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Preemies
Transitioning EP to BF
It's been a while since I've shared what's been going on with DS. Last I wrote I'd discovered something was off with his suck - took him in to be checked (no tongue tie) & they found it to be nipple confusion/uncoordinated suck. The nurses warned me this could happen because of the long NICU stay - it's a bummer, but I'm working with a super duper LC and we're both on our way to working it out. He's started to BF and I've started to discover it isn't a terrible, painful frustrating experience. Well...it's still frustrating. I wait all day for him to be hungry then give him time to try, bottle feed the rest & pump. My life is even more tied to feedings than ever before.
Has anyone gone through this? Have tips? a stunt double so I can take a break?
Oh, & our Rock and Play came - just need to assemble. Hopefully that will help with the reflux but that's a whole other post for another time 
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Re: Transitioning EP to BF
We did those, too. He used them in the hospital but rejected them once coming home - surprisingly he has an excellent latch now! It's the sucking that he needs to work on (different kinds of suck, you know). I'm really stressed out & have nightmares about the pump breaking, power going out, milk drying up. It seems like we're doing it, though! I just don't know how people keep their milk supply ready to nurse...I guess that's my question. How do you pump while giving LO the time to hang out and try with milk ready?
OMG our power went out for about 30 minutes last week and I FREAKED OUT. I have no idea how normal regular BFing moms do it. I feel like I'm going to be pumping until they get to kindergarten - I b*tch about it a LOT but I'm like, oddly attached to it now.
Grayson has poor suck too... he does more of the "ear suck" than the "chin suck" (that's what my LC calls them, idk if those are correct terms lol). The main thing I have to do is make sure my nipple is far enough back in his throat/he has enough of everything in his mouth. That helps with the amount he gets.
I don't know if I'm helping or not! Hopefully I am
But really... it's SUCH a struggle! I feel your pain!
I'm SO excited for you that the breastfeeding seems to finally be moving in the right direction-I know how hard you've worked for this!
I haven't had the sucking problems-our feeding issues are all reflux related as you know-but I can tell you what I do for pumping. Since C usually eats smaller meals and doesn't fully empty both breasts, I've learned to pump during her 30/45 min of holding time after each feeding. I either use the hands free bra or just balance everything . I only pump one side (whichever side she didn't get to). I don't do it after every feeding but often enough to keep a supply built up in the freezer for bottles as needed. Sometimes I don't get much but every little bit helps. I also find it helps me mentally to pump into smaller bottles so I feel like I'm accomplishing more with each session
Do you have any kind of stash built up from when he was in the hospital? DH gives C at least one, usually two bottles of BM each night and I pump like crazy during those times to replenish our stash.
Keep us posted!
Our precious girl, born at 27 weeks.
I was able to transition from EP to EBF about a month ago and we have been bottle free since. It was extremely frustrating and my entire day revolved around trying to BF my LO and pumping. All day long, every day. I became breastfeeding obsessed! I tried the nipple shield once and ditched it. As with most things with preemies, I firmly believe that it just took time. LO had to get old enough to get a good suck. He would latch ok, but just wasnt getting enough. Then one day, it seemed he instantly had the strength to get a full meal from the boob. Looking back, I feel bad now that I tried to force it so much:( Good luck! It sounds like you are already making good progress!!
As far as timing the pumping/feeding timing- what I did was I would pump less than I did before. I pumped 3oz each time and that way I always had milk left for him if he wanted to breastfeed. But I had an oversupply, so if my supply went down a little, it was okay.