Dear Lactnetters, I'm a BF counselor with Nursing Mothers Counsel in Santa Cruz, CA. I'm working with a mom whose baby is now 4 weeks old. I started working with her when baby was two days old and wouldn't latch-on. Mom and dad said they were willing to do ANYTHING to make BFing successful and ABSOLUTELY didn't want to give him formula. Baby was tongue thrusting (he had NOT been given any bottles and wasn't really interested in a pacifier). Occasionally, he would latch on, but only for a few sucks and then he would spit out the nipple and push mom away. I worked with her for a couple of weeks with no success. In the meantime, I started mom pumping and finger feeding. However, mom was supplementing with formula at night. I went to see mom and baby again when baby was about 3 weeks. Mom was concerned because in a few days she would be by herself with the baby during the day. Also, I had a feeling that we didn't get this baby bfing before her husband went back to work, she would give it up. I had mom pump for a couple of minutes to make sure that if he did latch on he would get milk more quickly. We put him to the breast and got the usual response. I went to get a nipple shield and when I came back he was nursing!!!!!???? He nursed for ten min. on one side and 5 on the other. I was VERY happy. Not only did he latch on, but mom had done it by herself. I called the next day and they were back to the bottle. I don't get it! She says she wants do whatever is necessary, but she won't pump often enough to maintain an adequate milk supply. Also, she's not willing to try for more than a few minutes to get him latched on. She says absolutely no formula, but without enough EBM... After all of this, my question is "What more can I do?". I've told her what she needs to do to make BFing work. There is nothing physically wrong with either mom or baby. Mom says she just doesn't like to hear him cry. Any input??? Thank you, Debbie Rominger mailto: [log in to unmask]