This mom had an unusual circumstance and used some creativity and a big dose of trust in herself to solve it. Here is what she had to say:

”My 4 day old breastfeeding champ and content daughter started howling like a banshee at night. I "knew" she wasn't hungry - when I put her to my breast she'd start to latch on and then shake her head and pull away.

I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was going on for our little one. Nothing I tried helped.

After several nights my husband noticed that her suck was weaker in the evening, as if she were getting tired. The same evening, I started reading the breastfeeding chapter of "Our Babies Ourselves" by Meredith Small.

She describes how lactation specialist Diane Weissinger had Meredith "practice" nursing on a mostly full balloon - first just taking the balloon in her mouth and sucking, and secondly, squeezing the balloon first to elongate its shape. She noted that she could take much more of the balloon in on the second try.

I fell asleep with those two thoughts in the back of my brain. In the middle of the night I awoke for the umpteenth time - but this time with a triumphant cry.

"I've got it!" I told my husband. I lifted our baby, held my breast, and she latched on perfectly, sucking away as if there were no tomorrow.

What I hadn't noticed was that her crying coincided with my milk coming in - her tired night-time mouth was no match for my large, full breasts. Although she could nurse just fine the rest of the time, she needed help at night.

From then on, it was smooth sailing in the nursing department - and I learned to pay closer attention to my changes and hers - which has stood me in good stead as a mom since!”

Additionally, when it comes to breastfeeding in public, she comments: “I nurse whenever I am out, wherever I go, with my head held high, making eye contact and smiling. It is my little way of being an activist and paving the way for others.”

Julie Nathanielsz
http://Realized-Potential.com