Barbara, I really like your policy. We had one similar to it in a hospital I work in GA. Each of the " special needs - i.e.: low blood glucose etc.) were actually spelled out with guidelines and limits. This helped the nurses and kept the nighttime calls to the Ped. to a minimum. There was also a limit on the amount and frequency of formula feedings of 10-20cc rather than max of 30cc (1oz). In addition to this the nurse was required by policy to inform mother of hospital policy of supplementing, document in infant nurses notes and state mother's reply. This documenting also included the use of pacifiers, each and every time they were found in the bed also. If mom insisted on a pacifier a note was placed in the infant's bed as to mom's request. This was initiated after a mom got tired of being asked several times a day and complained to management. Guess who got called on the carpet? I would really like a copy of your complete policy to have on hand and compare to future policies and for comparison. Email me privately if you like. Thank You Ann Slaughter RN, IBCLC ___________________________________________________ Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 11:09:37 -0400 From: Barbara Berges <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Hospital BF policy and procedure Our hospital breastfeeding P&P reads: 6. Newborn infants are given no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless there is a physician order for a specific medical indication such as: Infants with particular nutritional requirements and restrictions in functional capabilities due to low birth weight or early gestation. Infants with hyperbilirubinemia when increased breastfeeding fails to provide adequate calories or hydration. Infants with potentially severe hypoglycemia or who require therapy for hypoglycemia and who do not improve with increased breastfeeding. I have been requested to include wording that deals with what to do if the mom requests the baby be supplemented. What do you think of the following. (Do you have any better options to suggest?) If a mother requests her infant be fed a supplement to breastfeeding, the reasons are explored by the nurse to help solve any problems that preclude exclusive breastfeeding: Assess for effective latch Breastfeeding offered at least 8 times in 24 hours Offer suggestions to treat nipple tenderness Discuss day/night confusion Plans to combine breastfeeding and bottle feeding are best delayed until breastfeeding is well-established Offer options to the mother to promote exclusive breastfeeding Provide skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby to soothe and quiet a fussy baby Have family member walk and soothe baby Take baby to the nursery so mother can rest and bring back for breastfeeding prn. If the mother chooses to have supplemental feedings given to her baby: Amounts should be limited to 1/2 to 1 oz. of formula. The mother should be encouraged to breastfeed first at every feeding. If supplemental nighttime feedings are given in the Nursery, the baby should be bottle fed once, and then taken out to breastfeed for the next feeding. Help, please...... Barb Berges BS, RN, IBCLC Rochester, New York ***************************************** **************************************************************************** *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] 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