I'm wondering about when supplements are necessary for an ill baby who can't
come to breast.  I'm currently caring for a 36 weeker who's mom had
pre-eclampsia.  This little guy was depressed at birth and was briefly
intubated.  He's just over 24 hours old now.  His mom is interested in
breastfeeding, but he so far just sleeps at breast and won't open his mouth.
 Mom has started pumping and is getting small amounts of colostrum (actually
about 10 ccs per session, which considering she is very edematous, still
getting mag, and completely worn out from a difficult delivery I think is
pretty good.)  The nurses report he's sleepy with a bottle, too, but if they
poke the bottle into his mouth he sucks okay and is taking 15ccs or so per
feed.  I have encouraged them to try some of the techniques mentioned to
support behavior he'll need at breast.  Any ideas for how to get him to open
his mouth at all to start a feed?  And is poking the bottle nipple into his
mouth (the only way so far to get the nipple into his mouth) teaching him
bad habits he'll need to unlearn later?  Would an alternate feeding method
be better until he is more aggressive and stronger?
Jennifer Tieman
Family Physician
Mom to 4, including nursling Caroline Rose 5/31/03

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