Going from expressing to breastfeeding

[leesey]

My wee girl was born a week ago, 6 weeks too early, and is currently in NICU. I've been expressing for her, but not got a great routine because I've been so exhausted.

My question is, once your baby starts feeding straight from the breast (hopefully if there are no issues), how do you know where to start? How do you go from expressed feeds - currently 3mls every hour through a tube - to establishing a breastfeeding routine?

Has anyone experienced a similar situation? xx

 

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Hi I haven't been in your situation but wanted to say congratulations on the birth of your little girl and offer some things ive learned as a new mum.
When your'e able lots of skin to skin should help encourage babies natural rooting instinct, so plenty of cuddles
I've read a lot of bf advice and seem to recall that prem babies may struggle to latch as their mouths are quite small, maybe have a read around on latching techniques now in the hope of finding something that works for you when you start. In terms of a routine baby will lead you when they're hungry and your supply will adjust to match their needs. (It's amazing really...I've loved reading up on it.) The hospital will advise you not to let baby go more than 4 hours between feeds initially (maybe less with your LO) so you may have to wake her to feed sometimes.

I'm sure others who've been there can advise better but thought I'd offer as I sit here in bed bfing my own daughter! Xx

 

[cornishfairy]

I'm in a similar situation in that Leo spent his first five days in neonatal being fed through a nasal tube and even though I had him with me for about the first 10 hours of his life he never managed to latch on (much to my frustration). Whilst trying to get him off his feeding tube we tried numerous times but he never latched on once until I tried nipple shields. Now he's been out of the neonatal ward for a couple of weeks (one week on a children's ward and almost a week at home) I'm finding it hard work even with the nipple shields and have pretty much given up trying to breastfeed as it's stressing us both out; I now 99% feed expressed milk with a bottle. He's happy with it and so am I mostly, but part of me feels very guilty for not persevering with getting him to latch on so I can breastfeed. We've had numerous breastfeeding experts have a try with us while we were in hospital but no one could get him onto my nipple. Its really upset me at times as I feel like a failure for not being able to do it. I'm thinking of going to my local breastfeeding support group on monday but part of me is really scared of being around so many people who can just whap their boobs out and feed when I need to be wrapped in loads of towels (I leak a LOT!) and have a nipple shield on even to get vaguely started. He has a tendency to mess about with the shields and knock them off or not feed for long and we both end up in tears so I'm very anxious about being in that situation in public!
I hope your lo has a better natural instinct to latch on than my little chap, he just wipes his mouth all over my nipple and cries! X

 

[leesey]

cornish fairy that's what happened with DD1, except I wasn't producing enough milk to even express anything, but the wiping her mouth all over my nipple and crying is exactly what happened with her!

I'm thankfully producing plenty this time (for now, I'm worried it's going to dry up soon, I want to get skin to skin as soon as I can) so really hoping DD2 will manage fine xx

 

[cornishfairy]

Fingers crossed for you hun. While Leo was in neonatal they gave me a blanket each day that he'd slept with and a photo of him (although I had plenty on my phone anyway!) but they said they were useful to keep with me while I was pumping the milk to keep my supply up. While I was in hospital though it was gushing so supply wasn't an issue, I have noticed now though it's not always possible to pump much, only been the last couple of days but it does worry me after moaning so much about leaking everywhere! Every now and then I pump a massive load, but then the rest of the day I seem to be getting small amounts. Hope I get enough to keep up with his growing appetite. Not sure if there are any secrets to producing more milk. X

 

[rachaell]

My lo seemed to struggle at first as she was on the small side. I kept trying her on breast and then topping up with expressed milk. At first she had expressed bottles at night as when she was tired it was harder. As she has got bigger it got easier and have phased out expressed bottles to when I want to give them to her.
Very best of luck and congratulations xxxx