Clisby wrote in message
...


Cathy wrote:
Hi, The subject is a bit misleading - I am after help for my SIL. Her
baby
was born 3 weeks ago, full term but only 4 lb 10oz. The baby was
little,
mum's breasts were big, and the baby just couldn't latch. Baby is now 6
lb
1oz (on expressed milk - she's getting the good stuff all right, but by
bottle), and the mum and dad are putting babe to the breast, but it is
their
first child, and I don't think they have any idea of what to do. They
say
they aren't getting a lot of support from their midwife- visits are too
quick etc., as the baby is doing so well on what she is getting! DH, DD
and
I are going to visit them next week, and I will have plenty of time to
sit
and help - if I can. Does any one have any suggestions as to how I
could
help. As DD is 9 months, and I no longer have to shape the breast or
anything like that, I don't think that watching me will make a lot of
difference. Can anyone give me any advice that I can pass one? All I
can
think of is 1) be patient! and 2) shape the breast. Oops, and 3) try
and
get the baby to latch before she is screamingly hungry. I would really
like
to try and help if I can.

They have tried the baby with a cup, which ended up with milk running
everywhere except in to the baby. I suspect some advice will be drop
the
bottle and get a SNS etc - I'm not sure those are available here (New
Zealand), but I will look in to it before I visit.

TIA,
Cathy



One thing I would try is to use the football hold. It's awkward, but I
found it to be by far the best way to help a baby onto a good latch.
(My son wouldn't nurse any other way until he was 3 months old).

Clisby

Thanks - I'll see if they can try that too. I suspect that they have had no
assistance with getting the baby on to the breast, except in the first few
days, when she was way too little. The parents said they have seen a few
videos of how it should be done, but I know I had seen a few videos and
thought I knew it all! It took me 5 days to be able to get DD to latch
without help from a nurse, and about another 2-3 weeks till it was good and
pain free. I"m just a little concerned that they'll take the 'easy way out'
(I'm not saying that expressing is easy - just that getting the baby on to
the breast will take patience and time, which can be in short supply with a
3 week old), and keep baby on the bottle until it is too late. I'm there is
4 days, so I'm hoping I can be of some assistance.

Cathy