As to the question of giving pacifiers to NICU babies.  The question
needs to be asked "How long until these babies can be put to breast?"
 Many times, unfortunately, it is weeks and months.  We all are aware
of sucking as a comfort measure in newborns and the unborn.  If anyone
needs comforting, a NICU baby does.  These fragile little human beings
are subjected to painful stimuli, lights, noise and positioning that
is unnatural for our species, all at a time when tremendous
brain-growth and cell-migration to the cerebral cortex is occuring.
 These little ones often lack the muscle strength to bring their
fingers to their mouths or to maintain them there and so have lost a
very important self-calming, self-regulatory behavior.  My experience
with premature and critically ill babies is that many times, providing
a binky (pacifier) to suck on during painful procedures or during high
chaos times keeps them calm and in turn keeps them physiologically
stable.  There are companies out there who manufacture pacifiers for
premies which are the size and shape of the babies thumb that work
well.

Obviously, we do not want to do anything to upset the nursing
relationship between mothers and babies.  However, we need to look at
the whole picture as well.  If we can get these babies physiologically
stable more quickly (which paying attention to their individual
developmental needs has been proven to do) we get them onto their
mother's bodies and suckling at their breasts more quickly.

Just my .02 worth!

Kirsten Clary, RNC (IBCLC wannabee!)