I would usually try to encourage a "reluctant" baby to take the breast if
he/she was not showing signs themself... often these "epiduralised" babies
need a little coaxing and kick starting and them they are fine. I would
ensure really comfortable positioning for both and help Mum express a little
colostrum onto the babies lips. Often that's enough to get rooting going.
Otherwise, if a baby hasn't fed by say 2-3 hours i would unwrap, coax again
with gentle stretching exercise and eye contact with mum, then maybe drip a
little colostrum into it's mouth.
Often in fact I find the problem is not the first feed with the medicated
babies; in fact that feed is almost always great - it's the subsequent ones,
when the baby just sleeps on. But even then a tast of colostrum is often all
it takes. I am quite proactive at getting the baby to the breast frequently'
with a 48hr stay as we have it is good to get the couple used to the baby
being at the breast and practising often before discharge.

Fiona Hermann, RM, IBCLC
Hamilton
New Zealand

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