I am surprised at the nurses.  I am sure they would have no problem
for a mother going and holding a baby who was dying.  They would say
the contact was important for the mother.  They might even understand
that it could be important for the baby.  So why not encourage
breastfeeding or breastmilk feeding?

I will paraphrase a letter I received from a mother of a baby who was
not just in danger of death, but everyone knew the baby would die from
a neuromuscular disease.  She said:

I was so glad that I was able to provide the baby with my milk right
to the end.  It was something that only I could do for him.

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC