In a message dated 11/30/00 12:12:54 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> I think the biggest problem is documentation and hospital policies.  =
> Most policies have "minutes" and "time between feedings" listed in the =
> policy. Policies are in place for the well-being of the baby, or else =
> "anything goes". Nurses have to document that the baby is nursing so he =
> doesn't get dehydrated and hypoglycemic.  In the 24 to 48 hours after =
> birth, before discharge, a baby has to learn to nurse, not lose too much =
> weight, void and stool. Mothers, many nurses, many physicians, feel the =
> more the better, and feel supplementation is necessary when a baby =
> doesn't nurse X number of minutes (5?, 10?, 20?)  Hopefully a good latch =
> is observed and documented. How do we write a good policy that is best =
> for mothers and babies, make sure the baby is really feeding adequately, =
> and will please the Pediatricians?=20
>
> Dianne RN IBCLC
>

I have always had references on the policies that I have written. Get current
research articles from respected journals & texts. You could recommend
developing a breastfeeding commitee to revise the policies. Have
representatives from nursing, dietary, ped docs & OB docs--it is usually
advised to have a member of management included. It takes time, but it works

Laura Hart
Winter Park, FL (many in Florida can be very slow in adopting more
progressive--read that as patient-friendly-- policies.)

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