One way to "cure" the hypoglycemia epidemic would be to NOT test all babies
routinely.
Our protocol ( which was accepted by our pediatric department) calls for the
testing of babies of diabetic mothers, babies under 5 pounds and over 9
pounds( the old 4000 grams thing), and any baby, who in the nurse's
estimation, has any form of traumatic birth ( gut feelings and nursing
judgement rule here).
Many of our pediatricians also allow us to discontinue the protocol ( every 30
minutes x2,every hour x2, and every 2 hoursx2) if the baby remains stable
after three sugars( especially in babies who are just LGA with no history).
Betsy R.