here's the problem with a LGA preemie

jenerally

Since Dash is 9+lbs, he is required to eat 90cc of milk each feeding by bottle for 48 hours before he can be released from the NICU.

90ccs!!! HOLY. CRAP.

It takes me three pumping sessions to make that much.

BF'ing, I fear, is going to be doomed for us.

mommyof4boys

That seems like an lot.  Correct me if I'm wrong but is that 3 ounces?  That seems a lot for a newborn.....my oldest who was the biggest of my bunch was eating an ounce at a time as a newborn.  My twins were eating 3 ounces at 2-3 months old!  My youngest was eating 3 ounces at 6 weeks old.  Maybe talk to someone about that requirement.  I think it sounds unreasonable....

NotJustAnAuntie

Can you supplement just to makeit easier to *have* 3oz to offer, and the BF once he's home? I know a lot of moms find their supply increases a LOT when baby comes home and they don't have to pump as much/at all! GL and hang in there!

jlc071903

I know, honestly overcoming eating requirements was what kept my girls in the NICU so long...they were finally in there so long that they didn't have to eat the 'large' amounts that they require for preemies to have a steady 'quick' weight gain.  I hate to suggest supplementing,b ut it may be a option you could look into....just to get him home...I know my supply increased after I passed my due date and when the girls were home with me 24-7..

jenerally

I did talk with the pediatrician today about it ... I'm really nervous because it seems like SO much ... but for his weight, he needs to be able to take in that much calorie-wise in order to maintain his weight (or gain weight).

He was able to eat that much at lunch today and I'll call later and see how he did at his next feeding ... one thing they are doing is only feeding him every 4 hours so that he's really hungry for his feeding.

blah. blecch. gah.

jenerally

oh, and they're already supplementing with formula. I just can't keep up with "his demands."

jehprb

I'm actually kinda surprise that it's only 3oz - my DS (32wker) was discharged after 30 days at 5lbs, 9oz and was taking that much (or very closer to it) at every feeding by that time.  He was on straight formula from birth though so maybe that makes a difference?

Mrs.DMC

I think 3oz sounds about right for his size....I am assuming that is 7-8X a day??? You figure 2-2.5oz/lb/day. That would be about right. I think my DS was up to 4oz 5-6Xday by the time he was 9lbs.

Don't lose hope about BFing...I have had a weak supply since DS's birth. To this day I only produce about half of what he eats everyday. Sometimes I feel like giving up BUT...I am just not ready to yet. I enjoy it too much and he needs all of it he can get so I am soooo thankful that I stuck with it.

jenerally

Mrs.DMC:

I think 3oz sounds about right for his size....I am assuming that is 7-8X a day??? You figure 2-2.5oz/lb/day. That would be about right. I think my DS was up to 4oz 5-6Xday by the time he was 9lbs.

Don't lose hope about BFing...I have had a weak supply since DS's birth. To this day I only produce about half of what he eats everyday. Sometimes I feel like giving up BUT...I am just not ready to yet. I enjoy it too much and he needs all of it he can get so I am soooo thankful that I stuck with it.

so I'll just be his soothing/snack, huh? Great, lol.

Thanks for the replies, girls. It helps to know I'm not alone!

RRHsMom

My LO was an 8lb 36 weeker so we were the biggest ones in our NICU at the time.  He lost almost a lb the first week when he was on strictly TPN.  When he did start eating (no longer through his NG) I bfed for 15 mins, offered the other side, then offered a bottle with 30mls of EBM and he'd drink 1/2 usually.  The next feed, I pumped and he was given a 30 ml bottle of EBM and he had to drink all of that one.  That was a good way to get my supply up since I was able to directly bf him.  He only had to eat 2 oz so your requirement of 3 does seem like a lot.  Our biggest problem was the 3 hour feeding schedule.  DS was ready to stretch it out at certain points of the day and at others he was hungry after 2 hrs.  I was so frustrated trying to feed him when he wasn't hungry and having to hold him off when he was but that was the NICU schedule.  One of the nurses said to me one day that the NICU docs are sometimes so used to helping those tiny ones grow that they hold the big preemies to the same feeding expectations and it isn't always necessary or appropriate.  We dropped the 3 hour schedule pretty quickly after coming home (with ped permission) and began feeding on demand.  This helped a ton with his intake.  Hopefully you guys can figure it out.  I know it is frustrating.