My DS was born last week at 34+4 weighing 4.6lbs, he is now 35+ 6.
We are in hospital on a transitional ward and he is being tube fed my expressed breast milk and is now starting to gain weight which is great.
However, I am finding breast feeding really hard as DS is just so sleepy all the time and is finding it really hard to suckle. He doesn’t seem to have the strength to suck any milk out the nipple yet and also needs lots of encouragement to go on the breast. He also only has a few good sucks before he falls asleep. We have started using a nipple shield which has been a massive help in triggering his suckling reflex but any advice or personal experience people could share would be hugely appreciated - I am feeling pretty down and disheartened and like we will never go home at the moment ☹️