Breastfeeding question

rcnavywife · April 2014

My triplets are 3mo old/ 2 weeks adjusted (born at 27 weeks). We are doing a mix of breastfeeding and bottles. BF is frustrating as none are able to take a full feed and always need a bottle to top up. For those that have been there, how long did it take LO to take a full feed by BF? The extra time needed to top them up and still pump is driving me crazy! But I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel yet. We see the pedi this week, going to ask for a referral to the BF clinic in town.

Wally3 · April 2014

Definitely get a referral or talk with a LC - I found meeting with the LC extremely helpful and totally give her credit her with getting my ds to bf (I met with her once in the NICU and once when ds was about 6wks full term adjusted) . SHe told me that when ds's head was bigger than my boob it would get much easier. That happened around 4 wks adjusted and she was right it got much easier. Good luck - it will get easier as they get bigger.

LucyRicardo3 · April 2014

I figured out by accident this week that my LO may be "lip tied" instead of just being a lazy/"bottle spoiled" feeder. I'm going to mention it to his pediatrician, but just to let you know that sometimes things like that are also factors in them getting a strong enough latch to really eat. He will try and latch but after a few minutes, he's just not strong enough to stay latched to empty the breast, so I end up pumping anyway.
I'm also fighting an uphill battle to keep my supply up since I've returned my Symphony rental and back to using my old Pump in Style (5 yrs old) and all of my kids were home this past week making any spare time to pump nearly impossible. My supply has really taken a nose dive

PurpleIris30 · April 2014

While my larger twin was able to do full feeds by discharge, my smaller twin was still on oxygen and didn't have the same stamina. It took her until a couple of weeks adjusted until we dropped topping her off with a bottle of pumped milk.

I also realized after weekly weight checks and weighed feedings that she was taking a lot more than I thought by breast, and that if she had a feeding where she didn't eat as much, she would make up for it the next time. The nurses had to help me realize that she didn't need a full feed every 3 hours like in the NICU - natural feeding patterns have more variation. Now, this was after she had consistent, good weight gains, so if you're not at that point yet, the same advice may not apply, but I mention it because it was hard for me to transition out of the NICU feeding mentality and follow their cues.

rcnavywife · April 2014

Thanks everyone. It is hard to move out of the NICU feeding mentality. Weight gain has been borderline so far. Hopefully in a few weeks that will settle out and things will get better as they get stronger. @LucyRicardo3 - my supply is also taking a hit, it is so hard to find time to pump throughout the day!

xladybassx · April 2014

Wally3 said:

SHe told me that when ds's head was bigger than my boob it would get much easier. That happened around 4 wks adjusted and she was right it got much easier. Good luck - it will get easier as they get bigger.

Wow, my girls are two months adjusted and their heads are maybe half the size of one boob! That might explain why we have had so much trouble breastfeeding. I tried diligently for the first month they were home...weighing a baby prior to breastfeeding, weighing them after to figure out how much more they needed, making up a bottle of previously pumped milk, repeat with second baby, then pumping again. It is a rough road. After a month of doing this, our (very pro breastfeeding) pediatrician told me to stop. The girls were extremely behind on the growth chart and not showing signs of catching up, so we needed to start fortifying their milk which can't be done by breastfeeding. He also said I was making myself so crazy that it was probably hurting my supply, and that was not going to help them at all. Since then I have been pumping all of their milk and fortifying it with Neosure (Lorelei is on 24 cal, Amelia is on 28 cal) and Spit-Up (1/4 tsp per ounce, to help with reflux). Since stopping our breastfeeding attempts, Lorelei has gained a significant amount of weight (Amelia is still way behind and we aren't sure why), and my supply has gone up. I know this isn't exactly the success story you were looking for, but the decision to switch to pumped breastmilk/bottles exclusively was necessary for my daughters' health.

jbranden12 · April 2014

Anna was maybe a month adjusted before she got really good at BFing. We didn't supplement after each nursing session, just switched off bottle/boob every other feed. We gradually weaned off the bottles when we were together as she became more able to drain my boobs. It was SO nice to just be able to nurse and not have to pump after!!

I agree with pps that it's hard to get off the NICU feed mentality. We didn't do weighted feeds so we weren't sure what she was getting BFing and it was stressful, but we went for weekly weight checks for the first few weeks so we knew she was gaining an acceptable amount.

Are they acting hungry after you BF? If they are, I would continue to supplement. If they aren't, maybe try waiting and see how long it takes them to get hungry again, then make that feed a bottle and see how much they take. It's a game of trial and error, and your babies are not going to starve! You are doing a great job!!

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