I have always heard that a lactation consultants first rule of thumb is to
"feed the baby" and the second is to "maintain the milk supply." I try to
look at situations as what is best for baby.  What is coming out of him in
his diaper (enough or not enough)? How is the weight loss or gain?  How can
we preserve the breastfeeding relationship? Sometimes a little supplementing
with formula (or expressed human milk) at the breast for one or two or maybe
three feedings gets a sleepy baby, or a poor nurser, back on track with
active sucking at the breast. My goal is to teach the baby to actively suck
and swallow and transfer the milk into his tummy so that when mom and baby
leave the hospital their nursing relationship is going well and mom is
informed about the basics of breastfeeding.

Also, the nurse who was giving the glucose water bottle without mom's
permission. I would check with management because at the hospital where I
work, we are not supposed to give a breastfed baby anything without mom's
permission. If the mom complains to management that a nurse did give a
bottle without permission, we get in trouble. And, I don't work at a baby
friendly hospital, either!

Kathy Eng, BSW, IBCLC

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