I can confirm Helen Woodman's picture of what happens in the UK re
suctioning and aspiration of mucous in newborns - that is,  it's hardly
ever done.

When you have spoken of oral defensiveness on Lactnet, I have wondered if I
have ever really seen this - I certainly come across babies who are
difficult to latch and who resist the breast, and these babies (and their
mothers) have often been messed about with, but I have not been sure of
what oral defensiveness would be....and I have never heard of the blue bulb
syringe.

Like Helen I made a few enquiries among those who know about midwifery
practice and discovered that my impression was correct - newborns are *not*
aspirated or suctioned unless there are clear signs the baby is having
breathing problems connected with mucus or meconium. Even then, there is no
syringe used; instead gentle aspiration is done only in the mouth - not
down the throat or up the nose. One senior midwife I spoke to said they
used to aspirate more, as the head was being born (in fact I can remember
it being done with my second child 17 yrs ago) but this ceased a long time
ago as it was thought to cause more breathing problems - and she couldn't
remember the last time she had done it.

It has never been done routinely, according to my sources.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK