Hi fellow Lactneters,

My co-Leader & I are trying to help a friend, via email, with a nursing
problem. I think we have a good idea of what the problem is and are
offering her options to try, but we could use some other thoughts on the
problem. Personal identifiers have been removed, otherwise these are her
own words.

>Saw your reply in e-mail today, and didn't get to read what <her husband>
>sent to you, but thought I'd send more info. in case it helps. Another lady
>here said that when her two boys were babies and poor nursers, LLL had some-
>thing called "suck training" that helped them correct their problems.  She
>remembered something about using her finger to press down on the back
>of their tongue or something?   Maybe this would help John Erik too?
>
>     I think he may be a tongue thruster or simply a lazy nurser.  At
>first it seemed like he was nursing backwards--pushing forward instead
>of pulling backwards.  Now he does okay for the first couple minutes,
>and then seems to lose his rhythm and just gets lazy, so as a result,
>he doesn't get very much (just the front milk) and I have to end up using
>the pump to fill up a bottle for him to have a little later, since he is
>usually hungry again about 10 minutes after nursing.  Our first week home,
>I just nursed him whenever he fussed and didn't pump or give any bottles,
>but he never made wet diapers and got skinnier and skinnier, and my milk
>supply decreased.  Now with pumping twice a day and giving formula right
>before bedtime, he seems to be putting on a little weight and is more
>alert, but I don't know whether he will correct his nursing technique on
>his own after a month or whether I will have to use a pump forever???
>
>     Anna (our 5th) had the same problem, and at <local KC area> hospital a
>specialist showed me how to use a syringe and thin catheter tube to squirt
>formula into her mouth while nursing.  It forced her to swallow, which at
>the same time had her nursing correctly until my milk let down.  She did
>correct herself after a few weeks of doing this; and John Erik did better
>when I tried the technique here--I just don't know if I have the energy
>or patience to do this every time now!
>
>     Anyway, that's the scoop.  What do you think?
>
>     We will take him to an Amer. medical clinic in Lithuania Friday to
>get another shot and check his weight, etc.  Am hoping they don't tell
>me to give him more formula!  He's getting longer, but not very fat still.
>At least he is good-natured and a quiet baby!  Almost 5 weeks old now.
>
>     Well, we'll wait for your reply.  Hope it's not too much trouble
>looking up a solution.   Thanks for your help!

I'll add more details as I get them. She and her husband are missionaries
in Minsk, Belarus. She left Belarus a few weeks before the baby was due,
so she could deliver somewhere else, Germany I think. This is her 6th
baby (why problems with babies 5 & 6, but not the first 4? Just how it
happened, I guess. Proves every baby is different). Also, they are in
Minsk, but Lithuania is in Germany and not far by train, so I'm told.
They go there to get all their milk and some other supplies. Minsk milk
supplies have been greatly affected by the Chernobyl accident. Does
anyone know anyone League wise or a Lactation Consultant in Minsk,
Belarus or Lithuania, Germany?
Thanks for you help!

Charlotte Esau, La Leche League Leader, Olathe, KS USA