Pat Young wrote...."I think alternative methods depend on what you are trying to accomplish, age 
of baby etc. "

Pat, 
   I am a hospital LC and therefore am primarily interested in newborns and NICU babies.  We will use alternative feeding methods to bridge that gap when :
-mothers cannot be in the NICU for a feeding,
-when babies are having a difficult time learning to latch (due to prematurity or the effects of birth interventions)
-when the bili is rising and the Pedi orders supplementation
-when, in spite of reassurance, the mother is convinced "the baby isn't getting anything"

My goal would be to :
#1 Feed the baby!
#2 Preserve the breastfeeding relationship so the baby can transistion back to the breast
#3  Provide the parents with a method that will not disrupt learning to latch but not too cumbersome that the mother will give up completely!

Do you usually recommend one method over another?  And, in what circumstances?  Are there evidence based studies to recommend a particular method in a certain case?

I tend to lean toward finger feeding but the Pedi's are asking for proof!

Debbie  (posting this from home)

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