Hi Anne...When I started the Lactation Program at our local hospital, we
were having difficulty getting pacifiers from the company we'd been
using.  I suggested we do away with them for regular nursery.  The
reasons we present to parents and physicians are:  Parents should have
the decision  making options re use of pacifiers, including shape, latex
vs silicone, and whether their baby should have one or not.  With the
shortened length of stay, we figured babies don't have much need for
pacifiers.

As for the question of pain relief during circs, parents may still opt
to have a pacifier for their son during  the procedure.  Some parents
feel a sense of relief(????) because some of our docs use emla cream or
lidocaine before the circ.

Truth is.... we still find pacifiers being taken from the NICU storeroom
for use in regular nursery when a nurse needs a baby to be quiet.   Good
luck in your endeavor.

(PS are you at Boston City Hosp.?  I lived in Needham for a while and
knew a nurse at BCH NICU)

Susan Wirtjes RN IBCLC

from Susan in Iowa (is this heaven?)

"What you permit, you promote"