As the sole LC for a large OB service (>7000 births per year) I am
always frustrated by the fact that the babies spend hours in the nursery
waiting for the peds to examine them.  Meanwhile, some of them last fed
at 2 a.m. and don't end up going to their mothers until 1o a.m.!  There
are some peds that are happy to examine the babies in moms room, but a
large number who steadfastly refuse.  I pass on a suggestion...one of
our assistant nurse managers did a cost analysis of how much it costs to
round all of the babies up and keep them in the nursery for that amount
of time and it is rocking the proverbial boat!  The bottom line in U.S.
hospitals is the almighty $$$$.  Maybe this will change our practice.
I'll keep you posted.
E. Armstrong, Fairfax, Va.