Mardrey wrote about the benefits of being able to see a mom in her own home
and gave an illustration of how she can show mom how to express into a
tablespoon and feed the EBM to calm a frantic baby, which might not have
been possible in a hospital setting.   I would be interested to hear how
others handle this, but when I make hospital visits I have no hesitation in
asking the nursing staff for a medicine cup or spoon if baby is not latching
and needs to eat something *now*.  Sometimes they take too long to bring
them though, so I have taken to carrying plastic spoons in my tote-bag, and
provide my own.  I agree that feeding just a little EBM by spoon can calm
the baby down sufficiently to get him on the breast easily.  Also useful for
unrouseable babies in the first 24 hours when mom gets really anxious that
her baby is "not getting anything".

Pamela Morrison IBCLC, Zimbabwe