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August 2015 Moms
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Bottle to breast nursing victory!

blovemamablovemama member
in August 2015 Moms
My baby was in the NICU getting bottles his first week. I also wasn't able to hold him until 24 hrs+ post delivery. I really wanted to nurse, but given these things, I wasn't super hopeful. Thankfully, I have been able to pump sufficient milk (which shocked me because he was 6 weeks early). All he's received since birth has been expressed milk plus special preemie fortifier. I've been trying to nurse him but it's been an uphill battle. He would do decent with the nipple shield but we would both get soaked with milk and he never seemed satisfied. When I would put him directly to breast, he would seem to latch really well, but then pull off after a minute or two and fuss. Breastfeeding was frustrating and super messy. I googled "messy eater breast feed" and read about over active let down. Basically, my milk let down is too strong/fast for him to keep up. I think if he'd been full term, he would be able to handle it but feeding is harder for him. This morning I followed the advice Id read: I pumped first and then nursed him by basically laying down and ploping him on top of me. It worked beautifully! For the first time since starting to nurse him, it felt natural and easy. He also got a really deep latch so it wasn't painful at all. He seemed satisfied, too. I am so happy! I was a little traumatized by having a preemie, so it feels like a very special gift to be able to do something I'd really wanted to do. It may have been a fluke, but I sure hope not! We've been using the joovy bottles with the 0+ nipples. I think this helped with the transition, too.
Together since '07
Married since '12
Off the pill since 5/14
BFP: 8/10/14 -- CP 8/22/14
BFP: 12/10/15 -- Prayers requested

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Re: Bottle to breast nursing victory!

  • tarheelgirl8tarheelgirl8 member
    Hooray! So glad it worked out. Congrats mama!
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  • kettlekittenkettlekitten member
    edited September 2015
    Breastfeeding is hard even with a term baby! Well done, it's great you found the perfect solution. Hope it continues to go well!
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  • candicejeff2013candicejeff2013 member
    Yay!!! Love those moments!
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  • gulimzgulimz member
    Hooray!!! I've recently established latch with my LO too. She was in the nicu for observation for 16 hrs (I had GD) and they were giving her bottles and formula. My milk never fully established because of that. But now it's a bit better and she's latching well. We used to use the joovy boob bottles too but LO used to choke alot because she feeds fast. Switched to cheapie Dr. Brown bottles, and she's doing wonderful. She also has no nipple confusion with the brown bottles and my boobs. I think she had more confusion with going from the joovy boob bottle to my breast.
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  • SaratiffSaratiff member
    Yay congrats mamma!!!
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  • taylorharber1108taylorharber1108 member
    That's awesome!!
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  • emmacake08emmacake08 member
    Love hearing about BF victories! Good job mama! It take persistence with preemies :)
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  • jlsweetsjlsweets member
    Congrats! I admire your determination to stick with it!

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  • saroos3137saroos3137 member
    So happy for you! Love your persistence!


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  • cosplaymomcosplaymom member
    Wonderful!

    How do you nurse with the baby on top of you? I have never gotten that to work. It is easier with small breasts?
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  • MouseMama817MouseMama817 member
    My baby was full term and we had a lot of trouble staying latched. She would latch but wouldn't nurse; she'd just fall asleep. If she did nurse it would only be for a few seconds before she'd fall off or twist away and start crying. I finally decided to exclusively pump and deliver the breastmilk that way. I do feel like I'm missing out by not breastfeeding her. That's so great you were able to be successful! Maybe I'll try your trick and see if we can get back to it :)
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  • laylababe3laylababe3 member
    Yay! Congratulations on your victory!! DS and I struggle every day with reflux and a fast flow even after letdown.. It's nice to hear that you guys got a good handle on it, makes me hopeful for DS and I.. Hopefully we're able to post a victory someday :)
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  • kettlekittenkettlekitten member
    @messymolly08 if you're really keen you should find an LC and try baby on the breast again now or soon. As your DD gets bigger it will be easier for her to stay awake and latch properly. I'm doing a couple of breastfeeds a day in between pumping to give DS latching practice, so that I can get him back on the boob someday. It may or may not work but it's worth a try!
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  • emmacake08emmacake08 member
    @messymolly08 look into getting a supplemental nursing system through a LC (you can also buy a nice medela SNS on Amazon). My LO isn't strong enough to exclusively nurse, so using it makes her latch and nurse but she gets milk through the tube so she doesn't have to work so hard but is encouraged to nurse. My LC said that if a baby's mouth and cheeks aren't strong enough to nurse, falling asleep is the reflex. I use the SNS and nurse through the day and pump after the feed (it is a pain but once a baby stops latching that can be difficult to troubleshoot) and I bottle feed at night.
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