Just attended the LLL of Eastern PA Conference where Hypoglycemia was discussed. The problem in the US is that hypoglycemia is not uniformly defined by the medical community everyone has their own cutoff #. Also, babies who MAY fall into a high risk category are all treated the same whether that is necessary or not. Most hospital policies seem to involve bottlefeeding formula and interfering with breastfeeding. Many babies are in the NICU til they are defined as stabilized. There is not enough research yet on the effect early and uninterupted breastfeeding on blood sugar levels. On a personal note, my sister has been an insulin dependent diabetic for 28 years. She lives in Toronto and had her first baby in September by planned C-Sect. It was too diffucult to BF on the table( a nurse helped her try) .She BF in the recovery room and was NEVER separated from her baby.(she insisted on this) All blood tests were done bedside and she BF every two hours or on demand which ever came first! Baby Liam's count went as low as 36 at one test but never lower. I think it is the lack of breastfeeding that get babies in trouble. I am glad she was in Toronto and not the USA! Robin B. Frees, BA, IBCLC