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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

should i bother to continue with bf such a small amount

63 replies

moocowme · 04/10/2007 22:41

my baby was 4 weeks early and is on his second week in the NICU/SCBU and looks like he will be in for about another week. I travel in to see him every day but this takes about an hour both ways so i generally do 11-8 every day with him.

early on i was unsuccesful with bf due to the sheer pain of it but have got some nipple shields now. I am managing to feed him 2-3 times a day for anything from 10-20 minutes. the rest of the time he is on formula and about half of this is tube fed until he can establish better feeding.

I realise my milk will not last forever at this rate and he is probably not getting a lot from me.

should i continue with this? does anyone think its beneficial for DS even at this small amount?

OP posts:

smallwhitecat · 04/10/2007 22:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

CastsSpellsWitchySpells · 04/10/2007 22:45

Any breast milk is definitely better than none moocowme.

Would you like to bf full time if it's possible when he comes home? You'll need more specific advice than I can give if so, but it should be possible.

Are you expressing at all? This would help to build up some supply, particularly if you do it during the night (something to do with prolactin levels I believe).

TheQueenOfQuotes · 04/10/2007 22:46

If you want to keep going do so - I'm sure that they do get some benefits from it - even if it's only a small amount each day (at least I hope that's the case)

my DS3 has been almost exclusively FF since he was 3 weeks old (he's 19 weeks now.....or 18 or 20 - I've lost count ). However, he's continued to have at least one BF a day, usually not very long - but he's obviously getting something out as 1) he's offered it when I KNOW he's hungry and doesn't scream and 2) he usually lasts at least 1 - 2hrs after that until he has a bottle of FF (and even then it's not usually a full bottle).

Original poster

moocowme · 04/10/2007 23:02

if i could i would bf exclusively. my problem was it was so painful at first that i could not bear it. nipple shileds are helping a lot. i am hoping that if i keep going then somehow i may get used to it and possibly build up to doing more of it.

i tried expressing but could not take the feeling of the machine, plus i found the machine in the hospital stressful. i can relax a lot more when doing it with Ds than with a machine

OP posts:

sarahtwobratz · 04/10/2007 23:07

Aren't you getting support at hospital? I don't have any of the experiences you are going through, but I always thought the unit would want baby to have your milk, and help you with that. Not all expressing machines are the same, you need as much help as DS does, hope you get it

daisyandbabybootoo · 04/10/2007 23:09

moocowme...it is hard at first and it is farking sore, even when they are latching properly, the initial latch hurts like hell for a few seconds.....but it does pass and your nipples get hardened to it and it doesn't hurt any more.....for me the latching pain stopped after about three weeks.

I hope someone more qualified comes along soon to help you with this, but it sounds like you are doing a fab job in difficult circumstances

Congratulations on the birth of your LO

tiktok · 05/10/2007 08:19

Aw, moocowme, what a difficult situation.

here's the facts: 2-3 feeds/expressions a day are nowhere near enough to build up and maintain breastfeeding, and it sounds as if you know that.

It is certainly beneficial to give any breastmilk and especially for a baby in SCBU, and the closeness and physical contact you are having with him is massively important as well, quite apart from the breastmilk he gets.

If you think you might want to fully bf, then you will need to express/feed at least 8 times in 24 hours. This would mean getting a breastpump for use at home, and having him skin to skin ('kanharoo care') with him for as much of the time you are with him as you can, so you can 'squeeze' in more direct breastfeeds.

None of this is easy, I know

phdlife · 05/10/2007 08:36

moocowme, what a hard time you are having with the long travelling to see your lo. {{hugs}} for this hard time and hope things get better for you both soon.

if you do a search for messages from determination, containing the word "raspberries", you will find some lovely inspiring stories about overcoming bad bfing troubles of this sort. If you really want to, you might be able to couple this with tiktok's advice and keep going.

it really is a learning curve for both you and your ds, but well worth it IMHO. good luck, and enjoy your baby.

moondog · 05/10/2007 08:38

Hi Moocow

Sorry you have had such a rough time.
I hope you come to an arrangement that suits you all and remember that any breastmilk at all is a GREAT THING.

Original poster

moocowme · 05/10/2007 10:53

i am only hoping that this breastmilk will last a bit longer. has anyone else managed a few weeks on part time feeding?

i am just pleased i have managed to do some wvwn if its only a little bit. no use getting stressed and tearful because i can't do everything to the highest standard.

my breasts still get all tingly every time i get near the hospital so this must be a good sign they are still working for a bit.

OP posts:

TheQueenOfQuotes · 05/10/2007 12:21

"has anyone else managed a few weeks on part time feeding?"

yes - I stopped feeding excluisvely when DS3 was 3 weeks old - he's now 19 weeks and it's only in the last few days that he's not had a feed (my choice rather than milk having completely run out).

puffylovett · 05/10/2007 12:31

have you thought about asking if you can supplement your breast milk with donated milk ?

i'm sure most hopsitals would prefer to do this than use formula. certainly our local one does, and i'm a milk bank donor. at least it will help keep your LO on breast milk, and with you feeding as much as poss whilst your there, he will be getting maximum human milk benefit.

i really hope you're able to carry on as it's such a fab bonding experience, but at least you're being pragmatic about the possibility that you may not be able to continue long term. best of luck, i hope you're able to keep your supply up.

