Mary Ann asks:  If a baby attempts to breastfeed without an effective  
latch, is it
considered significant breastfeeding (in the first 24 hours of  life?
 
Attempts to breastfeed without an effective latch don't count. I don't know 
 how many times I've walked into a room to see a baby latched with a 
totally non  nutritive suck who falls asleep after a minute or  two. I've even 
seen babies billed as latched who are sucking on their  tongues and are not 
even on the breast. If these patterns continue baby will  lose too much weight 
and mother's milk supply is at risk. Our job in the first  24 hours is to 
not panic but to help mother correct the latch and to evaluate  for effective 
breastfeeding. We also need to teach the mother and the bedside  nurse how 
to assess the effectiveness of breastfeeding.
 
Kathy Boggs, RN, IBCLC

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