NICU babies and breastfeeding*please help*

[rubym]

I need some help for a friend. her baby girl was born last night and she somehow sucked some fluid into her lungs during the birth. She is in the ICU and my friend has not been able to hold her. She was planning on breastfeeding and is worried because they didnt get off to a good start. The hospital is giving her a pump so she can get some milk to the baby. They are unsure of how long the baby will have to be hooked up to the machines.

Sorry this post is so jumbled But I guess i am just looking for some mamas who have been through this so I can try to reasure her that she will be able to BF succesfully.
Thanks

[happykat]

Been there...

ds was born a little early and had to be transfered to a NICU. He was on a vent for a few days, then on CPAP then on room air. He managed to get fluid in his lungs on the way out as well.

It was hard. But I pumped every 3 hours for a week. I got plent of colostrum for 24 - 36 hours. Then I pumped dry for a while (no colostrum or milk). Then after I got to hold my son, I started to pump milk.

He was tube fed (tube through nose to tummy). Then we started breast feeding with the tube in. He'd nurse for a while, then they would supplement through the tube. Then I'd go pump for the next supplement.

I believe he needed to have a few ounces of formula. But not in a bottle. Through the tube.

My advice for your friend. Make "I'm breastfeeding" her mantra. I think *everyone* who had contact with my son (doctors, nurses, interns, even the nice lady who cleaned the floors) knew that I was breastfeeding.

The pumping won't last forever. Remind your friend that breastmilk is the best food for babies. And if baby is sick or preemie mom's milk compensates and gives baby the extra nutrients that they need.

Hospitals with NICUs should have Lactation Consultants. Your friend should talk to them.

In the meantime..."Pump away girlfriend".

happy kat

ps: feel free to pm me

[khrisday]

BTDT as well. MY dd was born at home with severe meconium aspiration. We took her immediately to the local hospital, who then transferred her to a University hospital. She spent three weeks total in the hospital (longest three weeks of my life), and was on a heart/lung bypass machine as well as vent, cath, IV's, etc. I didn't get to hold her at first, and I couldn't nurse her for the first two weeks- and even then they only allowed me to nurse her once a day at first. They didn't let me nurse on demand until the day before she came home- it was actually what convinced them that she was ready to. The doctors kept telling me that nursing was too difficult for a sick baby, that it takes up more calories than bottle feeding, but this is NOT TRUE! IN fact, the day that they allowed me to nurse on demand, my dd gained more weight than the entire time she had been in the hospital- TWICE as much!
I pumped like crazy to keep my supply up, and I found that the Advent Isis worked better for me than the hospital grade pump. I agree with what happykat said- even if she has doubts about it (I think we all do in that situation) be very clear about your intent.
Good luck to your friend and her baby, and feel free to PM me.

[funnybunny]

When your baby is in the NICU you are so removed from their care. I felt like the best thing I could do at that moment was to make sure I gave him the best food I could and to prepare for his eventual release from the hospital by keeping my supply up.

It was not easy or convenient to leave his cribside to pump but the pumping only lasted for a few days. Our fabulous breastfeeding experience lasted for 16 months. It was worth it.

Encourage your friend to take care of herself by eating well and drinking lots of fluids. At our hospital I was given vouchers to make sure I received three free healthy meals a day from the cafeteria. If such a program is not available, perhaps you could keep stock her up on healthy food/snacks from the grocery store?

Warmly,

fb

[mom3]

My twins were in the NICU for 10 days (felt like 10 years). I didn't get to bf until they were about 12 hours old and the hospital insisted on supplementing for a few days plus an IV. I would nurse and pump right after to try and get my milk to come in faster. Once it came in the hospital was fine with bm only as long as they kept their glucose levels up (heel prick blood test to check, their poor feet looked like pin cushions). I also made sure to pump so that there was a supply on hand at the hospital just in case they thought the twins needed more than what they were getting from nursing. I also told EVERYONE that I was exclusively bf, not hoping to or trying but that I was doing it. If I had to do it over again I would try to convince the hospital to let the twins nurse every 2 hours instead of 3. I think they would have gained better and gotten out of there sooner. The twins are almost 10 months now and those first 10 days just seem like a bad dream. Tell your friend to hang in there. She can do it and her baby will be all the better for it.

[rubym]

thank you all for sharing your stories. It looks like she will be in there for about a week. She seems to be doing better all the time, and is breathing with little help.
I will pass along your advice.