I couldn't agree more with Carol on this one. I rant and rave about
force feeding in the NICU all the time. I have gotten to OT's on my side
now and we are insisting on Habermans for our NICU preemies who will get
some prolonged bottle feeds until they go home to breastfeed all the
time.

Some of the nurses will want to use the red nipple to "get more in the
baby" but we insist this not be done...that a gavage feed would be a
better choice.

Oh, yeah, our neonatologist is also in agreement on this one! He will
leave an indwelling NG until baby can consistently do it with the breast
or Haberman.

Now, we just have to turn around several decades of "conventional
nursing wisdom." It also takes a bit of convincing for the parents who
feel getting rid of the tube is a good thing.....meaning their baby is
more "normal."

Susan Keith-Hergert RN, MS, CPN, IBCLC (former NICU nurse)
Mercy Health Partners
Cincinnati, Ohio

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