Premmie Mums #9

[blessedatlast]

Pull up a recliner and park yourself next to her crib and tell them you want try a suck feed every feed.. Hopefully they'll give you a bed. Are you juggling DD1 as well? Can DH stay with her so you can stay with DD2 round the clock?

[Maruschke]

Pull up a recliner and park yourself next to her crib and tell them you want try a suck feed every feed.. Hopefully they'll give you a bed. Are you juggling DD1 as well? Can DH stay with her so you can stay with DD2 round the clock?

Would they let me? Her chart for tomorrow has a goal of 2 attempted suck feeds... no where near the 4 to progress to rooming in. Or the 8 we need to go home where she belongs.

[Chrispe]

She isn't 35 weeks anymore, she is 36+3 and I just got home from yet another NGT feed. I'm seeing premmie twins younger and lighter than her absolutely scoff down a bottle. Just doesn't make sense . And we only have one car and our brakes are failing... I have no idea how to get to hospital, it's a 40 minute walk each way so I guess that's what it will have to be if we can't get it fixed quickly.

Hugs. Had similar when DS2 was in hospital. There was a 31 weeker that suck fed more often than my 33+ weeker.

As for telling them you want to try suck feeding for each feed- go for it! I did with DS2. I stole the comfy chairs and parked it next to his crib. I was there all day most days.
It's harder if you need someone to take care of a toddler/older child (DS2 is my 3rd bub, so I had a 6yo and a 4yo as well)

Even at 36+3 she still isn't quite term yet.

[Bex]

Firstly congratulations. Sorry to hear of the troubles with feeding.
Our lil was born at 34 weeks & was tube fed for 3 weeks. We had good days & a lot of poor days. He came home with 4 bottle feeds & two breast.
I had days I pushed him & the next day he was too exhausted to do more than two. My biggest advice be baby led they get it in the end. The less I pushed the better he responded. Aim for the two tomorrow & take it each day at a time. You have a healthy baby who will come home.
Emerson is a booby monster, refuses a bottle & isn't loving solids but that is something thst will happen when he is ready.
So have a great sleep & relax don't worry about what other babies are doing. Yours is doing well

[blessedatlast]

Maruschke - Does she wake at all? If yes then aim to try a suck feed every feed she's awake. If she's not awake at all, then I would try to wake for a suck feed every feed. The other thing to do is have lots of skin to skin and let her nuzzle. I know you are trying suck feeds with the bottle, but you never know, if booby is in her face she might want a little lick.. Hopefully she may even attach by herself when she's ready..

[Maruschke]

Maruschke - Does she wake at all? If yes then aim to try a suck feed every feed she's awake. If she's not awake at all, then I would try to wake for a suck feed every feed. The other thing to do is have lots of skin to skin and let her nuzzle. I know you are trying suck feeds with the bottle, but you never know, if booby is in her face she might want a little lick.. Hopefully she may even attach by herself when she's ready..

I just saw your FB. Thanks for reaching out to me when I know you definitely don't have it easy at the moment . The night nurses don't bother trying to wake her for a suck feed and it ticks me off... they just tube her, and sometimes her chart says "not disturbed" so they aren't even checking her nappies. Pardon my emotional outburst. But it's disappointing.

[blessedatlast]

Hey if I can't do anything for my son's feeding problems I may as well try and help someone with theirs We are in different circumstances, but we are both feeling the emotion of frustration. I, like you, am frustrated that my baby isn't doing what he should be doing with regards to feeding.Feeding is a basic instinct I wish our babies knew how to do it!

Maybe you should agree to them tubing her overnight but waking her for all feeds you are there for? It's a catch 22, you don't want her tired, but you have to try sometime!

[Maruschke]

Still nothing ... having visions of bringing her first birthday cake into SCN.

[blessedatlast]

Hun, trust me she'll be home before then seriously though I can feel the disappointment in your post. Remember she's still only 36wks.. Many babies aren't even born yet. I know it's hard though when babies younger are doing what she 'should' be able to do.. One day at a time

[Onelittleprincess]

She will get there. Don't stress. I agree wake during the day but don't tire her either. Get her on or close to your breast while they tube her.

[Maruschke]

How are Jett and Nevada today???

[blessedatlast]

Good.. He's had some booby today without screaming!! He's fast asleep now..

[Maruschke]

Woot! Go Jett . Glad to hear it, must be a huge relief .

[Maruschke]

OMG! I fed her a bottle today! Well... most of one. But hooray!

She is a VERY windy baby and she stopped about 40 mils into a 58 mil feed not because she is out of energy but because she won't suck when she has wind pain. But the nurses said she is also the most difficult child to burp and they've not been able to figure out how to get the gas out of her. She won't burp, just farts an hour or so later. Any ideas? I hope it isn't my BM, that would suck . What causes super bad wind?

[blessedatlast]

Yay for feeding your bubba!! No experience with wind here, so no advice. Hope she takes more suck feeds

[Barb Glare]

Your breastmilk is made for her. Whatever it is its not your breastmilk. Why would you think that?

[Maruschke]

Your breastmilk is made for her. Whatever it is its not your breastmilk. Why would you think that?

That's all she eats! It could just be a premmie thing, I have no idea. I am new to BF (I didn't really BF my daughter).

[Chrispe]

OMG! I fed her a bottle today! Well... most of one. But hooray!

She is a VERY windy baby and she stopped about 40 mils into a 58 mil feed not because she is out of energy but because she won't suck when she has wind pain. But the nurses said she is also the most difficult child to burp and they've not been able to figure out how to get the gas out of her. She won't burp, just farts an hour or so later. Any ideas? I hope it isn't my BM, that would suck . What causes super bad wind?

Woo hoo!!!!! Go little girl!

Lol the wind stuff sounds all too familiar to me. (all of mine have been like that to start with).
Super bad wind (or hard to burp) are just more signs of a slightly immature gut. There are so many different positions for burping- also if you can get your DH to do the 'daddy jiggle' it can make a difference.

AFM- I'm writing you from my room in the Womens & Childrens hospital. Started having 'intense, irregular, tightenings' on Monday evening, which then continued all night & most of Monday morning. They stopped for a couple of hours (yay) but then started back up with a vengeance. Also was having some back pain & abdominal aches so the midwife told me come & get checked. Was 2cm dilated.

They now have me on a uterine relaxant & steroids for baby.
Looking at being here until at least Friday- depending on what happens in the mean time. So far tightenings have settled down, but who knows what could happen in the Nast short while.....