-Just a side issue but related to lack of support.

Sometimes it isn't just the mother who choses not to b/f - I am fully breastfeeding Samuel (bigger twin) but the other twin due to being initally tube and bottlefed (EBM) for weeks refuses to breatsfeed. They spent 19 days in hospital and this has everything to do with it.

Some premature babies just can't or won't breastfeed. In saying that I am trying everything including a nipple shield to encourage him. I am fortunate I can express for him. I have the time, family support and supply (other twin is helping keep it up). Though I can see if I had other children to look after it would make it very difficult. Plus very exhausting.

Joel was just refusing point blank till I got shield yesterday -but still working on it .

The cost to hire a good quality electric pump to express ($15 week) isn't much but for some formula would be cheaper -I am told ( I am ignorant about this cost or how long a tin of formula lasts).It took a few calls to find one and also get the double expressing kit (cost $82) - we had to travel to another area after ringing many chemists.I can see all these things hindering a mother with a premature baby, already stressed and recovering from early/traumatic birth.

They tend to schedule feed premature babies too for medical reasons.This didn't suit Samuel at all and he wasn't feeding bottle/breast well ... so they wouldn't let me feed him anymore - his feeding regime was 2 nasogastric tube feeds (EBM) to one suck feed.So I was having a frustrating time getting breastfeeding established with only one to two chances to offer a breastfeed in 24hrs period. I didn't have opportunity to stay overnight once discharged. Joel was smaller and they didn't want to tire him so even though I had more chances to offer breast - he didn't take it much and they pushed comp feeds after a short try of breast (though again with EBM).

They would have just given S26 if I didn't express - they didn't say anything to me about it being better for babies.I was luckily well educated and knew.Maybe they sensed this.

At first hosp I wasn't even shown the expressing/feeding room (in postnatal ward) until 2nd -3rd day (overnight).I was still in the antenatal ward though.I was miserably and painfully expressing 2-3 mls colostrum by hand and a syringe - feeling like a failure.It was weekend so no lactation consultant.I was briefly shown how to use and left to it.

The 2nd hosp had an electric pump right in the nursery thankfully - I just used it.

Another young mum with a baby (born @ 34wks) started breastfeeding and was going really well. She and partner were even coming back in very night to feed at 9pm but by middle of 2nd week she had lost supply (while baby was still in hosp) and then decided on formula.I don't think she was encouraged enough by MW's to keep it going.

Several times I had to wash and sterilise the equipment myself, - after another mother had used , left it 'dirty' waiting to be cleaned .The Nurses hadn't always the time to do themselves ... but they didn't have enough expressing sets. Obviously not well used equipment or so little demand!

I can see a less educated mother giving up faced with this situation.