I am also very interested in knowing what the length of time a baby can safely go without breastfeeding immediately after birth. This has been a topic of discussion with our hospital nurses and lactation consultants.  We have such medicated deliveries, and then sleepy babies. And if they won't nurse after the mandatory 4 hours in the transitional nursery (after  birth), they will be given a bottle. Well, another bottle, they get the mandatory glucose water in a bottle to see if they can suck and swallow in the first few hours after birth while they are in the nursery. 

Seems like we play "catch up" for two days waiting for many of these babies to be ready to nurse vigorously. The discussion today centered around what would happen if we could let the babies take their time and have that first breastfeeding after going to mom from the transitional nursery when the baby wanted it (not when the nurse says it is time). Not to mention less time in the warmer away from mom....

Thanks, Kathy Eng

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