BF and pumping for early baby

[SandyBeachBums]

My baby came a Bit early. we expected him to be 39 weeks but he was probbly 36 weeks. He was born last Saturday the 26th.

I got a medela pump in style right that night. I was able to get quite a bit of colustrum into him by hand expressing, pumping and using a spoon. He did well with the spoon feedings.

the first few days I woke up every two hours to try and nurse, finger feed with a syringe and tube and then pump. My milk is in now. I am still trying to keep around the 2 hours during the day. I have gone to more 3 hours during the night. He does latch on during the day. I think he is too tired at night. If he can latch on, I let him stay till I cannot wake him up. I figure once he is on I am not moving.

Yesterday He had a few diapers with the urine dust. He didn't have any more meconium diapers. But, he still hasn't had any poo diapers. He just had a wet diaper. The urine was still a pretty dark yellow. But, it was better. We are using paper diapers for now. I don't have any cloth small enough.

Any thoughts, suggestions, personal stories?

[PatioGardener]

congratulations!!!

i'd be really careful with an early baby. 35-37 weekers often have breastfeeding issues. That's awesome that you are hand expressing and pumping as well as nursing.

Is he 8 days old now? by 8 days old we expect 6 heavy (3 tablespoons of pee) diapers in 24 hours, and about 3 poops in 24 hours - regular breastfed baby poops, no meconium left. If baby was not meeting those numbers, I would get breastfeeding help - IBCLC and probably see my family doc too. I worry about dehydration when they are so new.

Is baby getting your milk by spoon still? Have you seen an LC or midwife for your 1 week check/weigh-in?

sorry this is short - nak a squirmy worm!

[SandyBeachBums]

We ended up in the hospital for two days. We got to come home last night. The hospital staff were amazing. I have absolutely fallen in love with our Ped. She called me on my cell and checked on us throughout our stay. She was watching everything on her computer from home, so she could keep up with us. She called the ER ahead of time and us all checked in before we got there.

Nursing is a bit better. We are using a nipple shield and I am following most feeds with a bottle of breastmilk.