>Well at this
>hospital, and according to a couple of the nurses, and surrounding
>hospitals, that if babies are having problems with nursing, ie. latch on,
>then they start them pumping in the first 12 hours. I feel like this is
>just an added stress on the patient and could be an easier way for her to
>give up.


I would love to see some decent research on this.

In the UK, mainstream practice among all hospital maternity units,
including Baby Friendly ones, would *not* be to pump as soon as this.
Some hand expression of colostrum would be encouraged to help tempt
the baby, and to offer the baby if he is still not latching on over a
couple of days.

Using a pump has some (hypothetical) drawbacks, I think

* you lose some drops in the equipment
* it's an extra 'thing' that has to be specially obtained, sterilised
and fitted together
* it could be an added stress as you suggest

I'm especially puzzled about using the pump (or any form of
expression), when it's used in a context where babies and mothers may
be separated. Better to bring the mothers and babies into bed,
together.

I and colleagues are beginning to question whether some UK maternity
units are a bit too relaxed about babies not latching on at all for
2-3 days. I think it's good that some are less worried than they used
to be about hypoglycaemia, and that supplementation is not routinely
suggested just because a baby is not latching on.

But I speak to many mothers whose bf has had this sort of very slow
start, and who are still having problems with getting bf underway 2
or 3 or even 4 weeks later. These babies are usually very drugged
during labour and birth and take 2 days to wake up. Everyone seems a
little too laid back about this. I don't think it is a reason for
panicking, but I do think it is a reason for encouraging even more
togetherness.

So while I dont think that getting everyone on a pump 12 hours after
the  birth is necessarily the right approach, I think there is a lot
we need to know about the best way  to overcome birth after-effects,
so they don't have a knock-on effect weeks later....or of course,
prevent bf lasting more than a day or so anyway.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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