We have been having rooming-in, with considerable flack from the
traditionalists, but lots of support from the administration and supervisors,
for some months now.  As was to be expected, a baby became very ill due to
unidentified cardiac problems, while in mom's room.  When taken to the nursery
he was gray (mom called due to color change) and the glucose test results (not
lab) was 39. This mom had a c-section and was visited by the breastfeeding
educator nurse 3 times, observed to be nursing well, baby was seen to swallow,
in good position and no color changes were observed at any of her visits.   Now
suddenly the breastfeeding educator nurses and I are being challenged:  How many
diapers did the baby void?  How many stools?

My first answer is that even though the baby is in mom's room, the nursery
nurses are still responsible for them.  As we had agreed from the beginning,
they must make regular rounds and not depend on either the maternity nurses nor
the breastfeeding educators for evaluations.

Secondly, it is my understanding that cardiac changes the first few days of life
make it difficult to predict this sort of problem and breastfeeding or
rooming-in would neither cause nor agravate them.

I would like feedback on this type of situation from you -
And how many diapers *should* a breastfed baby wet days 1-3?
How many stools?    We are very careful to educate about wet diapers and stools
from day 4 on, when babies go home, but were leaving the rooming in education to
the nursery nurses who take the babies to the mother, give her a chart, and
explain the policies of rooming in.  What type of education do you give?

Please E-Mail Privately.

Thanks In Advance!

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC - Puerto Rico
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