> As I received absolutely no comments regarding the question:
> Step #9 in the Ten Steps to Becoming Baby Friendly, states: Give no
> atrificial teats or pacifiers to breastfeeding infants.
> Why wouldn't finger feeding be considered an artificial teat? I will ask
> again.
> I am assuming that this is a very individual opinion. Many of the nurses
> that I am working with are having a difficult time believing that finger
> feeding is better than bottlefeeding when a baby can't/won't latch onto the
> breast. Given time, patience and ofcourse skill, most babies will latch on
> regardless of which alternative method is used. Does anyone else find this
> to be true? If so, why finger feed for an indefinite period of time?
>
Marilyn,
There are IMO some obvious differences between bottle teats and fingers. First
is that a finger is living tissue with which one can feel what the baby does. So
the difference here lies with the feeding person, not the baby. The one that
feeds can feel what the baby does in terms of sucking action, tongue action,
etc. and if needed adjust the way the finger is presented or squeeze in more or
less milk according to the needs and/or effords of the baby. And that is also
the second difference with the bottle: the milkflow is changeable by the baby or
the person feeding. Depending on what device is used to supply the milk
(syringe, sns) is it more or less easy for both baby and feeder to regulate the
milkflow. That makes fingerfeeding not only a feeding method, but also, and in
my preference above all, a teaching aid for suck-confused babies.
The finger and the bottle teat both are firm, non pliable objects and for some
babies it will make them the same, while they cannot handle a firm mass in their
mouth easily. So, for some babies I can imagine that fingerfeeding can have the
same negative results as bottle feeding.
If baby is at all able to feed at the breast all feeding and/or teaching tools
should be used for a time as limited as possible, but that does not mean that
they shouldn't be used at all. It can save hours and probably days of trying and
struggling with an upset baby when one uses a tool like fingerfeeding to guide
the baby towards feeding at the breast.
I hope you and your collegues will find a consensus to work with.

Gonneke van Veldhuizen, IBCLC, Maaseik, Belgium
http://www.users.skynet.be/eurolac
[log in to unmask]

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html