You are doing all the right things and are going to be so much more prepared, knowledge is gold in this situation.
We used a prem dummy, which was a cherry shape, but a very small one, DD could never hold on to the cherry dummy, we used to hold it and try to encourage her to suck, we ended up using a Nuk dummy when she was 9 weeks old. Maybe have access to a couple of shapes to see if she is able to suck on one better than another. I don't know if there is one that is closer to the breast....
Also make sure that you have signage for her isolette or cot to say that she is only to have a dummy when being NGT fed, that will help in avoiding confusion and someone just popping it in her mouth if she seems a little unsettled. As the sucking takes a lot of effort and best to save the effort for feeding times
The medi hotel will help in establishing the BF'ing, at first if you can BF for those overnight feeds, even just going down for her OB's etc will make a difference, she will associate your smell with feeding times as well. Also getting sleep inbetween these times is very important for your supply, so don't feel bad if you get up to express and don't make it down to one of the feeds in the middle of the night.
The girls have given you plenty of good advice here, I just wanted to pop in and wish you all the best. With all of your great preparation, I'm sure you'll be able to give her your bm.
You're a very special Mummy to have such special girls!
Daintree Dreaming: I am sorry that you are facing this again - but I am glad you have time to educate yourself and access the support you need.
My last child was born severely prem at 27+5 weeks. She was 815grams and was in hospital for 14 weeks. So, I know some of how hard it is - but how possible it is also to establish breastfeeding...
So, most tertiary hospitals if not all will be quite strident that breast milk is essential for babies in NICU. Many women I encountered found them to be too aggressive in their approach and dedication to breast is best - I personally found it comforting!
I had a c/section and was in intensive care post operatively & expressing was not at all important right then. I first expressed 24 hours post birth & for the next few days got about 2 mls of colostrum. It was devastating for me as I wasn't able to see my baby as I was too ill so all I had was this photo of a pathetic tiny dot with tubes all over her. Looking at that photo was supposed to make me produce more milk - it only served to dissolve me to tears! I pushed on though and I got a friend to come with some of her expressed milk which I put into specimen containers with my name on them! Then with the pressure off my milk came in. It all worked after that. I expressed every 2 hours for 24 hours for the next 14 weeks.
I had no skin to skin contact for 10 days post birth - anbd then it was not frequent as Imogen was so fragile. I was also so afraid she would catch something from me and I would "kill" her...
YOU are in a better position. I would advise you to get a lactation consultant that you gel with.
Express from about 34 weeks and freeze every golden drop
hold your baby whenever possible.
organise care for your other child so you canb be with your new baby as much as possible. It is helpful to establishing supply by doing this.
Know that you are going to get through this. Know that you have many of us here to support you.
Know that you will be scared at times. This is so normal. I spent my life for thsoe 14 weeks in a perpetual state of terror alternating with sheer joy.
It is so hard. But you will get through this and so will she. Statistically girls are stronger and have better mortality rates. Take that comfort and trust her and you.
Sending you all of my love and support honey. If you need any other info please let me know...
Last edited by Jennifer13; September 22nd, 2009 at 03:59 PM.
Our DS1 also has congenital heart disease; with a long hospital history, NICU and PICU stays, multiple heart operations, long term NGT, low birth weight etc etc...
One thing I would add to all the other great suggestions and your own very informed and great plan already is a "heart pillow". These are little fabric cushion pillows/shapes that my sister made up for me. They go in your bra - in your cleavage and you have a few of them so that you can always have one in your bra, a couple in the wash, and one in the cot with bubs. The thought is that your milk smell and personal smell is transfered to the cloth and then you give that one to the baby to have near their head (also great for cushioning any lines or wires they need near their skin) so they always have your smell with you. You just rotate them through the bra, baby and wash cycle. It helped me to know that Rommy always had my smell with him.
I stayed in Hospt for 8 days post birth with DS1 and sometimes went down in the night but mainly missed the overnight feeds and just was there from 6am-11pm. Then we had to go home which was over an hour away - I freaked out and the social worker found us parent accommodation in the hospital. You could enquire about this just so you have somewhere to stay if you need and have a place to nap in the day if you can. I realise it is different when you have a previous child to look after too.
I am very happy to answer any other qu you might have regarding having a child with CHD.
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Then with the pressure off my milk came in. It all worked after that. I expressed every 2 hours for 24 hours for the next 14 weeks.
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