re: NICU pumping

Quoting Krystal Barrier:" Has the hospital allowed you to try to latch. I just had a 34 weeker and she latched on immediately ... [snip!] ... milk comes in. Preemies just need more nutrients than newborns. But defiantly push the hospital to allow you to try and latch."

They let me try when she first came out, briefly. Since then, they have told me that it's too much work for her so i can't try :/

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" They let me try when she first came out, briefly. Since then, they have told me that it's too much work for her so i can't try :/"

They never told me that, i mean i was told that breastfeeding is easier than the bottle. If they are doing the bottle though instead of the feeding tube make sure it is a slow flow nipple so that later on it will be easier to get her to latch. Fast flow they told me will make them lazy and less likely to latch. If all she is having problems with is eating then i don't see any reason you can't breastfeed, i would ask them for specifics on why you cant. Like i said that was mines only problem was getting her to stay awake to eat and they let me breast feed from day 1 all the way up until she came home. Keep pushing them you know what is best for your baby you are the parent not them.

Quoting Krystal Barrier:" They never told me that, i mean i was told that breastfeeding is easier than the bottle. If they are ... [snip!] ... day 1 all the way up until she came home. Keep pushing them you know what is best for your baby you are the parent not them."

I talked to the pedi on deck. He said opposite of what you were told.. that breastfeeding is more difficult because they have to work harder to get the food. She is sucking like a champ, but she is having trouble sucking/swallowing/breathing as a combination. He suggested that each feeding session, I put her on my breast with the feeding tube so she can suck. It'll simulate nursing but feed her and help my milk supply. I'm going to try it.

Zack was in the NICU a week...I pumped for two months before he spontaneously started nursing. He was given bottles of my breastmilk while in the NICU. I was discouraged from nursing him the first couple weeks because his intake was supposed to be closely monitored.

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" I talked to the pedi on deck. He said opposite of what you were told.. that breastfeeding is more difficult ... [snip!] ... breast with the feeding tube so she can suck. It'll simulate nursing but feed her and help my milk supply. I'm going to try it."

Well thats good....yeah i was told breastfeeding was easier cuz once they get it going they dont have to suck as hard and with a bottle nipple they have to suck hard every time the entire time.

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" They're using a nipple for now, and if she doesn't do well with it, she'll get a tube down her nose. ... [snip!] ... my last daughter that I used at school/work but I never needed it more than a couple times a week. That should work, right?"

It can, but a medela Symphony will be even better. They're seriously amazing. I was a great pumper, and was still shocked at how much more milk I got when LO was in the hospital at 3months old. They're free for NICU mommies.

Quoting Krystal Barrier:" Well thats good....yeah i was told breastfeeding was easier cuz once they get it going they dont have to suck as hard and with a bottle nipple they have to suck hard every time the entire time."

Crazy how different doctors will say different things! That's exactly what I was told, except opposite lol

Quoting Letha ❥ Ally+1more:" It can, but a medela Symphony will be even better. They're seriously amazing. I was a great pumper, and ... [snip!] ... and was still shocked at how much more milk I got when LO was in the hospital at 3months old. They're free for NICU mommies."

Really? I can afford free! lol. Do I have to do anything special to get one?

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" Really? I can afford free! lol. Do I have to do anything special to get one?"

yep! That's the whole reason they have them. Just give them a call tomorrow and ask them if they need some sort of verification of where the baby is.

Quoting Letha ❥ Ally+1more:" yep! That's the whole reason they have them. Just give them a call tomorrow and ask them if they need some sort of verification of where the baby is."

Thank you for the advice! I'll have to do that!

My baby was born at 31 weeks at only 3lbs 11oz... She was able to breastfeed after 3 day... She was still on a tube but would get a couple cc from breast. Within a week she was takin at least half her feedings by breast. She was released from the hospital b4 she was 3 weeks old at 4lbs 5oz... She is now 9lbs 5oz at 3 months and is doing great. I pushed the nicu nurses to let me do everything. They didnt want to let me feed her but I pushed it and she did great and got to come home way earlier than expected!

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" To those of you that had to pump for a NICU baby, My daughter was born yesterday at 34 weeks and 5 days. ... [snip!] ... with it. If she's here until her due date, I could be pumping for over a month. Will she have trouble going to the breast?"

Have they let you try nursing?!!.. My daughter was a 29 weeker, began nursing at 33 weeks gestation adjusted age, and came home at 34 weeks gestation adjusted age..... and was EBF from then on.... I understand all babies are different, but if they haven't let you try, then there is no way to really know that she can't yet.
I had to pump every 1 - 2 hours to get much of anything and to keep up with my daughter's demands once she started being tube fed.. They should be telling you what they are giving her.. I was always told when they had to give formula because they had run out of milk...... But any breastmilk is better than none! And it is doing her a world of good!!!!
Good luck! I hope you get her home soon!

Quoting Blissful:" Have they let you try nursing?!!.. My daughter was a 29 weeker, began nursing at 33 weeks gestation ... [snip!] ... But any breastmilk is better than none! And it is doing her a world of good!!!! Good luck! I hope you get her home soon!"

I know a little bit more today than I did yesterday. They were giving her enfamily newborn in her tube, but now that my milk is in, she's getting breastmilk. I'm pumping every 3 hours and taking it to the nursery. I nurserd her earlier. She got 22ml's The goal is 18ml's. She was exhausted afterwards, though so she may not get to nurse this next feeding.

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" I know a little bit more today than I did yesterday. They were giving her enfamily newborn in her tube, ... [snip!] ... earlier. She got 22ml's The goal is 18ml's. She was exhausted afterwards, though so she may not get to nurse this next feeding."

Well, it's a start!!! Good luck!!

Quoting Blissful:" Well, it's a start!!! Good luck!!"

Thank you!