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Taking too long to bottle feed

klw103185klw103185
in Multiples
I am desperate to get some help!!! I had triplets in June and they just came home from the hospital about a week ago. They were born at 30 weeks and left the hospital at 6 weeks old. The first week home was a breeze. I have been pumping and bottle feeding breast milk (the aren't strong enough to take full feeds by breast). I was able to feed all 3 babies in just over an hour. They were taking about 1-2 ounces in about 20 minutes. Now the past few days, it is taking about 1 hour to feed each baby!!! They will take anywhere between 1-4 ounces. I understand that taking more milk may take longer, but feeding for 1 hour can't happen. My husband has been off this whole week so feeding each for an hour hasn't been that big of an issue, but he is going back to work so I will have to feed all 3 each time. 

How can I get them to eat faster?? We have tried to cut them off after 30-40 minutes per our doctor, but then they just cry in their crib until they get more milk. We have tried medium flow nipples, but they just aren't strong enough and spill more milk than they actually take in. We have tried different bottles and nipples. Does anyone have any tips for us? 
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Re: Taking too long to bottle feed

  • NetPetalNetPetal member
    I had the exact same experience with my preemies.  We are using Dr Browns and have transitioned from Preemie to 1/Slow Flow to 2/Medium Flow within 2 weeks of being at home.  The transition from 1 to 2 took almost a week before they were no longer spilling a lot of milk with the faster nipple.  It just takes time for them to get the hang of it.

    Note: mine were born at 34 weeks and released from the NICU at 37 weeks.
    Lilypie - (4vrz)

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  • Felicity86Felicity86 member
    I had similar issues and switched to dr. brown's preemie nipple. It seemed to help. If that didn't work my pedi recomended trying a level 2.
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  • RobinR91RobinR91 member
    I used Borne Free premmie, then levvel one. I was in the SAME boat as you. Unfortunately, there was litle I could do to make it better. I found that I had to SHARE my time, (feed one for ten min, then move to the next, and then the third. Write down when you start/stop each baby. Remember that formula is only good for an hour, if youre feeding EBM your all good. It was SO stressful for the first few months. CONSTANT feeding/pumping. It does get better, unfortunately the sucking swallowing thing is developmental and there is little we as moms can do to help. Did the nicu teach you prefeeding exercises? those might help. They just eat so often in the early months, its crazy. can you feed two at once? Using rock n plays? or bouncy seats and cuddles after burping? Maybe a friend or family member can come over at least on feeding per day? All of those things helped me. Just do the best you can. They will get what they need. 

    4/13/12--1st u/s. IDENTICAL TRIPLETS (?!?) PAIF and SAIF welcome Lilypie First Birthday tickers
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  • cadencaden member
    I only had twins but they were 35weekers and took FOREVER to feed (45min - an hour each) too. My DH went back to work when they were 2 weeks (37w) and I cried b/c I was dreading feeding them by myself. At that point there was nothing I could do except feed them at the same time b/c taking an hour consecutively just wasn't going to happen. Have you tried feeding all 3 together? I think there are youtube videos of triplet parents doing this so you could get some good tips.

    I can't remember exactly when my boys finally started feeding quickly, but it did happen after a few weeks and at that point I went back to feeding them one at a time. My kids had terrible acid reflux and it took a lot of effort to get them to drink a full feeding so it was easier to do them consecutively but if they had been normal feeders I would have kept feeding them at the same time and prayed they learned to hold their bottles at an early age!
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  • Kdubs3131Kdubs3131 member
    We have tried using the Dr Brown's bottles, but maybe I will have to try again or go get some Born Free bottles. We used the medium flow nipples all day today and it's so traumatic for me... Seeing all that milk spill all over the baby. I call my milk liquid diamonds! :) plus I have no idea how much they are actually eating since they spill so much. I'm going to go back to the slow flow.
    I will try feeding 2 at once tomorrow and see how that goes. Or maybe try all 3 after i watch the video you are talking about. I do have help at a few feeding a during the day so that will help. I will let you know how my trial of feeding 2 goes
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  • RobinR91RobinR91 member
    I agree slow flow is the way to go! These little ones are just learning to suck, swallow, and breathe all at the same time! Why add a river of milk into the mix...or at least give them a lazy river and not a white water rapid river! Feeding two at once helped A LOT. And it also taught patience. Reading "Mothering Multiples" offered great management techniques too. I got mine from Amazon, I'd add the link but its never clicky and that drives me nuts. GOOD LUCK
    4/13/12--1st u/s. IDENTICAL TRIPLETS (?!?) PAIF and SAIF welcome Lilypie First Birthday tickers
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