Hi everybody I have this beautiful 2 week old baby girl who hasn't learned how to open her mouth. Mother had a dose of pethidine 2hrs before delivery and baby was cuddled close from the start. This baby would nuzzle around the breast and suck on her lips but not open her mouth. We have tried everything from feathering down her face, tickling her cheek and bottom lip,gentle stimulation of mouth and gums to bathing with mum.She will now open her mouth about half distance when her bottom lip is tickled with a finger but when tickled with the breast she doesn't open. At first we cup fed her but this did not help with the gaping as she became very proficient at sipping her milk without opening her mouth at all. We now give her the expressed breast milk with a long fat teat. This has definitely helped her to a partial gape as she does open half way when the teat is brushed on the bottom lip. We insist she has the full teat in her mouth so she can learn to accept more breast in her mouth. I do acheive a latch about once a day but it is hit and miss.This baby suckles beautifully when eventually she does latch but both mum and I are very discouraged. Another collegue has been has been consulted but we are both stumped. I'd appreciate any ideas to get this baby to open it's mouth wide. THanks Robyn Dunning NZ RGON,RM, IBCLC