I came to lactnet today to get inspiration and ideas. Barbara Watson Clays post about the breastfeeding twins who were in danger from not feeding offered the support I needed. I am working with a mother who is depressed and discourged about having to supplement her 37 week infant. The mother has very large nipples at two weeks the baby was 1lb. below her 6lb birth weight, jaundice, poor suck, sleepy etc.and getting into trouble. She had successfully nursed two other children, devoted nursing mother. Despite her concern that supplementing was the end of nursing, I just kept repeating coach Smiths mantra...feed the baby, feed the baby. In order to get her rapidly declining milk supply up we have to go the whole shebang of pumping, reglan etc. We're waiting for the large phlange for the medela pump.... She's just beside herself..feeling guilty, tired, worried etc. Barbaras response about maintaining calm during a nursing crisis is just what I needed. Mothers need support during a crisis. They need help to see the priorities (FEED THE BABY...the easiest way!!) Knowlegable support (maintain milk supply) Give them a vision of success...down the road...and calm confidence.....and lastly....a shoulder to cry on or lean on. Sometimes we're teachers, sometimes we're activists, sometimes we're cheerleaders, sometimes we're the voice of reason and professional support. Sometimes we become counselors. I wish I had a magic wand to make this job of mothering easy but sometimes it's very hard, sometimes we're the only ones who understand the loss. i love this job and I'm so glad to have this forum for my own support and education. All of you have no idea the help you provide. Thank You Linda Clarkston, Wa. *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html