DD was 5 weeks early and although she had a little bit of a suck reflex she was very sleepy and would not feed for more than a minute. She was fed via NGT for most feeds for her first 12 days but with us getting some BF practice in every day. I've gotta say, I really started to despair as for ages it felt like she really didn't get it and I couldn't keep her on long enough for a good feed. Then, just as the middies said she would, she kinda 'woke up' at almost 2 weeks (would have been 37 weeks) and pretty much over night started feeding like a champion (but still doing some top ups to ensure good weight gain so we could get outta that hospital)! Hope your bub picks it up nice and early for you, but wanted to share our experience and say stick with it, you'll get there! Also, I found skin-to-skin contact made a HUGE difference to her feeding, maintaining blood-sugar, stabilizing temperature... everything. With some midwives I really had to push it - ie 'no, I don't believe it's better for her to just leave her alone to sleep in her cot all day, I'm picking her up, stripping her down to her nappy and tucking her in my shirt for a while... do you want to grab me a blanket?'!!! The proof was in the great obs after every time I did this and how feeding picked up at these times. Hope that all makes sense - tapping this out on iPod. All the very best Hun.
I am working on this now and its not easy I can tell u that.
My baby boy was born 8 and a half weeks prem and he has a tube in his nose (nasal gastric tube they call it) for feeding but I have been doing some breast contact with him most days and we were doing ok a few days ago but the last couple of days he's been really lazy with it. I intend on persisting as its been a great help with my expressed milk supply if he wont take to me I am happy to bottle feed him my expressed milk as I have plenty and I am loving knowing my body is able to provide for him while he cant feed himself. I am hoping he will have longer awake times to try to feed him as he sleeps ALOT but I know thats good for him too as its helping his boys grow
Reply With Quote
if he wont take to me I am happy to bottle feed him my expressed milk as I have plenty and I am loving knowing my body is able to provide for him while he cant feed himself. I am hoping he will have longer awake times to try to feed him as he sleeps ALOT but I know thats good for him too as its helping his boys grow
Bookmarks