So DD arrived as a big surprise at just 27 weeks. I've been pumping milk (by hand as I wasn't getting on with the machines) for seven weeks now and by doing it 9 or so times a day for about 30 minutes a time during the day and twice at night for an hour or so I've managed to build my supply up to 1.2L a day. This is a big emotional commitment and has really kept me sane because I've been able to do something positive for her every day. But now comes the tricky bit and I don't want to screw it up, DD has been on continuous feeds, is now trying hourly bolus feeds, then comes two hourly, then three and at some point when she can get all her milk without using her nasogastric tube it'll be a big step towards her coming home. But how best to do this?? She's been put to the breast a few times - mainly for a nuzzle and just to acquaint herself - she hasn't really latched on, or fed other than lapping at milk I've squeezed out for her. She's 34 weeks and still v small (3lbs 14) and has a small hole in her heart so can be a bit 'beepy' on the sats monitors. I realise we'll have to build things up slowly but my MW was very keen for her to take bottles when I can't be at the hospital to feed her (I also have a toddler to keep me busy) but from what I've read this is not a good idea. She says a bottle is more like breast feeding than a cup or syringe, and more 'satisfying' for the baby plus as she put it the bottle is a way of getting DD out of hospital then you can work on BFing. But I'm worried that between bottle feeding her and then pumping milk and looking after my DS I won't have time to devote to teaching her to feed at the breast at home as well so I'd rather she cracked it in hospital. Does anyone have any advice or tips on how best to get a premmie to feed?
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Infant feeding
Ticktok and others, how best to get a preemie to breastfeed? Conflicting advice from MWs.
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Poppet45 · 08/10/2011 22:22
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