Keren wrote:
Consequently, I had abundant opportunities to observe behaviors that =
followed incidences of cup feeding.  Many of these infants did not =
approach the breast in a manner that facilitated latching or suckling.  =
For example, after many of these infants cued to nurse they did not =
demonstrate appropriate nursing initiation behaviors. Instead after they =
were placed proximal to the breast, they sat idly while their mouths =
were only slightly opened. They made only minimal movements with their =
tongues and they seemed to wait for their mother's breastmilk to pour =
into their mouths. Naturally, many of these infants became very =
frustrated, as did their mothers.

When you said the babies showed feeding cues, I take this to mean they were
rooting, correct?  If this is so and they did not latch well to the breast I
would not leap to the first assumption that this was caused by cup feeding.
There are many reasons, mostly related to the birth process, that could cause
a baby not to latch or suck correctly as a newborn.  What I continue to
observe is that mothers are told it is "time" to feed their babies but this
is not based on feeding cues and therefore the babies do not nurse well and
the mothers feel they have failed at breastfeeding.
When I have cup feed, the baby usually does not take any milk in if they are
not interested, unlike the bottle.  Cup feeding does allow the baby to lead
the feeding and only take what they want.
Cup feeding on a short term bases works well to protect breastfeeding.
Ann Perry RN, IBCLC
Boston, MA

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