Can my 10 week old learn how to breastfeed?

[secondsista]

Hi, it's my first time posting and would like some advice on breastfeeding. I have been expressing milk since my DD was born. She came early at 35 weeks and was a low birthweight baby, weighing only 1.7kg. I tried breastfeeding the day she was born but she was a very sleepy baby and would not suck on my breast. I tried breastfeeding full time when she was 3 weeks old (her weight was 2kg back then) but she would actively suck for less than a minute then fall asleep, but I kept her on the breast for nearly an hour anyway during each feed. I tried to keep her awake during feedings but nothing worked. I guess this was due to her being jaundice, weak and underweight. Breastfeeding her for a week almost killed my milk supply so I stopped and continued with the pumping. I have been giving DD expressed milk in a bottle and sometimes formula. I'm currently full time expressing milk and DD is now used to the bottle. She is now 10 weeks old and weighs 3.8kg. I was wondering if DD can still learn how to breastfeed. I tried giving her the breast a few times and after a lot of fussing she would suck on my nipple for about 5-10 mins thanks to me doing breast compressions. However, the moment I stop compressing milk she would push my breast away. She also does not open her mouth wide. Anyone have a similar experience? Any advice would be much appreciated.

I have no idea but maybe post this again in chat as once this has gone off the active thread side bar no one will see it and I want you to have some support x

I had a 36 w IUGR baby, and had a lot of problems similar to yours as he just wasn’t strong enough and was too sleepy. I found nipple shields very helpful to correct the latch.
As he got to the weight that he probably should have had at birth things got a lot easier and he bfed normally and then refused bottles. We got to three years in the end.

Yes they can but I would see if you can get a consultation from an IBCLC...In person if possible so they can see exactly what she is doing. You may benefit from a supplementary feeding line to get her going.

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! You've had a lot on your plate with a preterm underweight baby, so well done you for doing such an amazing job. Whilst you don't have to breastfeed, if you want to I think it's definitely still possible. You are doing a great job, and the fact you've got her to attach for 5-10 mins is great. Pumping keeps your supply up a bit, but the baby actually breastfeeding stimulates supply much better. So your flow is probably a bit slow at the moment, hence why breast compressions are helping. Carry on doing that as the more you do, hopefully the more it will help. Have you sought advice from midwife/HV on feeding. You should be able to get access to a lactation consultant through then and they are BRILLIANT! They can check for things like tongue tie, which aren't always obvious or picked up in hospital. Both of my DS had tongue tie that wasn't picked up at first. Getting tongue tie cut had a huge positive impact both times. Also look at La Leche League website. Lots of helpful info there and you can contact a local advisor for more support. Sending lots of love, breastfeeding can be a real challenge, but whatever happens, you are doing fantastic xxx

Contact your health visitor and see if there is any feeding support available. Do you have Home Start in your area? They sent me peer supporters out to help with my first baby and also run support groups where I got support and met other mums.

When my son was born he had some health difficulties and was in NICU for 6 weeks, then special care a further week and a half. I expressed and he was tube fed until 6 weeks then I transferred him to breast feeding. He couldn't suck for long, so fed all the time in tiny doses for a while but we built it up and he was ebf. He had to be evicted from the boob at 3 1/2!