> I wonder what the rationale is for not allowing a baby with pneumonia to
bf is?

Here it is:  When babies have pneumonia they are usually tachypnic.
If you have to breathe really fast - there's not a lot of time to suck and
swallow.

Try this at home: Run around the block three times [it would only take me
one time] until you're breathing really fast, then before you catch your
breath try to drink a glass of water. It's hard not to choke and you feel
even more short of breath.

The worry here is aspiration and on top of that, very tachypnic babies
don't feed very well.

If they are not too tachypnic and they breastfeed, I'll let them try.  The
normal respiratory rate for a newborn is about 40.  When they get to 80 or
90 (they do) it's just not a good idea.

Gail
Gail S. Hertz, MD, IBCLC
Resident,  Dept. of Pediatrics
PSGHS Children's Hospital
Hershey  PA
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