It doesn't take but a few days for a baby to "wake up" after being put on
phenobarb. We seldom use dilantin so I can't answer there. So don't blame the
phenobarb if he's been on a stable dose for 3-4 days already.
A traumatic resusitation- w/ intubation, suctioning for meconium below the
cords, etc will often cause a baby to refuse any oral activities for a couple
days. Babies who are intubated long term, for example, can become orally
defensive to an extreme. Does the baby have a gag reflex? If not, that
doesn't bode well...probably a severe brain insult.
Gavage feedings don't interfere w/ developing BF behavior, per se. It'd be
nice to see more hospitals willing to keep the gavage tube in while the baby
is learning to BF instead of pushing the bottle.
Nicki