Re: Guthries/breast feeding

[Mary Murphy]

I'd like to ask the researchers if they checked whether the babies continued to feed in a relaxed contented way after they had been subjected to the newborn screening programme procedure and breastfed simultaneously. I'd like to suggest they may at times be a co-relation of the baby being unsettled, anxious and fussy at the breast after this procedure as they may associate pain in heal with breastfeeding.  Some mothers have reported this to me over the years and I'm a great believer in mother's intuition.Julie Clarke   Dear Julie, Over the years,  I too have been reluctant to do Guthries whilst at the breast.  I read the studies about glucose feeds acting as an analgaesic, some time ago and decided to give it a go.  I figured the best scource of glucose was breast milk. So far, over the last 6 months, I have had much more contented babies at the breast both during and in the 24 hrs after the procedure.  .  Another change I made was to the lancet I was using.   I am now using the yellow retractable lancet instead of either the old steel one or the blue one.  (sorry, don't know names)   It seems to do the job better and do away with the need for squeezing or re-pricking.  I must admit that I always rub Rescue Remedy on the babies foot (not the prick site) and talk to the baby & explain what I am going to do.  No randomised trials, it just feels the right way to go.  Cheers, Mary M