I have very little clinical hands-on experience of new babies in the first
day or so after birth, but I do know what mothers tell me about their
hospital experiences, and the consequences for their bf (which they call me
and people like me to discuss).

A lot of intervention in those early hours - in the UK it's likely to be
nipple shields, EBM or formula in bottle or cup, and many fruitless
attempts to get the baby on - *can lead in itself to problems*.  I agree
with the posts that suggest that trying to encourage bf when the baby is
wanting to sleep (and may be unable to wake because of labour meds still in
his system) can be counter- productive.  Why not lots of skin-to-skin,
bedding-in where possible, certainly rooming-in (away with those newborn
nurseries!) , support and encouragement and patience?  Obviously, while
being patient, the baby is observed for any clinical signs of dehydration,
low blood sugar or anything else.

The routine checking of blood sugars we know is perilous to bf - the
discussion recently on the list has highlighted a) the stix are innacurate
b) there's no consensus about what's acceptable anyway - so what's being
looked for?

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK