OK so what is the story here?  At our local hospital on monday night
there is going to be a midwives meeting and one of the items on the
agenda is the practice of Blood sugars (dextrostix) on babies who
won't breastfeed.  2 local doctors are refusing the midwives
permission to do them saying that they are pointless and inaccurate
and that clinical signs of wether a baby should or should not need a
feed, should be observed?  I am still keen on a blood sugar if a baby
has not fed for 12 hours.  The problem is that these doctors won't
set any limit of when they want a baby fed by and basically if it
hasn't fed in 4 hours, it gets a tube or bottle feed.  I therefore
want this cleared up on monday night and need some assistance.

Secondaly the question of gastric lavage.  A midwife told me today
that this practice is out and that new midwives are being taught not
to do it.  I agree that routine lavage is not on, but feel that there
is a place if the baby is very mucousy to the point that it may
affect the babys ablility to breastfeed.  Any thoughts on this one?

Val in Busselton, Western Autralia
RN RM IBCLC