Jeanette, Your case is a perfect example of when whatever milk the baby may be recieving may need to be diluted. I HATE saying though that the "EBM is too rich", what a negative message! All milk is too rich at this point for these already sick babies. It is a problem with the baby, not a quality of the milk. It so frustrating when the baby who has already had NEC (necretizing entero colitis) or in danger of it must be limited in the amount or strength of BM s/he recieves. NEC is one condition that has a decreased incidence in a breastfed population but sometimes baby just can't handle enteral (through the gut) feeding yet. Some other techniques to advance feeding that I have seen used are: 1)limiting the volume of milk (in addition to dilution) and gradually increasing of a period of days to weeks A) even using such tiny amounts as to be negliable as far as nutrition goes (like 1cc every 6 hours - like I think you said - to "prime" the gut 2) using continous gavage feeding as opposed to intermittent so a baby might get (for example) 5 cc steadily over every hour instead of 15 cc in a bolus every 3 hours (this is an important reason to feed fresh, refrigerated breastmilk as opposed to the stored, frozen breastmilk) 3) rectal stimulation with no suppository, just a lubricated thermometer tip , and of course the suppositories if this doesn't work. In regard to protecting the IV (intravenous catheter) because the baby was a "hard stick" - it can be tough. If you lose an IV you risk having to do a surgical procedure to get in a new one. Meanwhile, baby can drop his/her glucose levels, get off important medication schedules, etc - which can have devastating effects. Some IVs are very precarious, hanging in there by a wish and a promise only. Kangaroo care may have to wait. I love Kangaroo care but it isn't always possible as early as we would like. Hope this doesn't seem anti LC or anti BFing, I've been the RN in the NICU and the LC in the NICU and seen both sides. Carla (just north of Washington, DC)