Successful breastfeeding.. - Page 2

[sbrinton]

I don't have time to read everyone's responses right now so maybe someone else brought this up...

Have you tried using a nipple shield? We've found that it makes a huge difference in helping our little one latch on and stay on. He also takes much larger quantities of breastmilk with the shield than without. Our son is 36 weeks and about 5 1/2 pounds.

In the hospital we were weighing Zephan before and after every feeding for a while to see if he was getting enough by breast. When he was consistently taking enough, we stopped weighing him at every feeding and instead weighed him daily. Now that we're home, we'll weigh him weekly or less often. I think the doctors want to see about 1/2-1 ounce of growth each day at this point.

To tell if he is eating enough, I generally try to nurse until he is content. Sometimes he'll go 3-4 hours before wanting to eat again. Other times it is 1-2.

I know someone mentioned babies might take more by bottle, but we've found the opposite to be true for Zephan. He is a much more efficient breast feeder than bottle feeder.

[1momct]

I feel your pain! Our 25 weeker is 7 weeks corrected this friday.

When we were BF at the hospital, I was so excited. He would latch BEAUTIFULLY, and really suck, and would stay on for 10 min or so, and then I would pop him back on the BF scale, and he would have taken about 1 mL. Our high before leaving the hospital was 10 mL and that was with a nursing/break/nursing. And it happened one time. mostly we got 2s, 3s and a few 6s and 8s.

We got him home the first week of Nov. I put him to breast every time he fussed at all, then I gave him a bottle, then I pumped. 3 weeks ago I finally got permission to stop topping him off and just putting him to breast. That way he would get hungry enough to nurse when he needed to. I wouldn't let him go more than 2 hours without feeding during the day, and 3.5-4 hours at night. He did have a flat week of gain, but is now gaining again, quite nicely.

I do have to add that we are still having to supplement with 3 80 ML feeds of 28 Kcal Nutramagin. I put him to breast first, then bottle then pump for those.

At his first transitional clinic meeting (5 weeks out from discharge) his head was in the 50th percentile, while his length/weight are still in the 20s.

It will take a ton of work on your part mama, but it can be done.

Oh, over the last week, I have been supplementing myself with fenugreek and blessed thistle. Not so much for supply (but I always worry a little bit about it, as I am not a good pumper) but to help with flow. I have to say, it seems to help, my milk does come out a bit quicker when hand expressing and pumping than before.

[DocsNemesis]

My last bubba was 7 weeks early. We started off on bottles too. We just kept trying once or twice a day, when he wasnt getting it or getting frustrated, I'd stop and just let it go. Everyone told me that as he got closer to his due date, he'd get the hang of it. Sure enough, ON his due date, he started nursing!

As far as making sure they are getting enough...I can understand. That always seemed so silly to me-I had breastfed my older 3 and I never got why someone would be so concerned about it. But then, I had this little dude, barely 6 pounds when I took him home, and after bottle feeding for weeks, I understood. Its really scary when you've gotten used to feeding 3 ounces every 2 hours, or something along that line, to suddenly have no clue how much they are actually getting. You just have to let go and follow your baby's cues. Nurse him-if he starts crying or is still acting hungry but wont nurse, go ahead and offer a bottle. I just basically offered the breast everytime he fussed, and hed nurse briefly (literraly a minute or so) and want it again 30 minutes later. As long as baby isnt losing weight and, hopefully, is gaining, then they are fine.

Fyi-I took my son in a few weeks after he started nursing full time to get him weighed and saw he was gaining. I didnt really worry about it after that. You can really SEE that they are gaining....my previously skinny little preemie has rolls now!!! Hes so rolly polly, I love it!!!

Oh also-we were sent home with supplemental formula as well (22 cal). I decided on my own to stop all the supplementing/vitamins because A.) the vitamins made him throw up and B.) the supplemental formula made him spit up and have tummy issues, lots of gas. I was also told not to worry about it once he was nursing anyway, which made me less concerned over it. Ironically his weight gain went way up without it. I think he was more comfy and as such, ate more. Obviously not the case with all babies, but he definately didnt need it and its possible it was hindering his growth. Having said that, hes still rather gassy!! lol