Getting BF up and running with baby in SCBU

[FlightofFancy]

Hi all,
DC2 born earlier today but hasn't been the best start for either of us. She's in SCBU getting a bit of help with breathing, and I'm recovering from removal of retained placenta. We had very brief skin to skin, and the midwife has helped me to try and hand express - but it's not really happening yet and not yet sure when I'll get to see her.

BF DC1 for over a year with no issues, though it was a while ago, so want to give us the best possible chance this time.

I'll have another go at hand expressing, but is there anything else I should be doing, and at what point does it become an issue?

She's just had sugar water so far and hospital massively supportive of BF. Is it just a case of waiting?

[vvviola]

Can you get a hospital grade pump?

DD1 was in SCBU for about 5 days after she was born. I expressed regularly using a monstrous machine and would bring the milk up to the unit. They would use that before supplementing with formula when necessary. Towards the end I was allowed take her to bf occasionally also (she was under lights due to bad jaundice, so they didn't like me to take her out too much).

When I was discharged (without her) I hired a hospital grade pump (swapped my TENS machine rental which hadn't arrived as DD was prem). I brought supplies of milk in daily.

It's definitely possible. Once discharged, DD was exclusively bf for 6 months. But having a good pump was key for me (and luck, I suppose, I'm a "good" expresser, even if I did feel like a dairy cow at times DH only called me Daisy once).

Congratulations by the way. And as you seem like you've had a rough time of it. Hopefully it will all settle down soon

[OddlyLogical]

I was in the same situation many years ago with a baby in SCBU and me having had a retained placenta. Baby was 6 weeks early.
I had more success with expressing using the electric pump. My son had a nasal gastric tube and he was tube fed formula at first, then breastmilk as soon as I produced some.
Breastfeeding took a while and quite a few attempts to establish. He got tired very quickly so managed a 5 second suck, then fell asleep, so we topped him up with the tube.
He got the hang of it within a week and they took the tube out so I could bring him home fully breastfed.
Hang in there. You've been through an ordeal but it will be ok.
And congratulations :)

[FlightofFancy]

Thanks both - very aware is early days! Have managed to get going with a bit of hand expressing though not enough to collect. She's been cup fed a bit of formula to get her strength up, but hoping to see her this morning. Luckily she's 39 weeks and a good size so should help and I had a good supply last time round, so fingers xd. Will definately ask about pump.

[FlightofFancy]

Thanks again all for the middle of the night reassurance. I have her back and we seem to be getting on ok with feeding, so fingers crossed that the bumpy start won't have too much of an impact!

[vvviola]

Oh, glad to hear she back with you FlightofFancy. Sounds like it's all going well - and I'm sure the bumpy start will all be forgotten soon



Enjoy the tiny baby snuggles :)