My DD was a very slow feeder from birth. She lost close to her 10% and then didn't put on weight so MW suggested I expressed at the end of every feed to give it at the end of the next feed. This means that every three hours I:
- breast feed from both boobs (approx 15 mins each)
- throughout breast feed, I have to poke baby to stay sucking (tickle feet, blow on her, drip cold water on her, etc.)
- then whilst DH bottle feeds her EBM, I express
The whole process takes over an hour. We've been doing it for over a week and it is killing us. We are all exhausted - we apart from the baby!
We cannot continue. DH will be going back to work (he has extended his leave another week) and DS (age 3) will be around much more next week because his nursery hours are reduced.
She should be having total approx 25oz of milk a day and she has 12oz of EBM so she is getting a significant amount directly from me.
Does anyone else have experience of this?
I guess I'm hoping that someone is going to tell me that next week she will magically start sucking harder and won't need the EBM.
I have two solutions if not:
(1) SMA
(2) Keep baby on boob for even more time
I know I can use a sling, etc. but I think that, for me, my sanity and my family, I am not prepared to do option (2).