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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

5 week old being tube fed

7 replies

ArtfulScreamer · 16/07/2021 13:41

DS is 5 weeks old and breastfeeding was going really well however he caught a virus from his older sister and we're now in hospital as it's developed into bronchiolitis. He is being tube fed as due to how hard he was having to concentrate on breathing he wasn't feeding properly, the hospital have given me a pump and I'm expressing every 3-4 hours depending on whats going on as this is how often DS was feeding. DS is receiving 33ml every 2 hours as he was being sick when they tried to give him more. I'm worried my supply is going to drop as expressing isn't as effective as feeding and once DS is better there'll not be enough there for him.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation what was your experience?
TIA

OP posts:
BunnyRuddington · 17/07/2021 20:00

So sorry you're both going through this. Are you getting any RL support @ArtfulScreamer? Thanks

bloodywhitecat · 17/07/2021 20:05

Are you near him while you are expressing?

JustWonderingIfYou · 17/07/2021 20:10

Agree with PP try to pump near DS or watching videos of him- keeps the milk flowing apparently.

Also are you able to do skin to skin at the mo, that could help and also maybe stimulate his appetite. You can buy special skin to skin tops so your not exposed if sat on a ward.

I wouldn't worry too much if your supply dips as it can also increase again afterwards. Your supply naturally fluctuates as they go through growth spurts anyway.

mayblossominapril · 17/07/2021 20:13

I’m sorry you’re going through this, it’s really hard being on the children’s ward with a small baby.
I think as long as you can keep expressing you will keep producing milk and supply should increase again once he is better to meet his demands.
I had to top my second up with bottles, not for lack of supply, and we did go back to just breastfeeding
If you need to top up they should give you an exact amount you need to feed every three hours. In between offer the breast whenever they want for comfort or for a feed. Always feed them as much as you can before the top up is given.
If you’re on your second go at bf you’ll have fewer issues than if it were your first. Lots of skin to skin helps as well.
Hope he’s better soon.

Original poster
ArtfulScreamer · 17/07/2021 20:15

Thankfully he really turned a corner today and was able to resume breastfeeding, his breathing also settled right down so we've been discharged and we're now at home. Hopefully with plenty of feeding and skin to skin things will soon be back to normal

OP posts:
randomsabreuse · 17/07/2021 20:26

My DS was similar - aged 4 weeks, Bronchiolitis. Supply came back fine and I EBF to 6 months despite some (unrelated) intolerances.

Little toad refused a dummy from then unless food was arriving as I was hoping he'd take one after accepting them in hospital while being tube fed...

He's now a sturdy active 2 year old and the only hint of breathing issues we've had has been when it's really really cold he gets a hint of wheeze. Although the year after the hospitalisation (2019) he had a cough he could not shift until lockdown happened and no more bugs were coming home from school. This year has been fine (good hand hygiene thanks to pandemic) although we will need to keep an eye when he starts school.

BunnyRuddington · 18/07/2021 08:14

Thankfully he really turned a corner today and was able to resume breastfeeding, his breathing also settled right down so we've been discharged and we're now at home. Hopefully with plenty of feeding and skin to skin things will soon be back to normal

That's such good news Smile

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