Kirsten:
Where are you? Congrats on your great BFing rate. I agree with your
neonatologist.
Weight and gestational age are not criteria for starting breastfeeding OR
going home. Infants must maintain normal body temp in a crib, remember to
breathe (most of the time), and feed at breast or po/cup/supplementer (or
combination) ad lib on demand well enough to gain weight consistently. Your
guidelines sound reasonable.
Nancy Wight MD, FAAP, IBCLC
Neonatologist
San Diego, CA