----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 11:24
AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Suggestions
sought
Dear Debbie
It is sad to hear your wonderful birth has not
been followed by lovely feeding experiences - sometimes it
happens!
Though at what point you gave your baby a bottle
feed is not clear nor for how long?
It seems you and your adviser were not aware of
the potential for nipple confusion!
Yes many babies can do both - but some
can not!
Perhaps a NMAA counsellor can help or an IBCLC
but the best they can do is increase your knowledge and understanding and
support you in your efforts!
Ultimately you need to develop the skills and
insight to problem solve what is happening for you and your baby so you can
fix it in the middle of the night etc!
I have known a baby to have nipple confusion
after only 1 bottle feed that is to feed on a breast like a bottle - different
and incompatible!
Because a bottle teat is firm, everted no matter
what a baby does to it and requires a piston action to control flow whereas a
breast requires to be brought out and held beyond the base of the tongue
and milk by a peristaltic action.
When a breast is treated to bottle feeding action
it does not work rather gets traumatised!!
But with patience and understanding babies and
mothers can sort it out, research says that there is a point (different for
many babies) when this confusion will resolve!
So be aware there will come a time when
your baby will to revert to correct
instinctual fixating on breast feeding, evidence suggests that the less you
give it mixed messages the sooner that may be!
Meanwhile you need to try to maximise your
understanding, techniques and messages regarding optimal
positioning and attachment - that is get as much of your breast Not just
nipple into your baby's mouth!
I recommend
"Bestfeeding: Getting
breastfeeding right for you." by Chloe Fischer and Mary Renfrew as a user
friendly text - lots of pictures and simplifications of the
Basics.
These are;
* Chest to chest (NOTHING in between)
* chin over breast ,
NOSE at the level of the nipple prior to baby
opening and
*when the mouth is open YOU PUT YOUR BABY
on your breast (not nipple into mouth or baby does this it is confused)
so the mouth is over areola especially under the tongue!!
* Push the baby in behind/between the shoulders
not the head!
* So the head is slightly extended same as
when every other human drinks!!
Do not push the head as then the chin goes to the
chest and no human or other species drinks with its head
forward!!
If it hurts try increasing/exaggerating these
movements/positions to get more breast in the mouth before taking the baby off
the breast (I have seen trauma from detaching the baby!!)
Also look at these steps using a video
playback or mirror at breast level - are you lifting the breast out of
its natural alignment and position??Are you bringing the baby to the breast
not the breast to the baby??...
Or see if you can get a copy of
Rebecca Glover's (RM,IBCLC in Perth WA) "Key to Successful
Breastfeeding" leaflet or her video "Follow me mum"" from Capers or
BirthInternational
I will give you her Perth number tomorrow if you
need?
With good information you can fix this and learn
by it!!!
Be patient and beleive it will come right
!
Denise Hynd
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2002 10:07
PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] Suggestions
sought
Hi,
I recently had my daughter at home. A great
birth experience...however the breastfeeding is really testing me out.
I have used formula in a bottle to allow my
breasts to heal while also expressing to maintain my milk supply. My baby
girl is 17 days old and i am still having trouble with my attachment. She
continually adjusts to a small mouth.
Any suggestions.
deb
