I am interested in the responses to this thread, as I was one of these
mothers. I didn't even know it until I read your post! When Dryden was
born I was so exhausted after a 29 hour labor I couldn't even hold up my
own head, much less hold a baby and position him to nurse. They took him
away and I didn't see him again until some time later. They brought him
into my room where I tried and tried to get him to latch on, but he was
just too sleepy. We didn't nurse the whole time we were in the hospital.
:(

Anyway, Dryden's temp kept dropping for some reason, and they told me
that he was starting to jaundice. They gave him formula and put him
under the lights (can't remember the whole name, but you know what I'm
talking about). They told me that there was a problem if he didn't eat
(even though I've always understood that a baby doesn't 'need' to eat in
the first 24 hours, they still have plenty of nutrients from still being
inside mom to sustain them.) in the next few hours, and gave him
formula. (They did cup feed him to avoid nipple confusion at least!)

Then doc examines Dryden and says that his blood sugar levels are low,
and that if they drop ANY lower, Dryden has to STAY in the HOSPITAL.

Later I told my MIL about this, she just happens to be the lead lab-tech
at a local HMO, and she said his levels were just fine.

I can't say I'm not annoyed at this, I'm just grateful we didn't have
any nursing problems that stemmed from this.

Kristina Roberson