Somone wrote:

>At my hospital the IBCLCs are preparing an inservice for the nurses on >the
>topic of realistic expectations for breastfeeding in the 1st and >2nd days
>of life. This is a constant conflict for us, as they are >always pressing
>the moms to "feed every 3 hrs", which is usually >impossible since the
>babies are so sleepy. If they can't breastfeed, >they feel pressured to
>give bottles. We are collecting research >defense for the expectation that
>one or two good feeds in the 1st day >and the same or a little more in the
>second day is adequate for the >healthy, full term newborn.

The problem here is that babies are not feeding as often or as well as they
need to.  You can't fix that problem by redefining what is adequate or
realistic.  You can fix it by providing supplemental bottles, but that leads
to all sorts of other problems.  The best solution is to fix it by
preventing it.  The way to do that is to cut way way back on the use of
drugs during labor.  You need normal, healthy, wide-awake newborns, and then
your 'problem' will disappear.  In fact, the newborns should be wanting to
nurse much more frequently than only once every 3 hours, which is probably
much too little.

Kathy Dettwyler

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