Megan and Maribeth do WAY better with bottles. Even Maribeth finished a whole bottle today - she's never weighed as getting ANYTHING off breastfeeding - despite my trying for over half an hour with her away and trying (intermittantly though) to nurse. Plus that nurse today fed her that bottle while I was THERE nursing Megan behind a screen - which is why I didn't see her. She didn't bother to let me know before that Maribeth was awake and interested (she was still sleeping when I sat down with Megan). The nurse yesterday had said they wouldn't bottle feed the girls when I was there - but that does seem to depend on who the nurses are. They won't let me try the girls together - but really they don't latch on - so it take both my hands anyway.
Megan went for 12 hours - 4 feedings overnight completely on bottles -test weighed at only getting 5 cc's this afternoon after 40 min actively trying to nurse. The most she's ever got breastfeeding is 15 cc's and that's only been twice. (they weigh them on very sensitve scales before and after to get the amounts).
The nurse said there's no point in talking to the lactation consultant because the lactation consultant at the hospital has no experience with preemies and will just tell me the problem is with the SCN nurses bottle feeding. The nurses at this hospital (they were transferred to an intermediate care nursery closer to where we live last week) - do not cup feed at night and will not tube feed a baby who is awake and trying to suck. Policy is bottles if the baby will take them and I'm not there. It's not as pro=breastfeeding as the hospital they were born at.
The doctor said that the girls mouths are just too tiny and they tire too quickly right now - so just keep trying when I can and I'll have to work on breastfeeding at home. But he said I'll need to breastfeed (each baby for approx 20-40 min separately until they get the ideas), then supplement with bottles, then pump to maintain milk supply, then wash and sterilize the pump and bottles - for 2 babies at least every 3 hours. I'm not sure that even feasible with the other children at home.
I'm still ahead of the girls consumption with pumping - so at least that's going well - they are in no danger of needing formula anytime soon. But I"m still a little discouraged that they are doing so well on bottles and not getting breastfeeding. In fact the nurse today pretty much came out and said if I gave up trying to breastfeeding Megan she could probably come home soon. Because they have to take all feeds by mouth for 48 hours - she did 12 last night with bottles - but then the breastfeeding attempts tire her out and then she has to have the bulk of her feedings by ng tube after trying to breastfeed.
If anyone has any advice or suggestions for breastfeeding preemies, or has BTDT, or just want to offer some support - I would appreciate it. I'm pretty discouraged today.
Plus dh's starting to think they amounts they are taking don't warrent the $10/day parking, gas for driving in, plus occasional cafeteria food for me going in every day if they aren't going to be breastfeeding. (which given our finances - I do understand - but I don't want to stop visiting my babies). Plus then there was the cost of the electric breastpump, bottles, twin and boppy nursing pillows. So I really am going to feel badly if this doesn't work out.