In our NICU, the babies eat every 3 hours. Occasionally a term bottle-feeding
baby will eat every 4, but that's unusual. And premies are never allowed to go
4. Unfortunately, it's true that they're ordered to be fed more -- often a lot
more! -- by bottle than they would probably get at breast. This is probably in
part due to staffing -- one nurse taking care of four babies just can't
feed/assist with nursing them all every 1 1/2-2 hours, and god forbid the
hospital spend the money to hire more staff to allow that to happen.
Jennifer Herrin, RN, IBCLC
Tulsa, OK