June, 
re:"I am noticing more and more babies  latch but don't suck at the breast
=
in our hospital.  I realise that the birth, drugs, labour etc  impact on =
the breastfeeding partnership. I suggest skin to skin and have a check =
list I work with."

you will send all of us hospital nurses in a spin on this subject!  this
problem is sooo common.  i do what you are doing....and wait.  i do think
that skin to skin is really helpful, but difficult for this 'techno' world
to understand.  i try to tell moms (and nurses that are listening) about
where babies come from, that they are really sort of shocked about this new
world and are trying to find a comfortable spot in this new place.  i talk
about jan barger's "Baby's Second Night", that babies try to find the next
best place besides the womb to be comfortable(at the breast).  i find that
many babies suck on their tongues now.  i also find that time really helps.
sometimes we need to support their nutrition with a little formula here and
there (giving by syringe or whatever...or slow flow nipple) when necessary.
most babies keep up their blood sugars up fine(we are all about checking
that every 5 hrs!).  i think this is the trend with all these medicated
births.  and the anesthesiologists try different drugs and the babies
behavior changes with them.  i don't have time to figure all that out with
the anesthesiologists, just know it happens.  it really does effect how
babies/moms get their breastfeeding relationship going.  it creates alot of
stress in all our lives (nurses, drs), but most of all the moms/dads. i
mostly try to do damage control and support the moms with ways that support
bf.  

i will read with interest if any one else has ideas that are more helpful.
			betsy

Betsy Wells-Gephart
Lactation Specialist
Chandler Regional Hospital
480.821.3161 phone
602.519.9479 pager 

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