Breast Feeding Question

AustinGurl · February 2012

My 29 weeker is 34 weeks now. They've started trying him on the bottle. He's taken about 20ccs of his 30cc feeding by bottle 2 days in a row. At one point do they let you try to breastfeed. I'll ask the nurses tomorrow, but I'm just curious. Can't remember what they told me.

He's so tiny still, I'm not sure how we could logistically pull off breastfeeding anyway.

lemen99 · February 2012

With Andrew (26weeker), I started non-nutritive feeding around 35 weeks GA, I think. We slowly ramped up with him actually being able to drink.

We could have started a little sooner, but couldn't due to other issues. I can't recall what, but I believe it was that he was on CPAP still.

kck329 · February 2012

We started non-nutrative breastfeeding around 33 weeks GA, even before bottle feeds. Make sure the doctors and nurses all know that you want to BF so they include it in the orders for PO feedings as much as possible.

mcvgal · February 2012

we never had any bottle feeds in the NICU, from 30-33 weeks he was fed via tube and starting 34 weeks we began breastfeeding. they continued via tube when I was not there.

haziedaze · February 2012

kck329:
We started non-nutrative breastfeeding around 33 weeks GA, even before bottle feeds. Make sure the doctors and nurses all know that you want to BF so they include it in the orders for PO feedings as much as possible.

This!! We started with me pumping first then letting him latch with the thought being I didn't have any milk left. I had so much milk that there was always something there so around 32.5wks I noticed he had milk in his milk and would swallow a few times. We started only giving partial supplements through the tube when he nursed well and he started doing REALLY well around 33wks with the nipple shield. Def ask to get started asap and ask to have the LC support you the first time you do it! Enjoy!

AustinGurl · February 2012

Thanks, ladies! I'm soooo over pumping. Ready to get on to the real thing.

McGibbon51311 · February 2012

haziedaze:
kck329:
We started non-nutrative breastfeeding around 33 weeks GA, even before bottle feeds. Make sure the doctors and nurses all know that you want to BF so they include it in the orders for PO feedings as much as possible.
This!! We started with me pumping first then letting him latch with the thought being I didn't have any milk left.

This is the same thing that happened with my boys. We were approved to start BFing with the thought that they wouldn't get much and it was just practice and then they had to undergo phototherapy so it was put on hold. I agree with the pp who said to make sure the nurses know that you are interested in breast feeding so even if you're not able to now, when the time comes you can. I wouldn't worry about him being too small, talk to your LC and ask about the preemie hold. I found that it works well and definitely helps. GL!

cottonlily84 · February 2012

DD was born at 32 weeks and I nursed her the day after she was born. I had to wait for the respirator to come off and they moved her feeding tube to her nose. They didn't think she'd be able to do anything and we were just trying it out. She sure showed them! It will wear the little guy out but it's good practice. Just don't expect much efficiency at this point; he will most likely still need bottle/syringe/cup feedings also. And ask for preemie nipples for the bottles. Our hospital uses enfamil nipples but for some reason, even in the NICU, only has standard size. You can order them from amazon.

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