Hi all,

A LC (IBCLC) from the local hospital called me. She is trying to introduce
a more breastfeeding friendly routine in the hospital, both on the "normal"
department (were all healthy newborns are) as on the children's department,
where all the ill and premature babies are.

she has a few questions and asked me to ask you for information:

*when should fingerfeeding be done? Eg, a fullterm 3 days old baby refuses
the breast from day one. Hasn't sucked yet. Should she start fingerfeeding?
These are her thougths about fingerfeeding: She thinks that babies should
learn to suck. With a cup babies don't suck. But she is concerned about
finger/nipple confusion. She has observed that some babies get used to the
finger and don't take the breast, just as with bottles.
*What about hygiene? When a nurse fingerfeeds a baby, should she wear
handgloves? For hygienical reasons yes, but in her opinion it partly
counteracts one of the advantages of fingerfeeding, the "real skin" contact
in the baby's mouth.

She is very interested in experiences from LC's who are in the same
position as she is, working in a hospital, working with healthy *and* with
ill and premature newborns.

--
Annelies Bon
bf counsellor of the Dutch bf organization "Borstvoeding Natuurlijk"