From SCBU to EBF

[stillfrazzled]

DS2 was six months old on Monday, after a rocky start (5 weeks prem, 3lbs 5ozs due to IUGR). He spent his first three weeks in SCBU.

It was hard work to get feeding started, but luckily he got the hang of it and he's still EBF.

Hope I don't sound smug, I'm just pleased that one bloody thing worked out the way I'd hoped. And also, wanted it on record for anyone who has a prem baby and hopes to bf.

Now trying to get my head round weaning a baby the size of a 3mo, and introducing the odd bottle of formula so I can get some sleep while DH does the night shift...

well done you :) and DS2 of course!

breastfeeding can be hard to get going at the best of times so you deserve to feel pleased (and even a bit smug imo!) that you did it :)

hope the weaning goes well too

Thanks! Think we're going to get some funny looks when we're out and about...

Well done! You deserve to be proud of yourself :)

Re weaning prems.. No advice. My ds was 7lb when we started weaning Nd tbh I just used to brazen it out if I caught anyone looking, nosey bastards

Hi stillfrazzled
I think I remember your thread from the prem section when your LO was in SCBU. Can't believe that was six months ago!!

I'd advise you check out the inflatable high chair insert that ikea do. I think it's only about £5. We had one at home and one for when we were out and about as DD often slumped in a highchair, or rattled around in them because she was so small.

Well done on the bf. You worked really hard and deserve a pat on the back!!

Thank you , I can't believe it's been six months myself! The inflatable high chair insert is a genius idea, I will definitely check it out.

Worzsel, at weaning 7lber. DS2 is about 12lbs and people still think he's pretty new. What did your LO weigh at birth? And did you do purees, or did you try any finger foods? I had wanted to BLW before all this happened but not sure it's such a good idea...

I've been weaning my son (born at 26w, 2lb 2oz) over the last 4 weeks and it has been all purees so far - he just doesn't have the coordination for finger foods. We were told that BLW really doesn't work for such an early prem. Might be different for a 35 weeker though - can you check with your Outreach team?
2 things we were told that are specific to prems about weaning - don't scoop the food off their chin in between bites. Just let it stay there and do one big wipe at the end. Babes who have had tubes down their throats for a long time can have issues with plastic around their mouths apparently. And don't give water - stick with breast milk (or formula) or they won't get enough calories.
Again, not sure if that advice would apply to a 35 weeker but worth checking .

We did BLW with DD when she was about 6.5 months actual (she was born at 31 weeks so I guess that made her a teeny 4.5 months adjusted).
She didn't manage much for about a month or so and with hindsight I would probably have been just as well waiting an extra month to start. But I just gave her food roughly once a day and viewed it as her playing with it.

It did take her a while to get the hang of food and when she was a year actual age she was still having probably about six breastfeeds a day.

I didn't get any of the advice that penguin did. We were pretty much left to our own devices. The health visitor said there was no official MHD guidance on weaning prems, but that in terms of gut maturity she was ok to have solids from six months actual age, and they wouldn't recommend me waiting beyond six months adjusted age.

BLW was actually quite hard to do mentally because having been so obsessed with her weight, it was really hard to resist the temptation to force something calorific down her throat. But it all seems to have worked so far. She eats fairly well now and some days just has a bf at morning and bedtime. But to be honest that depends more on what we're doing in a day than how much she eats (she feeds more at home, either because she's bored or as a crutch to get her to nap. Outside there are more distractions and she's easy to get to nap in the car or buggy).

Good luck with the weaning however you decide to proceed.

That should have said nhs advice. My iPhone clearly knows what MHD is but I don't!!