In a message dated 3/25/02 3:33:16 AM Pacific Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > <Recently a patient told me that an LC instructed her to wake her full term, > healthy newborn every 3 hrs at night to feed her. I have always told my > patients that if the baby is feeding well during the day, there was no need > to wake her at night. Is there a need to wake a baby at night who is feeding > well during the day?> > I have a problem with telling any mother to wake her baby by the clock to feed. I tell the parents about feeding cues and the need to look for these to rouse the baby for a feeding. I also tell them that a baby needs to breastfeed at least 8 times a day. If the baby is feeding at least that many times and is stooling well I reinforce to the parents that their baby is doing well...............RELAX and enjoy your baby. IF THE BABY IS NOT DOING WELL..............then I encourage skin-to-skin, bring the baby into bed so it easier to hear the baby stirring, and encourage more feedings during the day. If the breast wake a mother and the baby is sleeping, I advise to bring the baby to bed and express the breast for comfort as needed. Trying to wake a baby out of a deep sleep is both frustrating to the mother and baby why would we want to encourage this frustration? Feeding babies by the clock does not work, never has worked and I would love to see these timing issues disappear so mothers are looking at their babies and not the clocks. Feel like I'm on a soup box but just passationate. Ann Perry RN,IBCLC Boston, MA *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html