Hello all!

Rachel M:
>I do think that if the baby is going to be subjected to many heel sticks
>over a matter of days, it may be worth separating the painful stimulus from
>the breast, even if only by a few seconds, so that the breast is clearly a
>source of comfort AFTER the pain.

I think so too. (Personally I have been separating pain causing procedures
from breastfeeding with my daughter, who have had MANY blood tests
and other things during these two years. I have wanted to keep breast the
only thing that never cause her pain or discomfort when even I have to
stick her with a needle quite often. I check her glucose at least four
times a day to adjust her insulin doses, but she does not mind it any more
because she is so accustomed with it. She is such a brave warrior!)

I dont think that if a mother choose to breastfeed for comfort during
vaccinations or other occasional procedures, it would make necessarily
baby connect pain and breastfeeding since they are only occasional. But
if tests have to be taken many times during a short time then I would
separate pain and breast. It is great for comfort and secure after
procedures!

We discussed once at our Finnish breastfeeding support mailinglist
about sugarwater and exclusive breastfeeding and decided that a very
breastfeeding oriented mother could express a little bit of milk to be
given during blood test or pediatric evaluation. It is sweet and
wont mess the exclusive breastfeeding. (The newest thing here
is to give a little bit of sugarwater to the baby when the pedi is
examining her before departure from the hospital. The pedis like when
the baby is not crying when they are checking her hip joints.)

Best wishes,
Pia Ruohotie
RN, breastfeeding support group leader, WHO breastfeeding counsellor
trainer, mother of two daughters
From Helsinki, Finland (Scandinavia, Europe)

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