Jack is absolutely right. It is the sick, injured, dying infant who needs the compassionate comfort of the breast the most. It matters little whether the baby actually feeds this way, but so long as the baby can be held, time at breast is soothing. Later, milk throught the tube feeds may even provide some analgesia. There has been discussion lately in the peds lit about how dying children are not getting the appropriate level of pain relief and hospice type care (prob. because to provide it means parents and care givers have to confront the reality of the situation -- which is so painful that denial seems preferable). My experience suggests the mother appreciates deeply anything that eases the misery of her baby. Barbara Wilson-Clay BSEd, IBCLC Austin Lactation Associates http://www.lactnews.com *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html