Nikki Lee writes:

>Dear Folks:
>  This is in response to Patricia Drazin's email.
>  On page 7 of the WHO/UNICEF publication Protecting, Promoting, and
>Supporting Breastfeeding, there is the statement that "under normal
>circumstances the neonate requires no water or other food whatsoever during
>the first 2-4 days after birth while lactation is being initiated."
>   Now, can we consider birth in US hospitals "under normal circumstances"?
>

I wasn't going to post on this topic as it is about hospital procedures, but
I'll share a theory of mine.  I believe that, as others have said, there is
protection from fluid loss in the newborn "under normal circumstances."  But
if there is anything by mouth, such as water, the system is a "go," as in
urine loss.

I work with a lot of babies born at home and they hold their fluid until
feeding gets going.  I haven't seen any of them with signs of beginning
dehydration. However if a baby was born in hospital I assume that something
was given by mouth during that hospital stay and therafter must be orally
hydratred regularly.

One little boy was not interested in feeding after a very normal birth.  He
was alert, wet mouth, active and not feeding at day 3.  Dad decided that he
may not know that he had to eat to survive, so he went into the kitchen and
came back with some toast.  He got up close to baby's face and chewed loudly
and made "yummy" sounds, and said," Son, this is how we eat.  Your mamma has
your food.  Come on now."

And guess what!  At the next offering of the breast baby boy latched on and
nursed for 20 minutes.  It *was* in a tub of lovely warm water, but we all
knew that Dad had gotten the message across.

Patricia Gima, IBCLC
Milwaukee
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