Bottle to BF possible?

Cristie2225 · October 2013

Hi! I'm a FtM in hosp at 28.5 weeks. Will go any day.

Trying to read and prepare myself for road ahead.

My question is; I really want to breastfeed my baby. I know I will have to pump and hosp will save my milk until baby is ready to feed thru tube (right? That's how it works )

My question is when baby gets home from nicu is there any chance she will latch on to breast? I was really looking forward to this bonding experience.

CreEspree · October 2013

I was able to BF DS once he was weaned from the tube and got pretty good w/ the bottle. He did a lot better than I expected given that we started so late. As long as you have a good coach who helps walk you through introducing baby and helping find the best and most comfortable position.. Should be fine.

jbranden12 · October 2013

Welcome to the board! Every baby is different, but it is possible. I EBF my former 26 weeker. At first, we did non-nutritive breastfeeding when I would pump and then I would hold her skin to skin to my breast so she could practice sucking. I want to say this was around 32 weeks gestational. At around 34 weeks, we began trying breastfeeding as well as bottle feeding since we knew she would need to take a bottle. When she came home after 12 weeks she was taking about half her feeds by bottle, half by breast. Now she takes a bottle while I am at work and we BF evenings and weekends.

The journey was slooooooow and she didn't get really good at breastfeeding until a couple of weeks after her due date. My advice is to be patient, work on getting your milk to come in by pumping, pumping, and more pumping, and do as much skin to skin as you can!

thishappyhouse · October 2013

My 25 weeker eventually learned to breastfeed. In fact I credit our NICU breastfeeding practice for helping her avoid a G-tube. She was a terrible bottle feeder and because she had better control over flow at the breast that is where she finally learned how to suck, swallow and breathe. While she was never exclusively breastfed, we did get close and I continued to breastfeed her until she was 14 months.

Your baby will likely be tube fed until anywhere between 34-37 weeks at which point they slowly start introducing the bottle. Let your nurses and lactation support know they you want to breast feed and push to have a plan for how that can happen in the NICU.

Do your best to establish a good supply on the pump as soon as possible after birth. It can be difficult but seek out support and keep at it.

Good luck to you. Remember, every hour counts right now. Every hour that you are able to stay pregnant is a victory... you are doing an awesome job.

direy25 · October 2013

Ditto PP's that every baby is different but it's definitely possible! I'm back at work so doing a combo of nursing & bottle feeding our 27 weeker and he's doing great (6 was adjusted)!
Good luck to you, hope you can keep your LO baking as long as possible!

Throw3ks · October 2013

You have to just keep sticking with it. It was VERY hard at first. We started with blocks of time so for 8 hours of the day I would strictly BF then she would bottle the rest. We worked our way up. However my LO still have to take some bottles as she is on a fortifier for now.

rkcaraway · October 2013

I'm at that stage right now with one of my 27 week twins. He is still tube fed, but he is taking to my breast and understanding the basic concept (they are now 32w). I think it is doable, especially if you have an NICU that is very pro breast milk. Good luck and hopefully your LO will continue to bake.

megs2011 · October 2013

My girls were born at 34w4d and in the hospital for 4 weeks. We didn't BF right away because at home they needed to gain weight. I started EBF around 3 months old. They took to the breast very well and we are still nursing at 13 months old.

rednelson · October 2013

Definitely possible! My 29weeker came home exclusively bottle fed. We only practiced a few times in the NICU. We did booby boot camp when he came home and were able to transition to EBF minus his 2 fortified bottles. Now we're still going strong at 24 months. In fact, I'm trying to figure out how to get him to give it up. Good luck!

KGS2003 · October 2013

My boys were born at 27w 2days and are still in the NICU. I was sent home with a pump and they get my breast milk through their feeding tube. The LC has worked closely with me during these 4 weeks and today we worked on latching with one of my sons. I plan to EBF and they are helping get my boys ready. As PP said get to know to LC . Good luck I hope your LO stays put.

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