How to feed EBM to 3 week old?

[Laranna]

My CHN recommended I express after every feed to boost my supply and that I could feed DS the expressed milk as a top up if I wanted to. I assume she meant to feed it to him via a bottle but I am reluctant to do this as I am scared of nipple/bottle confusion. DS is 3 weeks 3 days old.

What is the best way to give my little man a top up of my EBM? Or should I not worry about it and put it in the freezer for a rainy day?

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Get a syringe from the chemist (a decent sized one) and get him to suck on your finger while you squirt it in!
Does that make sense? Means there's suction there so it doesn't dribble out but he can still take the milk.

If you do decide on bottles I found the Tomme Tippee wide ones to be excellent. They're shaped just like a breast and nipple and we didn't have any issues.
Good luck!

[KatieRabbit]

You can get a feeding tube from an LC but there isn't really a need for it. To boost your supply you need DS on the breast as often as you can- every 2 hours. If you do then express, you could just freeze it in 50 ml lots in a new plastic ziplock bag. Hopefully Barb will be in as I would have thought that expressing after every feed is not what you need. If you can express it, bubs can drink it. Perhaps there is something more to your situation? Why does the CHN think you need to boost your supply?

[Astrid]

Barb is having a few Internet issues at the moment, so she may or may not be on.

Depending on what is going on, then expressing and feeding the EBM to bubs may be needed (it is needed in my case). Barb will need to know all the details in order to advise the best method of increasing supply, if it is needed at all. It is probably better to call in a LC now, rather than later.

As for bottle feeding EBM it worked fine with both my DD's and have not had any issues with nipple confusion. DD1 preferred the Avent teats and DD2 prefers the cheap Happy Baby ones. The main problem I find with bottles is that it is easy to become to rely on them and begin to doubt your own body, especially when bubs is screaming and fussing at the breast. So just keep that in mind if you go down the bottle path. You can cup feed, I found that very hard to do though. Best to have someone teach you how to do it.

Just a correction on storing EBM, apparently normal zip lock bags are not advisable, something about they are not for storing liquids and chemicals can leach into the milk

[KatieRabbit]

I didn't know that Astrid! And an LC at the Breastfeeding Centre advised me!! I have them like that in the freezer!!!

[Laranna]

Thanks for the replies...the CHN recommended I express after each feed to boost my supply because DS hasn't regained his birth weight yet. So she thinks he hasn't been getting enough from me. I had only been feeding on one side each feed so she has suggested to feed both sides and then express a few minutes afterwards.

Joshua was 3 weeks early and his weight gain has been:
Birthweight 3195grams and lost 10.9% at day 3
Day 6 back up to 2950grams
Day 10 3000grams
Today day 24 back up to 3150grams

He is almost there but he has only put on 150grams in the last 2 weeks when he should have put that on in one week.

I think my attachment is pretty good, my nipples come out the same shape afterwards and they are not sore or grazed.

I am just now paranoid that DS is not getting enough to eat!