Feeding

Mcsweets

We've been working on feeding with the twins (NICU) for the last week and a half. They always eat over half their feedings, and I'm still trying to breast feed. Should I quit focusing on BFing? Just stick with bottles to get them out of there? They eat a lot more for the nurses than they do us... Frustrating. I feel like we're at a standstill. They are 36w3d and I just want them homeeee! They were born at 30w6d

KTZ17

I don't think I started putting dd to breast until she was taking full bottles. To get her discharged she had to be able to take all her feeds by bottle, so the BFing was just for practice and so that the LCs could assist. You're so close! I know how you're feeling! Come on, babies!!

PurpleIris30

If you would like to breast feed once you are home, I wouldn't give it up completely. At least once a day (or as many times as they have the energy for), I would start breast feeding and then top off with a bottle if they aren't eating much. It can be frustrating, but once that light goes off about eating, the transition from struggling to get them to eat to all feeds by mouth really happened quickly. That didn't really happen until 37 weeks for my smaller twin, and a little over 36 for my larger twin. Right after I didn't think it would ever happen.

PurpleIris30

Also, when deciding when to breast vs bottle feed during every care time, I only attempted breast feeding if they were really awake, because we weren't likely to have a successful feed otherwise.

Kelly_12

I wouldn't give up on the breast, keep at it. We did every other or every third feed at the breast for a while in NICU as my guy ate better from the bottle too. I'm glad I didn't give up though as he did eventually figure it out and had more energy for it every feed.
Depends what your long term goals are though too...if they get too used to the bottles they may not take breast later and are you ok with that? (No judgement just make sure you think about that option).
Goodluck with whatever you decide! Being on the home stretch was the worst part of the NICU experience for us, soooo close but just not home yet! They'll get there!!

LaciJaxx

I stopped trying to breastfeed in thr NICU because it just seemed to add to an already stressful and exhausting ordeal. But, my LO never learned to latch on right once we got home so I ended up pumping for months. Do what you think is best!!!!

Mcsweets

Thanks everyone!

Mcsweets

Sent too early ... I think I'll do breast every other day and see how that works. Thank you for the advice

nblondheim

@Mcsweets
I had the same concern and cried to my DH about it!! It's hard!!! My twins aren't successful at breastfeeding but practice is good. I do it 1-2 times per day and some days I don't do it at all. Good luck!

JEPES1348

I was in a similar boat and LO still prefers to eat from the bottle. However, we went to lactation clinic and they'd weigh her before and after to get an idea of how much she was eating and we graduated Clinic right away. She CAN eat from the breast, but the bottle is faster and easier for her. I still offer her a breast at the beginning of most meals while the bottle is warming. She also loves to lazily suck away for comfort when she's upset or tired. Either way, a healthy and happy baby and mama is the ultimate goal.

Mcsweets

They both do ok with breast feeding ... We use the scale but it isn't accurate at all. One time it weighed 4g less than when we started and she was nursing for 15min. They just don't get the full feeding and of course it makes them tired to BF then the whole unhooking from monitors to weigh, rehooking, bfimg, then unhook and rehook again ... Then wait for the bottle to warm because we didn't know how much to warm... They're tired! Hell, I'm tired! Feed ME through a tube!