Original poster

moocowme · 05/10/2007 21:21

well we had two good feeds today both just over 30 mins long. DS definately got some milk as i could see it in his mouth and a bit running down my tum. all that extra hard sucking wore him out as he was to tired for either brest or bottle at 7pm still the 1pm feed was a good'un. hoping for a repeat tomorrow and I hope he gets stronger and can have more breaast feeds. I do think that the 4pm feed did start to feel slightly more comfortable today so that will be a good thing. I can't wait until he comes home from the hospital but they tell me it will not be at least until the middle of next week.

OP posts:

ellymae · 05/10/2007 22:03

my dd was in NICU for 7.5 weeks and some days I only got to breastfeed her twice a day. I persevered with the expressing as regularly as I could in between and the end result is that I'm still breastfeeding dd 6 months down the line.

As hard as it was to set the alarm clock for the early hours of the morning to get up to express, I'm so glad I did so if you really want to keep going with the bf it can be done! Good luck!

TheLadyEvenstar · 05/10/2007 22:07

Moo,
my ds was born on 18th september 4 weeks early. he spent 5 days in scbu and i tried bf him there but hospital were reluctant because his jaundice levels meant he needed a set amount of fluids every 2 hours.

I got him home and have been bf him along with formula as a top up. now at almost 3 weeks old it seems my milk has come to an end today he had a 45 min bf and 10 mins later was still hungry and had 60 mls of formula..

I been very sad today at thought i can't feed him anymore...any solutions????

tiktok · 05/10/2007 23:25

TheLady - please call one of the bf lines and ask about this. You don't say enough for me to be sure what is happening, but if it happens again he is hungry 10 mins after a bf....just put him to the breast again. It is fine for a baby to have three or four or more 'sides' at a bf.

TheLadyEvenstar · 06/10/2007 06:28

Tiktok,

What I should have said is in hospital the staff were adamant he should take 50mls of milk every 2 hours and I had numerous arguments with them over this. Every time they ff him (they wouldn't let me even hold him because of his jaundice levels being so high) it went right through him. I argued that he didn't like the ff and he would be happier bf. They allowed me to bf him from the day before they said i could bring him home and his jaundice levels dropped significantly. Well enough for me to bring him home the next day, so maybe i did know best.

Anyway on the advice of the hospital i continued with the bf topping up with ff if he was still hungry. But ff still went right through him so I cut it out and just bf him. He is now almost 3 weeks and up until the other day (thursday) I was solely bf but he seemed hungry and restless on thursday so i gave him a ff and he settled. I did same again yesterday and he had a restful day.

moondog · 06/10/2007 09:16

Reiterating what Tiktok says.
If he seems hungry,you need to just feed him more.
Your breasts work on a supply and demand basis.The more you feed the more they make.

tiktok · 06/10/2007 15:06

TheLady - not sure what you mean about the formula going right through him, or him not liking the formula. It seems you have had a real struggle, and I don't know any reason why jaundice would prevent you holding him

It may be there is an issue with supply, because bf has not had a real chance to get established, but this is something to talk about with someone who's well-informed and can help you work out where to go from here.

The more formula your baby has, the less breastmilk you make....it's a pretty 'pro rata' equation. You may need to work on reducing the formula over a time, but this can be done.

I hope you get the support you need.

LyraSilvertongue · 06/10/2007 15:09

Any amount of brerast milk is better than none. you can keep your supply going with a breast pump.

LyraSilvertongue · 06/10/2007 15:10

That was to the OP btw. Hadn't read the rest of the thread.

TheLadyEvenstar · 06/10/2007 16:00

TikTok,
re formula, everytime he was given it it seemed before he had finished the bottle he had a very runny nappy. Since I have got him home and have been bf exclusivly (until thursday) he had less runny nappies but still dirty ones if this makes sense. I only gave him the formula the other day as I was concerned he was still hungry however after reading your post i have decided to forget the formula and he is at present quite content after a 35 minute bf so thanks!!!!!! I should have asked here in first place and not listened to midwife lol.

I wasn't allowed to hold him as he was in an incubator with an iv drip so i ended up feeling like i was not needed by my own baby. But i ended up having an argument with drs and told them that if they just let me feed him he would progress more and guess what I was right!!!! and the day after they let me i was able to bring him home and since then he has been feeding well.

Soz if i confused you am suffering from baby brain i think it fell out when i gave birth i know nappies, crying feeding and sleeping for the odd hour here n there as i am constantly checking ds2 lol

moondog · 06/10/2007 18:33

Hope you are feeling more confidnet Lady in yoursel and your body's ability to feed your baby. It's hard work.

puffylovett · 06/10/2007 21:24

well done thelady for standing up to the doctors, i'm not surprised your LO did better once you were holding him and feeding him, it's what the're designed for after all !

not that I'm an expert in these matters & luckily have never experienced it, but it does make sense that a newborn would make more improvement if it's allowed to be held by mum, listen to mums heartbeat and eat the food it's designed to eat ! must have taken a lot of nerve to stand up to them. i hope you get on ok, it's a really rewarding fantastic experience for both.

Moocow - how did you get on today ? it must be so hard for you right now

Original poster

moocowme · 06/10/2007 21:30

Ds only managed one feed today (first feed) as they had changed his feeding times due to him being unsettled during the night. that one feed was 40 mins on and off. but have realised that it takes him about the same time to take a bottle so he must be getting something approching a reasonable feed this way.

I suspect tho that me bf'ing and then he is given a full bottle afterwards is filling him up quite a bit and making him a bit sleepy for the next feed or two.

still no chance of him coming home just yet which i find a bit sad as i just enjoy being with him but never get anything done being out for the day and evening.

but the milk is still flowing so i am going to continue for as long as I can.

OP posts:

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