What I see at the hospital that I work at is lots of sleepy (drugged) babies
that go on the breast but don't actively suck and swallow. While we don't
have the SNS in stock, we do have bottles, which are very commonly used for
fussy or sleepy babies. I am working on a campaign to teach our nursing
staff to teach the mothers to look for active sucking and swallowing, with
short pauses, eyes open, and the baby nursing vigorously for at least the
first 10 minutes,  then slowing down it's sucking and swallowing for a total
of 15-20 minutes per side.

The problem with locking up the SNS's is that your nursing staff may go back
to bottles. You might think about what would be worse.

I'd suggest a teaching campaign to train nursing staff in the normal
breastfeeding pattern and to only use the SNS when needed. Sometimes a
little syringe (without needle) or an eyedropper or medicine dropper works
just as well at the breast and isn't giving so much supplement. Speaking
frankly,  some of our sleepy (drugged) babies really need a little
supplementation at the breast to get them to suck and swallow. Sad to say,
but otherwise they latch and suck for a few times and then quit. Some of our
c-section moms have their epidurals in for 3 days.

Good luck! -- Kathy Eng, BSW, IBCLC

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