Nippling to going home

SvedkaStoli · December 2013

Ladies how long was it from nipping for your LOs to going home? J started taking about three bottles at 48ml every 24 hours (others feedings go on the pump). The nurse turned to me and said well, it is not impossible he goes home by the end of this week/early next week. I am having a huge panic attack bc I honestly am not ready. How long was it for you?

KTZ17 · December 2013

I think it was about 2 weeks from her first bottle till she went home, but she had a Brady the second week that added 5 days, so I guess it could have been a week and a half if not for that. Best of luck! No one is ever ready, I think, even full term moms! Just do your best! If you have diapers and a place for baby to sleep you're good to go.

ashleymarie512 · December 2013

My LO just took off once we were released by speech to try consecutive bottles. We were being held back for some reason and it took a nurse to speak up to speech and ask why my baby was being treated differently. That was after probably three weeks of nippling and once we were released to try full bottle feeds, it was three days later that we came home! I think mine struggled a little bc she's been on oxygen and kept forgetting to breath while eating, kind of an important piece of the puzzle

Like pp said, I don't think anyone's ever truly ready, especially a FTM. You'll know what to do and I think you'll be more aware of your babies needs because of the NICU experience. Good luck!

Brummy14 · December 2013

FOREVER. Seriously. DD1 took her first full bottle the same day as my 6 week follow-up with my OB. She was discharged nearly 5 WEEKS later. Ugh. Feeding was by far the MOST frustrating part of our 80+ day NICU stay.

jbranden12 · December 2013

I think around 2 weeks.

conradtn · December 2013

At first was going to be 1 week, but then right before we were going to be able to take her home she started not taking breaks while taking a bottle and her sats were dropping. So we spent the next week learning when to make her take a break while taking her bottle.

LaciJaxx · December 2013

Yep, agree with pp. It was a few weeks, for sure. He was doing so well they took the tube out once and had to put it back in a few days later. They used it once and took it back out 48 hrs later. It's up and down. And then there's the desats and bradys. Ugh!!! We were cleared for discharge once and he had a feeding Brady, so it was another 5 days.

We weren't ready but we were so ready. If that makes sense. It's a little crazy for a few days once you get home but it's well worth it.

Keep us updated!!!

Throw3ks · December 2013

Started going to breast at 32w just to "get familiar". Started bottles at 34w. Took to breastfeeding at 35w and NG tube was out at 36w.

SvedkaStoli · December 2013

Ladies, thank you very much. I will keep you posted. He will certainly not be going home this weekend. He hasn't moved past three full bottles yet.

spin25 · December 2013

Ignore my ticker, my LO's are already here.
DD took 6 days from first attempt at a bottle. She was pretty much a rock star and had pulled out her NG tube 2 days after trying her first bottle and they never had to put it back in. DS is at 10 days and counting. We weren't ready either.

aessary03 · December 2013

Ozzy started nippling right around the 32w mark (a little less than a week after birth). It took him about 2 weeks from then because they wanted him to consistently take feedings and not have to put it down the NG tube.

SvedkaStoli · December 2013

@aessary03 oy vey, J would have been home tomorrow if he didn't desat pretty severely this afternoon. Now we are looking at a monitor and oxygen at home.

LaciJaxx · December 2013

Did he Brady? Or just desat? Don't be in a rush to bring him home until he's ready. Our LO desated tye day before discharge the first time and because it was so low they just treated it like a Brady and kept him another 5 days. We wanted to bring him home something fierce but also knew he was in the best care there. T's and p's for you. I know its hard to play the waiting game.

SvedkaStoli · December 2013

@lacijacques He desated into high 40s. I honestly would rather keep him in the hospital safe and growing but the doctor wants to send him home.

LaciJaxx · December 2013

In the 40s? OMG! Honey you need to be pushing for them to keep him a little longer. If they're trying to send you home already, I'd be finding whoever I need to talk to and explain to them that you don't feel he's ready. I know we got info from the hospital, from our insurance company, saying if we felt we were being discharged too early then we were to call them. I'm sorry but I don't think he's quite ready to come home yet. He may just need another week and it'll never happen again. I would not be rushing him.

Was he eating? Or sleeping? Our NICU held our LO for another 5 days because it's when he was eating. Otherwise they would have held him another 7 days. I'm also curious to find out how much stimulation was needed for him to recover.

Hugs to you! I know this is a super stressful and confusing time.

ashleymarie512 · December 2013

Those darn desats! My LO came home on oxygen/monitor bc she just couldn't keep up hers either, especially when eating, but would only dip into the 70/80's. Once in a great while she'd dip lower, but brought herself out of it.

We came home about a week before due date and we've been home 10 weeks and were still on oxygen. She was ready in all ways except the breathing.

Did your lo's hr drop too or was it a quick desat? Did they self correct? Are you on o2 now and how much? Sorry for the zillion questions, just curious as to the situation!

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