I used the same rule of thumb with pumping for sick baby as for getting
healthy newborn to breast, begin early, pump often. Be sure mom knows how
to use equipment! so she doesn't hurt herself. Offer comfort techniques
and relax tech. I used to grumble in the nursery if the sick newborn was
over 12 hours old and no one had started mom pumping - they did not have to
wait for me as LC. ANY perinatal nurse should be able to help mom get
started. (yes I said SHOULD). I consider it a broach in newborn protocol,
the same as if healthy baby didn't get to the breast for 12 hours. I
always refer to every drop of colostrum as liquid gold and want baby to
have it. Someone is using swabs to coat inside of baby's mouth with
colostrum (archives???). Every drop counts even if baby is NPO. Swabbing
their mouth isn't really "feeding" them IMHO :-) Sincerely, Pat in SNJ