In a message dated 12/5/0 6:14:49 PM, Jean M writes:

<< following the thread of "nipple confusion" with the dehydrated, sleepy
baby, I'd like to ask those who felt the nipple shouldn't be the 1st choice
what they would offer to get breastmilk into the compromised baby quickly.
(Especially if the baby is not cooperating at the breast.) >>

Good question.

With *any* cooperation at breast, I would lean toward SNS, or some homemade
version of SNS, or syringe if no SNS available.

If totally unable to latch onto breast, options include Shield with SNS, or
cup, or if too sleepy for those options - finger feeding can help to
stimulate suck/swallow by wiggling your finger in the baby's mouth. I am not
sold on finger feeding as a prevention for nipple confusion, because a finger
is a long protruding object that encourages a narrow (not wide) mouth
position while sucking, but, it may help avoid (decrease risk of) artificial
nipple fast flow preference because you can somewhat control the flow to
respond to effective sucking.

Debbie Tobin
RN BSN IBCLC LCCE
Springfield, Virginia USA
In the suburbs outside the Washington DC beltway
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