Dear Janet and others, NPO means "Nothing per os," "per os" being "by mouth." So-- "nothing by mouth." "po meds" are medicines taken by mouth (as opposed to IM-intramuscular, IV-intravenous or SC- subcutaneous (under the skin). People are often put NPO after midnight before surgery to avoid aspiration, young children often NPO for 4-8 hours before surgery, etc., so they probably think they're being liberal to say npo for only one hour. I agree that npo for one hour is probably appropriate for abm-fed babies, but breastmilk is so physiologic aspiration is not a risk, and npo should not be necessary. Tina Smillie, MD (pediatrics) back on lactnet after a month of nomail. I've missed you all.