Madison.

Okay so my boyfriend just called the nicu. He said this nurse told him that madison took the bottle perfect and she drank the whole thing.

Okay so i was there this moring. I tried to bottle feed her. She was spiting up and gaging. I got really discouraged at this because i felt like i couldnt even feed my own child a bottle without her doing all this. Plus when it came time to burp her i felt i was doing it right. The nurse who took her burped her right away yet i was sitting there for about a good 10 mins patting her back and trying to make her burp and she just wouldnt do it. Then she got all fussy. She just wanted to sleep. I just feel so unexperinced because i dont know how to do any of this and im not a natural at this.

Keep your chin up! Not all of it is natural. You have to learn what works for you and your baby. Maybe next time try a different position for burping (like putting her on your shoulder - if you can). Good luck, mama!

Oh well thats ok you know ive done that 3 times and each time you have to remeber. Its ok your are new at this and babys dont come with instructions. If you need help feedin her ask the nurse to help you. Or to show you so you know you are doing it right. And if she was gaging you may just have had the bottle to far in. Its ok it happens that doesnt mean you will be a bad mom or anything. You just have to learn just like everyone else. And ps the NICU nurses have done it a million trillon times so they are pros lol! Good luck.

Quoting *mommy2Aprincess*:“ Keep your chin up! Not all of it is natural. You have to learn what works for you and your baby. Maybe ... [snip!] ... baby. Maybe next time try a different position for burping (like putting her on your shoulder - if you can). Good luck, mama!”

First the nurse told me to kinda of hold her chin with my whole hand and burp her. I did that but felt like i was choking her. I wasnt so i tried my shoudler and i like that a lot better .

Quoting momofthree1523:“ Oh well thats ok you know ive done that 3 times and each time you have to remeber. Its ok your are new ... [snip!] ... to learn just like everyone else. And ps the NICU nurses have done it a million trillon times so they are pros lol! Good luck.”

The nurse was right there. And she kept shoving the bottle in my babies mouth which made her gag. I dont understand. And then finally the nurse realized she wasnt into the whole bottle thing anymore. She started to cry. She wanted to sleep and be on her tummy.

Quoting kelleycometrue:“ The nurse was right there. And she kept shoving the bottle in my babies mouth which made her gag. I ... [snip!] ... the nurse realized she wasnt into the whole bottle thing anymore. She started to cry. She wanted to sleep and be on her tummy.”

Well after so much fighting they just give up and want to rest. I will tell you how we did it you put the bottle agisnt the lips and let the baby get a taste she will open her mouth and just barly put it in she will suck in the nipple more if she wants it. And to burp make sure you a burping with a firm hand but not to hard.The shoulder is easier if you put her high up on it like almost belly on your shoulder. Or you can just put her like im sure they were telling you and start at the bottom of her rib cage and rub up. Sometimes just a firm but gental rub can get a burp out. I hope that helps some. I think sometimes those nurses forget that not every mom has done this before esp with a sick baby. And let me tell you somethin i have had 3 kids the first two were fine and came home with me my 3rd well he was a trouble maker and was in the NICU for 2 weeks. And i think he was the hardest to learn how to feed. Hes a lazy lazy boy and just didnt want to do anything. It takes time and lots of practice dont worry you will get used to it.

when my son would not burp i would just rub his back, like a gentle massage right in the middle and he would burp for me that way. i did the hand under the chin thing when he was tiny but now i burp strictly on the shoulder.

Handling a baby is a very hard thing to get used to, having a preemie feels near impossible sometimes. Try to get used to the 'choke hold' for burping. If the baby is over your shoulder, you cannot see if she's choking, breathing, or spitting up. Just let her jaw rest on the area of your hand between your thumb and first finger. Hold her at a little bit of an angle so that her head doesn't flop and then just pat away! Sometimes it helps if you start at the bottom of her back and pat up. Don't be afraid to pat hard. Bottle feeding can be difficult too. You'll learn what works best for her and eventually you'll be able to feed her better than the nurses do. Hang in there.

Quoting Jessica+2:“ Handling a baby is a very hard thing to get used to, having a preemie feels near impossible sometimes. ... [snip!] ... too. You'll learn what works best for her and eventually you'll be able to feed her better than the nurses do. Hang in there.”

I feel like im going to hurt her or something. And am scared to hold her like they do. They just handle her like its nothing. I guess because they are used to it. I tried the whole choke hold thing but felt like i was choking her. I guess if i do it more often ill be more at ease with it. And bottle feeding her was impossible today as well. She kept gaging and spitting up. It was new to her as well as me. So i can understand that. But it gets to me that i dont have that natural thing going on.

Quoting kelleycometrue:“ I feel like im going to hurt her or something. And am scared to hold her like they do. They just handle ... [snip!] ... up. It was new to her as well as me. So i can understand that. But it gets to me that i dont have that natural thing going on.”

I don't think anyone can feel natural with a baby so small right away. Remember that it is the nurse's job to help you understand how to take care of your baby. Ask as many questions as you need to and have them demonstrate several times if you learn better that way. Remember that Madison is learning with you. I feel bad thinking about how you must feel. Being in your position is a lonely place and sometimes it feels like it'll last forever. It won't. Things will get better.

Personally...I didn't really like the hospital nurses. I realize they've done everything a million times over, pertaining to newborns. But they always seemed like they were manhandling her. When I was learning to breastfeed, they would shove her face in my boob.