difficulties breast feeding

[Carolyn Pellow]

Has anyone a remedy for helping correct flat nipples which are
preventing successful breast feeding please? Patient with newborn
needs urgent help! (I am putting her in touch with La Leche League as
well)

Thanks

[Soroush Ebrahimi]

Dear Carolyn
Consider the following rubrics
CHEST - RETRACTION of nipples
And
CHEST - INVERSION of nipples

But you should take a full case
Rgds
Soroush
________________________________

From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of carolynpellow
Sent: 20 June 2008 16:30
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Minutus] difficulties breast feeding
Has anyone a remedy for helping correct flat nipples which are
preventing successful breast feeding please? Patient with newborn
needs urgent help! (I am putting her in touch with La Leche League as
well)

Thanks
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[Shannon Nelson]

Hi Carolyn,

I find this rubric: Chest; INVERTED NIPPLES (6) : apis, Con., graph.,
nat-s., phyt., SARS.

(I know that's not exactly the same as "flat", but maybe still
relevant?) Might any of these fit the rest of her case?
Good luck!
Shannon

[Dale Moss]

Hi, Carolyn
Here's another rubric: CHEST - RETRACTION of nipples
ars-i.;1;pd aster.;1;vh cadm-met.;1;gm1 carb-an.;1;k carc.;1;mlr1 con.;1;hr1 con.;1;k crot-t.;1;bg2 cund.;1;hr1 cund.;1;k graph.;1;ptk1 hydr.;1;bro1 hydr.;1;hr1 lach.;1;hr1 lach.;1;ptk1 nat-s.;1;hr1 nat-s.;1;ptk1 nux-m.;2;hr1 nux-m.;2;k phyt.;1;ptk1 sars.;3;bg2 sars.;3;c2 sars.;3;hr1 sars.;3;k sars.;3;mrr1 scir.;1;gm1 sil.;2;bg2 sil.;2;hr1 sil.;2;k thuj.;1;bg3 thuj.;1;ptk1

[Carolyn Pellow]

Thank you Soroush and Shannon for your help. It's complicated by the fact
I'm not allowed to see her (norvovirus in the hospital) so this is relayed
information - she's in hospital following an emergency Caesarean and, in
addition to flat nipples, milk didn't come in very well because of drugs
given in epidural. Hopefully she's home tomorrow or Sunday when I can take
a full case.

Carolyn
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[Rochelle]

Flat nipples will not prevent successful breast feeding. The baby knows no difference and will cope. She can get nipple shields (don't know the correct name) which are plastic cup thingies with a hole to wear in her bra as these draw the nipple out by suction. She can try to put her first finger and middle finger flat on the areola around the nipple and then press down and put the baby on the nipple area. I managed to feed 2 babies with flat nipples!!! It also helps to express a little milk first to encourage the baby!!
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath
EFT(Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

[bryonyvaughn]

Since your patient is in the hospital I'd *hope* she'd have access to
a competent lactation consultant. (Yeah, I know where hoping for
reasonable things in a hospital will get me.)

I consider flat nipples just one point on the spectrum of normal
nipple morphology rather than a condition to be treated
homeopathically. That being said if latching on is problematic, the
mom can try to get the nipple out a bit by pumping for few minutes
before bringing the baby to breast or by applying an ice cube to the
nipple. Once the nipple's out you can gently rub it between the
fingers to warm it before latching the baby on. Some regularly turn
to nipple shields for such things but, as their use can lead to
entrenched latch problems, I strongly recommend *only* using nipple
shields with the ongoing help of an experienced lactation consultant
or La Leche League leader.

As nursing is a learned skill for both the mom and the baby, I've seen
success from having the baby latch on to another nursing mother for a
few minutes to get the feel of things then pass the baby back to its
mother to imitate the same motions.

In the US it's standard protocol to load us cesarean section moms on
Pitocin to decrease the chance of hemorrhage. (It has another name in
Europe but I don't know what it is.) Pitocin is an anti-diuretic
which, when used at the time one should be urinating away excess
fluids from the expanded blood volume of pregnancy, can lead to
extreme engorgement. This will compound any problems with flat
nipples exponentially. If her lymph system is engorged at all,
addressing this drug's after effects in your remedy selection will go
far toward helping establish a successful breastfeeding relationship.

