In relation to the baby who had an NG tube in its mouth. I personally have reservation about passing an NG tube orally to feed a prem. It is something I have researched and there appears to have been no studies done, in the midwifery or medical literature. Babies are tubed orally because of the assumption that because the are obligate nose breathers, the mouth is the better route. Here is my contention. Tubing an infant via its mouth is a negative oral stimulus. Every time you pass that tube you also elicit the gag reflex and they are more inclined to vomit and could aspirate. Oral tubes mean repeated tube passes which is not only more stressful and unpleasant for the babe but for the parents too. ( yes parents should be allowed full ascess to their babies) Statistically the more times you pass a tube on a baby the more you expose them to the risk of operator fault and aspiration. I have worked in NICU's where naso-gastric tubing is the norm and the tube is changed after every 48hr.There were no problems with infection or respiratory difficulty as a result of the tube placement. It is more cost effective too (also for the parents if they are paying the bills) And the babies breathe just fine. Also means that as they start to grow they can be put to breast and topped up with a tube (in situ via nose) very easily. Does anyone have any research info that they can add to this from either perspective. One of my women delivered a little 31 week baby on friday and when I spoke to her this morning they were using oral tubes. Just imagine have an oral tube passed down your own throat every 3 hrs for maybe the next 3 weeks = 56 oral tubes! Regards Mandy O'Reilly RN RM *********************************************** 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