After reading the recent posting on ABM and foster parenting I thought I
would share my own experience. I too began fostering an infant quite
suddenly. The baby was born at 36 weeks, drug and alcohol exposed
prenatally, and was very irritable, jaundiced, and very high muscle
tone. He would stiffen his legs and body so much that it was hard to
change diapers.  For the first week I fed him ABM in a bottle Q 2 hours
taking 1 hour to get in 1 oz. I used a quiet dark corner and no
talk/touch. Finally I thought to use an SNS with ABM and magic happened!
He softened and fed much better and gained weight finally. I used the
SNS for only 2 weeks because he began refusing a bottle and I needed to
go to work. I felt that feeding at the breast really made a big
difference as he then was able to bottlefeed without any problems and I
felt more responsive to him as a foster mother. I did develop sore
nipples which cleared when I rinsed the ABM off my nipples after feeds.
Another big advantage for me- I became really skilled with the SNS. The
MD and the "authorities" were not informed as I couldn't predict their
response.
Quen Zorrah P.H.N.  I.B.C.L.C.