Mechanically you can address the situation by having mom take a hot
shower then bend forward and gently stroke each breast downward toward
the nipple.

Best wishes for you, mother, and babe.

~Cheryl

Carolyn Pellow wrote:
relayed
and, in
drugs

[Irene de Villiers]

It would be very weird for flat nipples to prevent breast feeding -
flatness does not prevent it. Far more likely the milk is not "coming
down" for some reason.

Suggest detox any "reason" (drugs taken?)

and also dose with Urtica urens 30C every 15 mins for 4 doses - that
usually starts the milk coming down. (And it can be repeated as needed
for a few days.)

If there is insufficient milk then you can use Lac-defloratum 30C, maybe
twice a day, but do not overdo or you get too much milk!

Alfalfa tincture is also a good milk "tonic".

Namaste,
Irene
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."

[Pauline Ashford]

Flat nipples are not by themselves a reason for unsuccessful breast feeding – but without help they leading to the baby tending to chew/or gum the nipples due to the difficulty in latching on – this then pushed the tongue back in the mouth and the areola is not ‘milked’ efficiently – the result of this is – painful feeding which can lead to cracked or sore nipples – a baby that is frustrated and hungry due to inability to nurse properly and it all equates to a ‘worried mother’ – who then starts to produce stress hormones, one of which is adrenalin, which of course are counter to the oxytocin and prolactin levels needed to establish and maintain the milk supply
The suggestions that Cheryl gave re getting the nipple out are good – however sometimes you need to encourage the baby to bring its tongue forward so it latches properly and milks the areola not the nipple. This can be encouraged by stroking a clean finger down the tongue from back to the front of the tongue just before slipping the nipple in – and if you can get the milk to let down with effleurage (gentle stroking from the outer parts of the breast towards the nipple and by envisaging the baby on and feeding) before slipping the nipple in much can be achieved – once the baby becomes more proficient at bringing the tongue forward the flat nipples become less of a problem as the feeding starts to draw them out.
Also if the Mother has had any pain killers (eg pethadine) during delivery sometimes the babies sucking coordination can suffer and by stroking the babies lips from midline (ie under the nose) to the corners on each side and on each lip this can be stimulated again.
Being relaxed and confident (even in the face of difficulties) are one of the greatest assets to successful breast feeding so getting rid of any people around who throw your confidence is a big positive move too.

Well meaning but erroneous or critical advice does not help – if there is a partner – set them up to being the ‘criticism’ police and keep these people at bay while their partner works on establishing her supply and feeding techniques. La leche and in Australia the Australian Breastfeeding Association (used to be Nursing Mothers assocn) have fantastic, usually very update, information and support available with counselors who can be of great help and support.

Also remembering that at around 4-6 weeks, and again at about 3 mths and again at about 6 mths the babies go thru appetite increases – where they often fuss and try to feed what seems endlessly for a few days or a week – let them do so – what they are doing is increasing their mothers supply – by feeding more often and having the milk let down more often it stimulates the production of oxytocin and prolactin thereby increasing the supply – and once the supply is up to the level needed the baby drops back on the number of feeds again – but takes more at each feed (just like a bottle fed baby does when the amount is increased from 100mls – to 150 mls and then to 200 ml feeds.) Our babies are the best teachers of breast feeding if we trust them (and Mother nature) and also learn a few tricks to overcome the anatomical difficulties that some Mothers or babies may have.

Nipple shields have their place in sore or cracked nipples or retracted nipples but if you canovercome it without them the supply is always better.

Regards Pauline
Pauline Ashford

Homoeopath

130 Ansell Rd Witta QLD 4552

Ph 07.54944101

email: paulineashford@optusnet.com.au

[Irene de Villiers]

It is also possible to *prevent* (or treat - but prevention is
better) sore and cracked nipples by using Phytolacca cream
topically. It will also prevent mastitis which can be an issue when
nipples are cracked and bacteria can enter - after all milk is a
superfood for bacrteria.
Namaste,
Irene
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."