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Breastfeeding
when does this get easier?
I having been pumping every 4 hours for 20 minutes for preemie dd. I am also trying to get her to nurse and she is getting better every time, though we are using a shield. I have been told to nurse her twice a day each side for 20 minutes, then offer her a bottle. If she is doing well I keep going sometimes nursing for an hour. After the bottle, I still have to pump and there is tons of milk there. If I try to skip the pump because she nursed well, I suffer later with sore boobs.
I am so tired. I wish I could just nurse her and call it a day. When can I expect her to nurse for shorter periods? Is she just too young to get it, she is not supposed to be here till Dec 1!
If I try to nurse her all her feedings for a couple of days and not pump will I screw up my supply?
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Re: when does this get easier?
I have no experience with a premie, but from friends/family who did, I would be thankful that she will nurse at all.
She may not nurse shorter for months, it depends on the kid. I would keep pumping as long as she needs a bottle too. If you stop, you may lost that milk that she needs to drink via bottle. With a premie, you want to make sure she eats and is eating enough. I wouldn't just BF and possibly risk her losing weight.
I was always worried about weight gain/eating enough with my girls and they were 8 lbs+. GL!
The best advise I got was not to pay attention to the clock. Nursing according to time is not going to tell you how much she is getting. Look at this website it shows how to tell if your baby is actively drinking. The second link tells you how to know if your baby is getting enough milk. Has she been gaining weight? If she is gaining weight than she is getting enough and the supplemental bottles may not be needed. The best thing to do is nurse on demand. That is let her nurse as often and as long as she wants.
When DS was a newborn he would nurse for 45-hour and then want to nurse again an hour later. I felt like all I was doing was nursing. I eventually gave in and would set up a corner to nurse in. I had the remote, a good book and snacks and just relaxed and let ds do what he wanted. They do get better and more efficient and nurse for less time.
https://www.drjacknewman.com/videos-good-drinking.asp
https://www.drjacknewman.com/help/Is%20My%20Baby%20Getting%20Enough%20Milk.asp
Like the pp said, don't pay attention to the clock. I did the exact same thing you did when dd was in the NICU - feed, bottle, pump. It became my job but it kept me sane because having her 7 weeks early was so unexpected!
Keep working on the nursing, she will get it. DD latched on right away but I was around other women who were having trouble and their little ones eventually got it! Once she is on let her go. The time will get shorter the older she gets. My problem was that once the time got shorter I started worrying again that she wasn't eating enough - hahaha, it never ends!
Question - what is the point of the nipple shields? I've always wondered but never asked.
My daughter was born at 34 weeks. ?She was at the NIUC for 11 days, and while there, I was only 'allowed' to BF her 3 of the feedings, the other times she got bottles of EBM or formula if there was not enough milk. ?Once we came home, we had to continue the only 3 BF a day (always followed by a bottle and I still had to pump after she nursed, and all other times she ate) until she gained enough weight that the doctors felt comfortable with her nursing at all times. ?They said at first it takes her so much energy to nurse, sometimes they can burn more than they take in.
?Anyway, after about 2 1/2 months we started being able to BF every feeding, but always had to give her a bottle with an additional ounce or two afterwards bc her sucking wasn't strong enough to get all the milk. ?I also had to pump every time after she ate.
Now, she is 4 1/2 months and for 3 weeks we no longer need to give her a bottle after each BF session, she still gets one at night time after she nurses just to ensure she's getting enough 'just in case.' ?All other times she just nurses and I've finally stopped pumping after each session about 2 weeks ago. I still pump after she goes to bed for the night--just to ensure I keep the supply up bc sometimes she sleeps for over 5 hours.
I know what you mean..it's tiring, and you always wonder why can't this be easier..but the longer you keep at it, the better it gets, and I never get tired of seeing my daughter's face when she nurses, as she stares up at me..and when she smiles as she's eating..
?Hope this helps!?
sounds like you and baby are doing awesome! I know it's frustrating! My dd couldn't even latch and get anything for over 2 months .. we moved when she was 3 m old which threw her off, she wasnt' a full time nurser until she was 6 months old..then I couldn't get her to take a bottle. I had to pump every 2 hrs around the clock for the first 2 or 3 weeks... then started weaning down .. by 2 months I pumped 6 times a day (once being 10p before bed and once in the middle of the night). had she been willing to swallow formula and not started latching some at 2 1/2 months, I don't know how long I would have lasted.
I completely understand your frustration... I cried a ton for the same frustrations! Just take it day to day... let each day be a triumph! ((((HUGS))))
Thanks for all the support. It is hard to know if you are making your life harder, or if it is. I have no experience with this.
I used the nipple sheild because she could not get a good latch.