Prem baby tube fed in SCBU. Reassure me about BFing please!!

[JoyceBarnaby]

DD (DC2) was born less than 24 hours ago at 35 weeks. Weighing 6lb 3oz, she's doing really well. However, she is still on a drip and is being tube fed every 2 hours. Her blood sugar has been very up and down.

I have hand expressed colostrum 5 or 6 times already (up to 1.5ml a time so far) and this has been given to her before any formula top-ups. I have no problem with formula top ups at this stage - so long as my colostrum is priority and she is getting what she needs, it's fine. I am holding her skin to skin and offering boob whenever I can, but she has shown absolutely no interest so far.

I had terrible difficulty establishing BFing with DS, although we did eventually get the hang of it and BF for over a year. He wasn't prem - just not very interested in any feeding at all!! So, does anyone have any advice on what I should be doing with DD? I know it's early days and I need to take each day as it comes, but I really need to know that BFing will happen again!!

Thanks x

[Checkmate]

Wonderful!

Your 3 year old will be fine; 2 of my children have been in SCBU and my older ones have always bounced back from the experience very quickly - much more so than me!
Playmobile do a little set that has a baby in an incubator in it, we bought this for them, alongside a playmobile baby pram and things, and acted out little scenes showing that baby was in hospital for a while, and then came home and was with us forever.

[Beveridge]

Taking a preterm baby home exclusively breastfed is entirely possible - did it myself just over a month ago! DS was born at 32+4 weeks, 5lb 5oz and now 2 weeks past his due date and 11lb - he only ever had 2 days of formula top ups (during the first 48 hours, no access to donor milk here) and 3 bottles of EBM, the rest has all been my own work.

The nurses said that 'when they get it, they get it' and he went from managing one 5 minute breastfeed every 12 hours to having the tube out and doing it all himself in the space of 48 hours. The sucking reflex will develop, it's just a matter of time. DS's tube came out when he was 35 weeks, and he had been sucking on my little finger when he was tubefed for at least a week before that.

I did resist suggestions to give him a dummy and held off on the bottles until it was unavoidable e.g. when he was going ballistic at certain feeds because he had nothing to suck and I couldn't be there but that was the point at which I was invited to come in overnight and stay in the parenting room with him and then he was off.

Good luck, hopefully soon you will be able to collapse at home on your own sofa with her and your DS.

[JoyceBarnaby]

Well, we took a bit of a step backwards yesterday when she had to go under the lamp for jaundice and needed more top-ups through her tube to help flush it out. Although, I am pleased I did manage to express enough for all these top-ups so she still has had only breastmilk, either direct or EBM, since day 2.

Fortunately, she is now off the lamp and although the tube is still in at the mo, we're trying just for direct BFing. Best of all, they've said that if she continues as she has done, we can go home tomorrow!! Am trying not to get my hopes up, but can't stop thinking about taking my beautiful DD home and cuddling my gorgeous DS at home.

So, I am now settling down for a mega feeding marathon to ensure this happens - wish me luck!!

[sheeplikessleep]

Good luck Joyce.

Another thing that was mentioned to me was to breastfeed WHILST DS1 was being tube fed, so that he associates the full feeling in his tummy with the breastfeeding.

Keeping everything crossed you get home tomorrow. So hard being in SCBU, but you're both doing really well.

[JoyceBarnaby]

Thanks sheep - much appreciated.

DD isn't being topped up by the tube at all now - it's just up to my boobs now! I'm prepared for a feeding marathon but at the moment, it seems she is not - she's sleeping oh so peacefully and I want her to feed more!! So far, I've changed her nappy twice (this did wake her enough to feed from one boob but not the other), I've undressed her/dressed get and tickled her feet/tummy/cheeks.
Any ideas what I can try? I need her to have as much as poss. If her jaundice level goes up again at the test this evening, I'll be devastated.

[japhrimel]

Try frequent feeds instead of going for big feeds. A both boob feed is pretty huge for a teeny one.

[sheeplikessleep]

Joyce - I remember the highs and lows of waiting to get out of SCBU and DS1 was only there 4 days (although unexpectedly and after 5 days on postnatal). I really hope the jaundice level goes down again for the next read. Keeping everything crossed. If it isn't, then I'm sure it will tomorrow. It doesn't seem like it, but you will both be home soon.

Agree with Japhrimel, just frequent feeds. I also fed with DS1 just in nappy, tickled behind his ears, but often it is just a case of getting in what you can, but frequently. Make sure you are resting when you can and relaxing as much as is possible. Difficult I know. I found having visitors (who I knew would relax me) for 20 minutes or so really helped for me to keep things in perspective and I also took a 20 minute walk outside for fresh air for myself.

[JoyceBarnaby]

Thanks - I have been worrying about both boobs, so won't worry so much about that.

The good news is that I did manage to wake her up for her next feed and we ended up having a bit of a feeding & pooing bonanza, which was fab. More tests due later so keeping fingers crossed.

Thanks again for all comments - hearing from other mums who have been there is brilliant.

[sheeplikessleep]

You're on day 5 too, which is the worst in terms of tears and hormones. Be kind to yourself. Let us know how your LO gets on.