Nursing dilemma

iristony

So, Jack is now 9 weeks old and 38.5 weeks gestational age- and still in the NICU.  He has been nippling anywhere from 58% to 88% (once) per day for past week.  We have gotta get this boy to 100% and home!  I still want to try and nurse him but am worried this is exhausting him too much and will not get him home.  So, should I focus on the bottles and start nursing when he is home, or try and still get in a nursing session a day?  When he nurses, he has only been taking 10-14 cc, and he is up to 60 cc a bottle now, so he is only getting 1/6 from me.  He is on 100% breastmilk pumped by me.

LWilli35

We were in for a LONG time as well, and I decided to just decided that it was a goal to get to 100% regardless.  As such, we did work on nursing, but we used it more as a comfort thing...between feedings and such.  We focused primarily on the bottle.  What hospital are you in now?  What nipple are you using?  Is speech working with you?  Is he just refusing to take 100% or just going to sleep?

rhabel

We had some trouble latching before we left the NICU so I kept pumping when she first came home.  She was 37 weeks gestation when she came home.  I would nurse once a day and supplement with a bottle (pumped milk) if she acted hungry still (we were on ad lib feedings when we came home).  A well-meaning LC gave us a nipple shield when we came home and I decided just to give her time and wait for her to become more proficient at latching on her own, rather than throw another nipple into the mix.  We've been home a little over a month now and she's 100% at the breast.  One day it just clicked with her (same thing with bottles).  Hang in there and keep at it.  Those nursing sessions will help and it may take time before he's ready to nurse all the time, but you'll get there.  Good luck!

FisMom

I'm in a really similar boat. DD is 5.5 weeks old, 36w6d gestation. Two days ago she started nippling most of her feedings. Before, she was very eager to breastfeed, had a good latch, and even got a respectable amount once. Now that she gets a bottle most of the time, her latch is weaker and she is less interested. I think one reason is that she is more tired from bottle feeding because with the gavage, she could sleep right through the feedings and had more energy the next go-round to try my breast.

What I'm trying (because I don't want her to forget my boob and because I'd like to be able to breast feed her before she comes home, if that's possible) is: I put her to breast for 10 minutes before her regular feeding time, 15 if she has a good latch and is really going at it. Then, she gets a bottle. Last night she was on and sucking for 10 minutes solid, then took 35 mLs from a bottle before deciding she was finished. I know she must have gotten some from me because she didn't just fall asleep right away. I am also requesting the slow-flow nipples because they are a little harder to use so she won't get too "lazy". I've heard from other preemie moms that it's harder for us to breastfeed, but can totally be done, as pp described above.

angelatron26

I'm in exactly the same situation as you!  DS is 10 weeks, 37 ca.  And I just want him to get off the feeding tube and home.