My DS was born slightly early at 34+6, but was a massive 7lbs11! Was in neonatal for 12 days before coming home, and to start with was tube fed. A couple of days of formula and mixed expressed milk then onto expressed breastmilk completely. We tried to establish bfing, but he started to lose weight and his nappies dried up and in the end had to bottle feed the expressed milk. I try him on the breast before most feeds, the day before yesterday after 20 minutes he did latch on and fed (stop-start) for about half an hour, but was still hungry and needed topping up afterwards. Since then he hasn't really latched at all.
I have seen a bfing support lady who confirms my position etc.. Is all fine (having fb my daughter I feel I am happy with this). I have been advised just to keep trying, and to try nipple shields (which I have ordered and should be here soon) for the time being, and to keep my supply up by expressing 7/8 times a day (I was only doing it about 5 times a day before that).
My breasts feel quite soft, which it am sure they didn't before and I don't seem to get quite as much milk out as he is eating. Currently I have a frozen supply, but this is depleting.
Does anyone have any experience of going back to breast? Or using nipple shields to help with this? Or of keep expressing and feeding by bottle? At the moment I am tied to house really due to expressing and am not sure on the long run how sustainable this will be...