In a message dated 12/7/98 9:28:36 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> They do lots of things not right in our NICU (our neonatologists are
>  breastmilk friendly, but not breastfeeding friendly), but a nurse would
> NEVER
>  put down a NG/OG tube on a baby who just breastfed.  The baby can gag,
vomit,
>
>  and perhaps aspirate the milk.  Assessment of audible swallowing, diaper
>  output, and daily weights should give the nurses and MDs the information
> they
>  need.
>


My son Elliot was in the NICU (Knoxville, TN) for 2 weeks in January, '98 . He
was born at 37 weeks  and had persistent fetal circulation syndrome .  After
about 8 days, he received a nasal cannula (as opposed to the IV alone) and
began getting my breastmilk via tube feedings. Before each feeding they would
suction up what remained in his belly to see what was  still there before he
began "eating".  They would then release it back into his belly.I put him to
the breast for the first time at 12 days while he still had the nasal tube and
he nursed really well immediately ( he never had any artificial nipple during
those 12 days). They still continued to measure his feeds in this way until 14
days when he finally got the tube out. I then "camped out" in the hospital for
24 hours straight to prove that he would take all his feeds from the breast
(which wasn't easy since I had a 2 year old nursling with  raging chicken pox
at home at the time).  Anyway, they also weighed him, measured his diaper
output, etc, but they told me that the suctioning up of belly contents in the
early days of reciving breastmilk was necessary. It seemed harsh at the time,
but I trusted them that they were correct. Was I wrong? Overall I was very
pleased with his care there.

Katie Allison Granju
Knoxville, TN