Does anyone have a policy/proceedure for swabbing colostrum in preterm and/or sick babies that have not started eating yet or if just drops of colostum available.  How frequently do you do this?  If the volume of colostrum is tiny, do you moisten the swab first (with water)?
 
I would do this as a comfort measure for babies in the NICU when I was a staff nurse.  I was asked to query this group and Lactnet to see what others do.
  
There is an article in Journal of Perinatology (2009) 29,1-7  Oropharyngeal administration of colostrum to extremely low birth weight infants: theoretical perspectives  NA Rodreguez et al
 
Rachel Wahl RN IBCLC 
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