>   Is there anywhere to go to find out what in hospital LC care should
> "look" like.   I like to keep moms and babies together but  is that safe
> in hospital beds
>  Has anyone used that "sweet ease"

Ilene
Having worked in private practice for many years  (mostly babies between 4
days and  6 weeks) I found working with newborns in hospital to be a
fascinating learning experience.

I found the best people to learn from are the mothers and babies themselves.

My suggestion is to go back to basics - what is the physiological norm? -
what is the reality in your facility?  - how open are the staff to changes?
What are the major obstacles and how can they be slowly worked on?  One
mother at a time if necessary.

Where I work, babies in bed are not encouraged, but also not frowned upon.
We are now working (slowly) toward skin-to-skin care for all newborns.

We don't use "sweet ease" but some staff members still do use a few drops of
"colic" remedy on the nipples to entice baby to latch - I guess this is
better than giving formula??!!  I would prefer to express some colostrum,
place baby skin-to-skin and come back later.

The most difficult, but most important ingredient is *patience*.  What a
baby on day one is unable to do (eg coordinate his tongue action) he may do
very well on day two when stress levels are less.

Enjoy the challenge.

Jean Ridler  RN  RM  IBCLC  (Private and Hospital Practice)
South Africa   [log in to unmask]

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