breastfeeding premie HELP!

My dear friend/cousin out here in Michigan is having a very stressful go of it with her nearly 3 week old premie. Her DD was born at 34 weeks, and nurses very frequently and is gaining weight, but her pedi has been saying at each visit that her gain is "not what he'd like to see." Instead of gaining 4-8 oz per week, it's been closer to 2-3. Her baby is reaching all of her milestones well, has good color, good skin, engages, spends some time awake and has good movement and does not sound or look weak.
The doctor seems to be pushing supplementing her milk, but she wants to EBF. Any insight, tips, anecdotes, helpful stories of similar situations would be greatly appreciated. (P.s. her husband is a pedi also, but is not the baby's pediatrician).

My 34 week Preemie I fed on demand and as long as she was not losing her dr was happy

she can try upping her milk buy pumping more or lactation cookies who doesnt like a cookie huh??

what does her usband say about it if hes a pedi? like what would he say if it was someone else's kid? I think she should trust her husband if hes a pedi. Tell her to just keep nursing the baby on demand, or pump right before nursing so baby gets more hindmilk. It sounds like maybe shes making more foremilk which isnt as fatty which causes babies to gain weight slower. I think its good that she is gaining weight at every visit. Maybe her dr. doesnt know much about bf babies? she should really look into getting help from someone who specializes in bfing, like a Lactation consultant, because some drs. arent trained much on bfing. they might learn about the benefits and all that, but they arent lactivists by any means haha!

<blockquote><b>Quoting lolajessup:</b>" what does her usband say about it if hes a pedi? like what would he say if it was someone else's kid? ... [snip!] ... arent trained much on bfing. they might learn about the benefits and all that, but they arent lactivists by any means haha! "</blockquote>




Her husband isnt all that concerned! He's recommending she listen to the pedi that's been "tracking" their daughter's weight, especially since her DH is a pediatric cardiologist who's been on 70 hr/wk rotations, and doesn't have the moment to do the work of their DD's pedi also.

I think they're jumping the gun on formula, personally, especially since baby was supplemented in the hospital, and i think her body still needs to catch up to that "demand." By I am just one mommy, and I think it'd help to hear it from other mommies who have "been there."

She can pump milk and they can fortify it

Quoting eℓℓa & rory:" <blockquote><b>Quoting lolajessup:</b>" what does her usband say about it if hes a ... [snip!] ... catch up to that "demand." By I am just one mommy, and I think it'd help to hear it from other mommies who have "been there.""

yeah she for sure needs some encouragment. I also think they are jumping the formula band wagon. At least shes gaining weight. I understand her husband is working a lot, but its also his kid. it's not like hes doing it for a friend. he should be concerned about his DDs development  

<blockquote><b>Quoting lolajessup:</b>" yeah she for sure needs some encouragment. I also think they are jumping the formula band wagon. At least ... [snip!] ... a lot, but its also his kid. it's not like hes doing it for a friend. he should be concerned about his DDs development   "</blockquote>


Oh, I know.. it "sounds" bad, but I honestly feel like her husband doesnt know. He, like most pedi, doesn't know exactly what to do. He's not a bf/permie expert. He also has been dealing with some severely sick kids right now, and I think he's worried that will color his judgement.

Quoting eℓℓa & rory:" <blockquote><b>Quoting lolajessup:</b>" yeah she for sure needs some encouragment. ... [snip!] ... He also has been dealing with some severely sick kids right now, and I think he's worried that will color his judgement."

thats true. its probably easier to tell other parents what is right for their child, but harder to make a decision for your own. Too much emotion involved. Maybe she should get a second opinion from another pedi? A lot of pedis scare their patients into suplementing because they are afraid the pedi will report them for neglect or something if they dont do what they say. Thats why 2 of the ladies I work with gave up bfing. its so sad.   She should call around and see what pedis ae knowledgable of preemies and bf babies.

I have had this issue with both babies now. The new one is almost 2 weeks old and was nursing great but not gaining any weight and I keep being bitched at for poor weight gain in my baby AGAIN! Unfortunately, all their stress and pressure on me is screwing up my milk production AGAIN! I think they worry about weight far too much, especially if baby is not showing other signs of problems.

<blockquote><b>Quoting lolajessup:</b>" thats true. its probably easier to tell other parents what is right for their child, but harder to make ... [snip!] ... I work with gave up bfing. its so sad.   She should call around and see what pedis ae knowledgable of preemies and bf babies. "</blockquote>




That's my problem. With my first the lactation nurses (whom you see for the first few weeks until the 2 week well baby appt with the pedi) freaked out on me that I was starving my baby and were going to call CPS and have him stuck in the hospital with a feeding tube if he didn't gain. I ended up supplementing and the more formula I gave the less milk I made. I'm dealing with the same issues this time too. Right now I'm pumping and then doing one nursing session a day. I can only pump 10-12 oz a day, which I was informed was way too little. I know when I go back to work baby will be on majority formula, but I'd at least like to have been able to EBF while off. It just doesn't seem to work out for me.  

<blockquote><b>Quoting BunnyGirl19:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting lolajessup:</b>" thats true. its probably easier to tell other ... [snip!] ... be on majority formula, but I'd at least like to have been able to EBF while off. It just doesn't seem to work out for me.  "</blockquote>

Sorry mama