What Should I Do???

[LupinsBigLump]

DS has been born 8 weeks early - he is now 4.5 wks old, while he was in scbu i was expressing and he was having my milk in a bottle and when i visited i would try and breast feed, however now we are home he really doesnt seem to interested in bf and I havent got time to express and bottle feed, last few days i have been mostly bottle feeding and he has been brilliant having 3oz feeds, however if i express i am only getting 1.5-2oz -- so not enough without a top up

So shpuld i persevere and bf with top ups until he is more interested and stronger or bite the bullet and bottle feed and save myself alot of bother, would like to bf but am not sure he is going to take to it

Because he is Premature it is very tiring but it even more important for him because he is premature...
I would try to perservere a while longer...remember you don't get as much stimulation when you express so try putting him on the breast lots and that might help.
Do you have some support at home to help you???

If you would like to continue trying to breastfeed then I think you should contact a breastfeeding counsellor in your area to support you. It can be done but it will take some work. You need to be expressing at least 8 times a day to keep your supply up. Did you room in with your DS befor ehe came home out of interest?

I would express some just before you try and feed him, then the milk will be ready to go and will be easier for him. Then top up with formula, then express some more - your body will stimulated by the contact you have had with him - especially if you can make it skin to skin contact as much as possible.

Make sure you express as often as you would feed - every 3-4 hours.

As he gets bigger he will be able to breast feed more easily. The suck reflex often doesn't kick in til about due date with premmies - my DS1 was 3 weeks early and it took a month to get him breast feeding then we did it for a year.

Don't express for more than 20 minutes at a time - little and often is the key.

You can use fenugreek capsules to boost supply as well.

and forget about all other household chores - they can wait for a while. And sleep when he sleeps so that you are not totally exhausted.

Both my babies went onto bottles of EBM to start with - too lazy to latch. One took the breast at 2.5 months, the other at 5 weeks, and both rejected bottles forever after. So it can be done. I think b/f is much EASIER when they're bigger and stronger, for both of you.