Nikki Lee Health

This morning, I received an email request from a concerned mother:

“Hi Nikki, I found you while endlessly searching the net for solutions to my baby’s torticollis. She has had torticollis from birth. Since she is my first child, I did not realize that keeping head turned on one side only is not normal. When she was diagnosed with torticollis and hypotonia we went to Physical Therapy.  Her muscle tone has improved considerably since then( i massage her everyday) she is walking and running like a normal toddler. However her torticollis has come back, and since she is very mobile and willful now, it is hard to do any kind of exercise. I am looking into craniosacral therapy, but i do not trust anyone with my baby.

I loved your approach( i read your interview and resume) but it seems you live in Pennsylvania. Would you know anyone in Florida who you can recommend for CST for my 15 month old? Also, i was not able to successfully breastfeed due to these issues and also my flat nipples and some bad decisions on my part. I have kept pumping though all these months, but my supply is down to 25 oz. Do you have any suggestions for me? I intend to give her my milk for many years to come.I would really appreciate if you write back. 

Signed, Dedicated and determined”

This is what I wrote back to her. I share her email and my response with her permission.

Dear Dedicated  and determined:

What a wonderful mother your baby has been blessed to have!!

You ask 2 questions:

1) About your milk supply. 25 ounces for a toddler is perfect. No one knows precisely how much milk the mother of a toddler will make. At this time in your lactation, your breasts also make milk while you are pumping. Your baby is running around, eating solid foods (I assume) and still getting mamma’s best; she doesn’t need as much milk now as she would have as a 2 month old.

Should you want to get more milk, I suggest using hands-on pumping techniques. Here is an excellent webpage that shows you how to do that: <http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html>

2) As for your baby’s torticollis, you live about 250 miles from the Upledger Institute. You could call Upledger and ask for a list of practitioners in your area; you could also go to their clinic yourself.

The Upledger Institute International, Inc.
11211 Prosperity Farms Rd., Suite D-325
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
561-622-4334
800-233-5880 – toll free
561-622-4771 – fax
upledger@upledger.com
www.upledger.com