I have to DO something.  I am so tired of hearing from nurses or second
hand from the mothers that the nurse said she had never known a baby to
refuse the breast after having a bottle!  I am also tired of hearing
that the premie has 30 minutes to finish his feeding, therefore, the 32
weeker that I got to breast today and mom got to breast tonight was made
to take the baby off the breast while actively sucking so he could have
his formula!!!!  This mother did not speak English.  The nurse described
to me what a hard time she had explaining to the mother that she needed
to take the baby off the breast.  I wonder why?!  (Rather smart mother
in my estimation.)  This nurse was sure the baby would wear himself out
if he finished his feeding at the breast and might not take his
formula!  I took the order.  It said the baby MAY have 15 ml, not that
he had to.  The nurse insisted that's what it said.  Next time I will
get a specific order as to how long the baby may breastfeed at each
feeding, although I think this is utterly ridiculous!  The mother had
done a beautiful return demo on cup feeding at the previous feeding.  At
this (the next feeding), when I wasn't there, I'm sure the nurse told me
that the mother had bottlefed the baby!

My last trip into the nursery she (same nurse) was bottlefeeding the 36
weeker whose mother had earlier bemoaned the fact that the baby was
being bottle fed.  I had taught this mother to breastfeed the baby with
an SNS and to follow with a cup feed (baby was hypoglycemic by our
protocols).  I had just spent at least 30 minutes not 2 hours earlier
explaining to this nurse the problems with nipple feeds for these babies
and she has been trained to cup feed.  Why?  Why?  Why?  (End of rant.
I'll replace the soapbox beneath the computer.)

Next chance I get, I have to start working on preemie breastfeeding
guidelines for care and my lecture to the residents that I hope to give
on the same subject.  So, if someone already has something, please send
me your snail mail address and I'll send a SASE for your reply.  Thanks
in advance.

--
Bonnie Jones, RN, ICCE, IBCLC
from the sunny S.W. USA
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