Fiona, (what a lovely name - it is Scottish, no?)

Here in the government hospitals (the private ones are still pushing the
formula, as they are still pushed by the formula COMPANIES, ahem....) the
cup is exclusively used after the baby is off the tube-feeding. All EBM is
given either by tube or cup...until the baby can nurse directly, or for
those feedings when the mother is not present to breastfeed her infant. It
is the most lovely sight to walk into the NICU and see the nurses calmly
sitting around with these tender sprouts in a fairly upright position on
their laps, as they patiently cupfeed one oz. at a time. The mothers
themselves are also cupfeeding their infants if for some reason the sucking
is not working at first. But artificial teats are not present AT ALL.

Hard to believe, I realize, but in the UNICEF Baby Friendly certified
hospitals no nipples are allows in the nurseries. NONE.  The babies don't
seem to lose their natural sucking ability, as long as they are not allowed
to adapt to the rubber nipple and easy sucking. The babies are not
discharged until the peds and nurses are satisfied that the baby sucks well
*at the breast*.

Roberta