Bf success stories?

kelly422 · July 2013

I need some bf success stories from your preemies! I'm losing hope that LO 7 wks, 2 wks adjusted will ever breastfeed and that I will be EP forever ::mobile sad face::

KTZ17 · July 2013

My daughter is also 7 weeks (born at 31wks 3days) and she's been home for 3 weeks tomorrow. Just chiming in because I feel like EBF is never going to happen for us either because I don't have enough milk. But if you have a good supply, I think you can definitely be successful. I second the recommendation for a nipple shield. We used one until last week when I started trying without it and she's doing well. Now if only this domperidone would work! Good luck and don't be discouraged. My lactation consultant said usually preemies take till after their EDD to develop a good suck.

thishappyhouse · July 2013

I was able to BF my 25 weeker but it was a slow process due to having to supplement with fortified BM for extra calories. By the time we were able to get to nearly full day feedings at the breast it was time for me to go back to work. It took nearly 3 months to get to that point. I continued to pump and BF until she was about 11 months and then dropped pumping but kept BFing 2-3 times a day until 16 months.

Keep at it. It definitely gets easier and easier.

Mrs. Alice · July 2013

I BF my 28 weeker twins until they were 1 year old. I had to use nipple shields with them for about 2-3 months because they had difficulty latching. Once we got past that point it was pretty smooth sailing. Hang in there mama, sometimes you just have to find what works best for you whatever that might be.

kelly422 · July 2013

Thank you! You guys have given me hope. We will keep plugging away and trying!

opheliainwaders · July 2013

DD was near term, so I had a different experience than some of the PPs, I'm sure, but I wanted to second the recommendation for trying a nipple shield. It helped us teach her how to latch, particularly how to get her tongue down and forward, and she's now BFing like a champ at 5 weeks. That said, we did need to use bottles at first to teach her how to suck, and essentially moved from an "easy" nipple to a slow flow one, then to the shield, and finally to BFing without any accessories. It took us about 3 weeks to get there.

jbranden12 · July 2013

My former 26 weeker is a BFing pro. She didn't get the suck swallow breathe coordination until around 37 weeks gestational and didn't get really good at it until a few weeks adjusted then we had a setback when she had her shunt surgery, but now we are back in the zone. It was really hard at first because I established my supply with the pump so in the beginning, I had to pump after every time she fed. Then I went to pumping after every other time she fed, then every 3rd time, until now when I am with her 24/7 I only pump once in addition to feeds to add to freezer stash.

Check out Kellymom.com for some helpful tips on getting LO back to breast. The info on dealing with nursing strikes works well for learning to nurse as well. Hang in there! I hope you can make BFing work for you but like pps said, any amount if breastmilk is so good for LO so you are doing awesome!

LnR70707 · July 2013

I gave up BFing from about 6 weeks until 11 weeks, when DS started sleeping a 6 hr stretch and my poor supply had a little time to catch up. At 11 weeks he nursed well enough that I didn't have to follow with a bottle and I was able to continue nursing him in the morning past a year (probably could have switched to more BFing than pumping but with my low supply I stuck with what was working).

mgm84 · July 2013

My 34 weeker had a lot of trouble learning to bottle feed, so when we left the hospital after two weeks she was getting BM through the bottle. I went to a lactation consultant and that really helped (went two times total!). She said just keep persevering, offering more boob than bottle, and don't supplement with a bottle after (she will just hold out for it). Once we got a few good feedings down, she said get rid of the bottle and just try to only BF. At first LO kept eating like every hour, but within a day or two it became automatic and SO EASY! I love that I no longer have to pump as much, worry about bottles, heating them up and washing them. Keep trying and hang in there!

Now my LO takes 1-2 bottles a day (so mommy gets to sleep) and the rest is BF. I love it!

PhillyGal34 · July 2013

My son was a 31 weeker. I started to pump immediately and we let him explore after about two weeks. We eventually had to use a nipple shield. He stopped using that around his due date give or take.

He is now 13 months old and we have an excellent bf'ing relationship. I ended up with a major over supply from all the pumping but that's working out because I didn't have to pump a lot when I went back to work at 3 months and I haven't pumped at all in 6 weeks and he hasn't needed cow milk yet!

It can be done. And if you have to pump it sucks but its still an awesome gift to lo!!

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