Please help if you have nursed a NICU baby. X-posted

[still_me]

My sister had her baby early and has not really been able to nurse the baby so she is pumping. She is getting a terrific amount of milk from pumping, but she wants to get the baby to breast. Anyways, Mr. Baby is not cooperating. He will latch on, but he won't stay on for long. She had him successfully eat once, but he hasn't again.

Did anyone deal with this? How did you get your baby to eat and feel free to elaborate on anything else dealing with a nursing a NICU baby.


http://www.breastfeeding.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29546

[3girls2luv]

Most premie babies will only nurse for short periods because they don't have the energy it takes to stay at the breast for a long time. She needs to do a lot of skin to skin and allow the baby to suckle at the breast as much as he can through the day. The first feedings do not have to be very long but as the baby gets stronger he will nurse better.

She needs to continue pumping because the baby will still need to be given the EBM until is strong enough to nurse effectively. Tell her to pump after baby suckles at the breast because the skin to skin contact will help boost her supply.

[still_me]

Most premie babies will only nurse for short periods because they don't have the energy it takes to stay at the breast for a long time. She needs to do a lot of skin to skin and allow the baby to suckle at the breast as much as he can through the day. The first feedings do not have to be very long but as the baby gets stronger he will nurse better.

She needs to continue pumping because the baby will still need to be given the EBM until is strong enough to nurse effectively. Tell her to pump after baby suckles at the breast because the skin to skin contact will help boost her supply.


:D She is pumping after he tries. She got 170ml after he tried yesterday and is getting 60-90ml when she pumps during the other times. He isn't under the lights anymore so hopefully he'll get more time at the breast.

She asked me to come help her today. She has a lactation consultant at the hospital, but she said she will feel more comfortable if I can help her too. She is talking to the LC right now and hopefully they make more headway.

[pawprint]

Tell her to keep trying, every time. Even if he works hard at the breast it burns less calories than bottle feeding. Are they giving him a bottle? An alternative feeding source might be good- syringe or cup feeding.

I cannot say enough good things about skin to skin. Enlist the help of the LC and or a local LLL Leader. :)

[Wolverine]

My sister had a premie. He nursed some but not full time until he was closer to his due date. A little every day before alternative feeding is good. My sister's ds is almost 9 now. He successfully breastfed for over a year. I will ask her if she has any other advice.

[still_me]

They are giving him a bottle, but he likes her more. He also isn't eating from a bottle all the time. He ends up being tube fed if he doesn't want either, which makes me wonder if he just knows that tube feeding is easier.

I am going to ask about finger feeding when I talk to her.

Thank you Wolverine. I know that she would appreciate any advice.

[KarenBeth3177]

I had 3 preemies and I just kept practicing with them until they got the hang of breastfeeding, and alot of pumping to keep my milk supply up. :)

[cc1003]

With my preemie, it took a long time for him to be exclusively breastfeeding. For a long while (five or six weeks) I was pumping and feeding him that way. It takes a lot of practice!

[KerryS]

She might consider trying a nipple shield. She might also consider having baby intubated and gavage fed to avoid any other types of feeding methods besides the breast.