Denise, Since the milk supply recovered with adequate stim. that really points to a problem with baby's ability to access the milk. I agree that seeing how baby does on a bottle can be very informative. This sometimes quiets critics of bfg. who think giving this kind of baby a bottle will cure all the ills and stress. It tends to convince all that something is indeed awry with baby and needs to be pursued. Since you are in Calif. you may be able to access some PTs that know neurodevelopmental assessments that can help determine what is going on. I agree with whoever posted (Linda Smith?) that baby needs further assessment for heart defect. I worked with a very sweet family with a quiet, fragile looking little baby who grew very slowly, often had a week where she lost weight, and mom had repeated breast infections (from poor milk removal). Baby had several well-child checks where no one was very concerned, then after a very bad week, some weight loss and more lethargy than usual, baby was hospitalized for a good look-see. Found a very severe heart defect and baby died within a few days. It isn't normal for a baby not to feed well. It may be a condition baby will grow past. It may be a condition which will show up later with delays in speech or learning problems. It may be the first sign of something terribly wrong. I've long since stopped being defensive about my fears when I see a baby who cant feed. Without trying to alarm the parents, I get busy trying to find someone to assess the baby. If I can't get anyone to act interested i.e. "baby is growing, so everything must be ok..." I kind of track them myself and offer weight checks, stay in touch by phone, do what I can in a on-going way. Sooner or later it resolves or gets worse. Don't rule out a swallowing disorder (this can be looked at with tests). The soft palate is a muscle. It can be as low tone as is the rest of this 'rag doll' baby. If baby is slow to feed on a bottle, which is a rapid flow device, baby may be having trouble managing the flow of fluids. Each swallow presents the risk of aspiration -- creating a strong aversion to feeding. I'd try a haberman feeder with this baby. Upright feeding positions with hip flexion maintain a nice neutral head position to facilitate easy swallowing. I'd also exercise this baby with a long, finger shaped pacifier. I'd sling carry her in flexed positions as much as possible. I'd inquire about allergic hx and pull mom off any suspicious foods. The palate shape (bubble) is perhaps a marker. There are lots of other chromosomal problems which associate with cleft defects. If this is a cleft that didn't quite happen, perhaps it is significant. I read somewhere that another theory about odd palates is baby was patterning the shape during gest. with the tongue -- for some reason. That author speculated on allergies. Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSE,IBCLC priv. pract. Austin, Tx