4 weeks preemie dificulty latching - major engorgement HELP!

[determination]

only managing to get a latch using nipple shield and u know how much I hate them. scared of experiencing nipple confusion again. don't want to express a little before latching as MAJORLY OVER PRODUCING. Already stored 6oz and trying topups of 25ml due to loosing 10% of birth weight (5lb 8oz). still in hosp no real support.

determination: you need to get in touch with a breastfeeding counsellor.

I don't know if tiktok or IlanaK are about at night so try bumping this in the morning.

If you email me on lovelymarslady at aol dot com I can put you in touch with breastfeeding counsellor.

if you express a little, it is better than having a baby who cannot latch because of engorgement. if baby is on, natural removal occurs.

have you attempted cup feeds?

i have seen tt recommend feeding from only one side for several feeds before swapping and only expressing the other to reduce engorgement issues. over a few days, supply reduces. however, your situation is different so i would i would confirm with a bf counsellor in rl or one of the mn experts.

Hi

I wold agree with expressing a little- it doesn't need to be lots, just enough to help baby latch on. There's a risk (albeit a small one) that little one will not have so much energy to feed if she (he?) doesn't feed, and that could create a bit of a cycle withreagrds to feeding / asking. IYSWIM.

Would agree with the breast feeding counsellor- really worth having the latch checked, and a feed observed. That's usually a whole lot more helpful than any amount of adice over the nte, I suspect TikTok would agree with this!

The organisations that provide free BF support include the association of breastfeeding mothers, the la leche league, and the NCT- al have internet sites with contact details.

Hope that helps

TiktoK... what do u think?

thinking of buying a finger feeder from medela to give her extra feeds. As this should improve her sucking reflex and weight at the same time.

I have also been letting the foremilk flow naturally before a feed usually get about 35 ml from each side of which I discard. to enable her to feed on hind milk to try and increase weight - does that make sense?

I have tried cup feeding - which she reluctantly does. Also tried syringe feeding which I easier, but she refuses it after feeding at the breast using shield.

I just want to see progress with her weight and don't know what else to do/try?

Thanx for all suggestions. They are much appreciated.

No real advice I'm afraid but just wanted to give you some support as I have been where you are now. My ds was 6 weeks prem and I had a total nightmare trying to get bf going. He was so tiny and could not get latched on and I was in total agony for weeks. I resorted to giving ebm in a bottle, and carried on for four months like this. He never got nipple confusion. He is now 6 and a half months and is fully breastfed.

I was told sucking reflex can kick in as late as 40 weeks in some babies, certainly ds didn't really manage to take a full feed bfeeding until 42 weeks.

she will latch and suck well if I have the nipple shield on. but its as though she finds it difficult to keep a hold of my nipples without it. My nipples are very erect - so its not that they are too flat.. once I have emptied them a bit.

Any other suggestions on how to get her to gain weight quicker, without formula topups?