Jacki Glover presented a "Breastfeeding Flow Chart" at workshop I attended in 2001 which accounts for different baby behaviours.  I remember her saying how different the first two test cases were: one followed the "Yes" path--woke and fed every couple of hours--while the other essentially slept for the first 24 hours, but since assessment for sepsis/hypoglycemia/dehydration were absent the supervising doctor was willing to allow the experiment to continue.  The baby eventually woke up and nursed like a pro. There was a set of clear conditions to be observed when using the chart.  I believe the appropriate reference from her bibliography is: Glover J (1994) Supplementation of breastfeeding newborns. A flow chart for decision making. JHL 11(2) 131-5.  She presented the information again at an LLLC Health Professional Seminar in 2004, too, but I remember the information from the first workshop better.

It might be a starting point for you if you are wanting to research the practice of "let the baby lead".

Nicola Aquino
LLLL (information junkie and pack-rat)


From:    Laurie Wheeler <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: long stretches of sleep first day

Do any of you (especially in a hospital or birthing facility) practice letting baby sleep as long as he wants during the first 24 hrs?
If so, what kind of baby (full term? had a good first feed w/i first hour?).
I feel I can make the case for a select group of well babies, and maybe do a little research as to how it goes?
Would this be harmful to a well term baby?
Laurie Wheeler RN MN IBCLC
Mississippi USA


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