone!  I sometimes
think the Universe, God, or whoever your deity is, sends us these 'cases'
because we can see them - we have taken it upon ourselves to learn how to
work with them.  For me, I had a kid with a nasty suck issue and a bubble
palate.  Then I had a nasty accident which left me disabled (according to
the neuron - not me!) and with serious muscular and cervical spine issues.
Thus my interest in suck disorders and muscle issues and how they affect the
baby.  :-)  Interestingly enough, I suspect my son has a submucosal tongue
tie that was never diagnosed.  Over the years he has been able to stretch it
out so it doesn't need treatment now, and I wonder if it was a minor one
that just needed some working out when he was a baby (we did a lot of suck
training stuff per Chele Marmet back then that I know helped tremendously).
But I always had to make sure his latch was perfect the entire 3 yrs he
nursed or he'd cause me pain.

 

Anyway, hope this helps you to not feel so alone.

 

Warmly,

Jaye

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

Breastfeeding Network

Sacramento, CA

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 


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