Judy Knopf asked about the origin of pacifiers for premies...The
reasoning my institution uses for premies using pacifiers is the
research that shows the benefits of "nonnutritive sucking" during
continuous and intermittent gavage feedings (ie. improved weight gain).
Of course, when fullterm babies are in the NICU, pacifiers are used as
well. That doesn't exactly follow, does it? The study I often hear
quoted was in AWWHON's green journal.  I could look it up if anyone is
interested.  As for denying premies the breast...that is often based on
the myth that it is "too tiring" for premies and that the calorie
expenditure is too high during breastfeeding for them to be allowed to
breastfeed until they are "big enough".  Wasn't that DISPROVEN in the
80's?!  I am happy to say that I have talked my NNP's and Neonatologists
(all but one) into letting babies breast before, or at the same time as
bottles.  Alas, we have no such wonderful "breast only" protocols as
described earlier.  Another reason given for not BRF is that one can't
measure the amount of breat milk taken.  OH, YES WE CAN!
E. Armstrong, Fairfax, Virginia