While we don't suction all babies' stomachs at birth, sometimes if they remain very mucousy and/or persist in regurging emesis that is largely mucous or has a lot of blood particles, then we lavage them. We gavage in water, and suction it back out, along with all the possibly noxious substances. Sometimes works dramatically with babies who were not wanting to eat before.
Chanita, San Francisco
RN in a perinatal unit