From my nicu nurse days I remember that babies with Umbilical artery
cathethers (IVs in the umbilical vessel) usually are not fed until
about 24 hrs after these caths are removed. Possible compromised gut
perfusion leading to possible NEC I think is the rationale. Also if
baby is on a ventilator, often they are not fed, altho some on
long-term vent assistance get tube fed into stomach or jejunum. Also
babies seem to develop good coordination of suck/swallow/breathe about
34 wks gestation, so a 28 wker would not be breast or bottle feeding,
but could be gavage fed if otherwise physiologically stable.
Of course with kangaroo care lots of these little babes bf sooner than
what is conventionally thought to be appropriate.

Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC
Violet Louisiana, SE USA suburb of New Orleans
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