I agree with Jan,s earlier post about it not saving anyone any time
,money, emotional energy or anything else just to feed a baby a bottle of
breast milk so he can go home, instead of helping mom and baby to nurse.
  I was reminded of my own experience with my tiny ,sick preemie. When it
was time for oral feeding all medical personnel agreed that breast milk
was the best thing for this infant   BUT no one wanted it to come from
the breast!  Not only did I not get any encouragement, Iwas actively
Discouraged. Once I was reprimanded severly for merely holding her to my
breast! I ran from the nursery in tears and could not bear to return the
next day. They finallly realized that if they alienated the mother it
would not be in the baby,s best interest. The doctor wrote in the chart
that parents be "allowed " to nurture the baby. If I had not already
nursed her older sister and known exactly what I would be missing by not
nursing this baby, I would  have given up .
   I did room in with her 24 hrs before discharge and that helped with
breast feeding and learning all the equipment we would have to deal with
at home.
   Breastfeeding Source Book by Marilyn Grams M.D. has a wonderful
chapter on if your baby is in intensive care. It discusses how to work
with the nurses and mentions that every one would be alot more relaxed if
they didn,t confuse nursing with feeding in the very beginning.
     That tiny sick preemie is now an exuberant, sparkly eyed, big
toothed , skinned kneed    8 year old who reads three grade levels ahead!
 WHEW !
    Mary Graden LLL Idaho