Hi,
Well after 17 months in process, 9 in Guatemala,,we can finally say we are home! I had made 3 trips during that time and then the 4th trip I just stayed there..lived in Antigua..and we got home March 30th. She had just turned 9 months. With all our one on one time in Antigua, I thought I would try to get her to latch again..first I disguised her bottle in a towel..she would frantically search for it and get really upset..I tried the Lactaid threaded through her usual nipple..wouldnt have anything to do with it..tried the lactaid through a nipple shield..no go..tried the Avent bottles again, would not suck..it is hard for her to be separated from her care giver of 8.5 months, get used to the apt in Antigua, then 3 weeks later get used to the house here in Maryland etc..we have bonded tremendously well..she cries if I leave her sight..and calls me "Mammy".. she will lay on my breast, pinch my breast and yesterday did suck 3x for a few seconds each..I had started pumping and domeridone in Jan, she got a little bit of breast milk..I had used my frozen milk for her on my first trip last August..and Mary also gave me some..she is mainly on soy now, has severe diarrhea with milk based formulas (they kept putting her on regular powdered milk, started at 4 months, even though I was supplying all the soy..I think the foster mother was selling it) and applesauce as her sole source of nutrition..she was so thin, that is one reason I just decided to go over and foster her..she gained 3/4 lb with me in the first week.
Any suggestions on trying to get her to latch I would appreciate it..Aside from Mary, Bella has also generously offered me her stash of bm..so getting bm will not be a problem, I just really want her to nurse! She is very high spirited also, not your laid back kind of baby, so that doesnt help! Thanks alot, Cathy