Re: Re: facial asymmetry

[Guest guest]

I mean to respond to the sooner, but I have a little personal experience with facial asymmetry.  My daughter was diagnosed with Goldenhar's Syndrome, AKA Occulo-Auriculo-Vertebral Spectrum.  This syndrome has a variety of components of varying severity.  Fortunately for us, hers is quite mild.  Facial asymmetry, when severe can effect brain development as well as speech, sinus issues, oral issues. Other things that are effected by this spectrum are the eyes, ears and vertebrae.  My daughter had brachial cleft deformities which looked like large skin tags on her neck below and in front of her ears.  She has fusion of her second and third cervical vertebrae and fatty tissue on on of her eyes.  I was not able to nurse her.  I can't say for certain if it was the issues she had that prevented it, because at the time I did not realize the wonderful skills that IBCLC's have and thought I had read all the books and did what they suggested...she would cry, I would cry, I would pump and give a bottle.  I pumped for her for 6 months.  I do wonder if I had sought out chiropractic or CST along with a Lactation Consultant if that would have made a difference for us.

At the same time though, we were so overwhelmed with having to see specialists for all of these issues, I don't know how receptive I would have been to add yet another appointment to my already full calendar.  Though my daughter's issues were not severe, as a new mom it was challenging to focus on getting her to the breast when there were so many other things to deal with.

My daughter is now 7 and her face has filled out nicely.  Only her dentist has noticed the asymmetry recently!I probably haven't been helpful with helping this baby, but I wanted to share our story.

Amy Grant, BA, IBCLC, RLCNatural Beginnings Lactation ServicesRound Lake Beach, ILwww.naturalbeginningslactation.com

 

Yes, it does seem useful to encourage getting some second opinions from a chiropractor versed in baby issues, or a CST (in our area, there are a couple of licensed speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with CST as one of the tools in their kits, and sometimes it is reassuring to mothers that the practitioner is also a more recognized-by-insurance speciality). 

The baby is very new, and you did say that the mother seemed a little overwhelmed.  Sympathize that it's difficult to see your child having some initial difficulty with something.   And reinforce that if a baby is still gaining strength, symmetry, patience, etc. that breastfeeding is the best oral exercise that we could devise -- it's vigorous, balanced, and babies want to do it.  I had a CST tell me that it's great

for helping pop things back into alignment.   So even if the baby isn't doing championship breastfeeding yet, she needs to see the value in what they are doing together.  Getting the baby bigger and stronger is only going to help.  So giving the baby plenty of breastfeeding sessions, but keeping them very focused via lots of baby stimulation, compression, switch nursing, etc. and declaring " done " when the baby starts to drift.  If she spends an hour+ feeding each time, it's hard to fit in the pumping that she needs to protect the supply.  This might be a good case for starting the feeding with some supplement, as a head-start on the meal, followed by " dessert " at the breast, to keep reinforcing, for a baby who's getting bottles so early,  that the breast is where the baby ends up full and happy.

She has to buy this baby some time, so keep discussing ways to make the

plan manageable.  Margaret Wills, land

-- Amy L Grant, LLLL

LLL of Central Lake County

(h)

algrant1973@...