This post is a bit tardy since this was being discussed a few days ago, but
I wanted to add my agreement to Jan's thought that it's hard to learn
something new when you haven't eaten for 24-48 hrs (hope I didn't butcher
that idea since I didn't quote it).  I don't much worry when it's under 24
hours but when it starts going over that, you really have to assess the
baby.  At some point, for some babies, that initial 24 hr. sleepy period can
go into lethargy from lack of calories without much notice.  What I often do
is have the mother pump and take whatever she gets, often just a few cc's
and dribble it down the nipple with baby's face right there and let baby
lick it off, essentially, since they are not really latching.  Often I've
noticed, if we get just a few calories in them, within an hour or two, they
are alert and actively seeking food.  Now you might argue that they would
have done that anyway and you might be right, but 1) you haven't interfered
with anything by using mom's own milk and not using any type of feeding
device and, 2) you have gotten some milk into them which makes everyone
happy, staff, pediatrician, parents and, usually, baby.  I have seen this
enough to think that baby just needed a few calories for energy to wake up
and feed.  If I'm fooling myself, at least no harm has been done.

Marsha


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future generations
as all other earthly causes combined.
John S. C. Abbot
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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