My baby is currently in NICU and I'm trying to establish breastfeeding. He was born at 27 weeks, and is now 35 weeks. He's tube fed every 3 hours.
I've been attempting breastfeeding from 32 weeks, and he's definitely interested. However I don't think he's having much success. I've not breastfed before so no idea how it should feel, but it seems he every so often gets a grip on me that feels similar to the pump, but that only lasts a few seconds and I usually only see my nipple in his mouth rather than any of the areola. The nurses are very nice and have talked through nose to nipple, positioning, things like that. However, it's understandably not a priority for them to sit down with me for however long it takes to get him properly latched on and checking if he's swallowing.
What I'd really like is a lactation consultant, but since it's only immediate family allowed then that's not an option. However I wondered if in the wake of COVID online consultations were a thing? He can't come home until feeding is established (plus a host of other things), so I don't want to wait until then as I think he'll just end up being bottle fed so he can leave the ward.
It's obviously been a pretty traumatic and horrific time, and breastfeeding is something I really looked forward to so I want to do as much as I can to achieve it, so I'm looking for help on that front rather than any reassurance that fed is best.