hey mama...
i'm having nursing troubles with my sweet preemie too and very discouraged about it.
I think I'm losing my supply and I'm lucky if I can get him latched twice a day. Right now my goal is at least once a day - usually morning works best.
the rest of the time i'm pumping and bottling but that HUGE freezer full of milk that I had is starting to get bare and I'm starting to get worried. I really don't want to formula feed, but that's where I ended up with dd and I'm afraid it's going to happen again.
Humble, trusting prayer brings direction and peace. Don't worry about clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your compassionate, understanding Father. You are his precious child whom He loves perfectly and wants to help. -Richard G. Scott
hey mama...
i'm having nursing troubles with my sweet preemie too and very discouraged about it.
I think I'm losing my supply and I'm lucky if I can get him latched twice a day. Right now my goal is at least once a day - usually morning works best.
the rest of the time i'm pumping and bottling but that HUGE freezer full of milk that I had is starting to get bare and I'm starting to get worried. I really don't want to formula feed, but that's where I ended up with dd and I'm afraid it's going to happen again.
I think of you and pray for you often.
I am so glad I didn't donate my extra pumped milk. Avraham Chaim's intake is catching up with my output faster than I had expected! He has trouble with the bottle too so between what he leaks out of his mouth and what he takes in I need 4-5oz per feeding!
How often are you pumping?
I am sorry you are having such a hard time! Did your DD nurse?
I have been able to get Avraham Chaim to try to nurse about once a day but it isn't working well even when he does. He still insists he is starving after he is done "nursing" even if I hand express into his mouth and hear him swallowing the whole time.
Thank you for the prayers! I really appreciate it. I didn't realize you were in such a similar situation. How are you holding up?
Location: You did what you knew how to do, and when you knew better, you did better. ~ Maya Angelou
Posts: 6,672
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liba
Amina it is always nice to see you!!
How is the lactating going?
I am loving the new pics of your ds! He is getting quite big. What a beautiful little guy!
Did that box of kimono onesies ever make it to Israel? I meant to ask you!
Anyhow, the nursing is going pretty well. I am making a little bit of milk, but nursing him at the breast with the Supplemental Nursing System which, of course helps stimulate my breasts. So, I hope to make more milk and use LESS formula at some point in the next 2 weeks or so. Yucky formula is hard on his tummy.
I hope your ds is able to nurse for you soon. I am so sorry you are struggling.
Location: You did what you knew how to do, and when you knew better, you did better. ~ Maya Angelou
Posts: 6,672
Quote:
Originally Posted by fericito
hey mama...
i'm having nursing troubles with my sweet preemie too and very discouraged about it.
I think I'm losing my supply and I'm lucky if I can get him latched twice a day. Right now my goal is at least once a day - usually morning works best.
the rest of the time i'm pumping and bottling but that HUGE freezer full of milk that I had is starting to get bare and I'm starting to get worried. I really don't want to formula feed, but that's where I ended up with dd and I'm afraid it's going to happen again.
I think of you and pray for you often.
I'm so sorry. How old is your baby? Have you seen a lactation consultant?
Liba, I absolutely love your son's name. He is adorable.
Amina - Vince is just amazingly cute. You've been on my mind.
Tara - you know I love you. Are things getting any better?
I just wanted to pop in because I had to supplement the twins and I remember still how emotionally and physically draining it is to pump and use the supplementer, not to mention the guilt that goes along with having to bottlefeed. I think of you 3 mamas often and hope that nursing gets easier as time goes on.
I am loving the new pics of your ds! He is getting quite big. What a beautiful little guy!
Did that box of kimono onesies ever make it to Israel? I meant to ask you!
Anyhow, the nursing is going pretty well. I am making a little bit of milk, but nursing him at the breast with the Supplemental Nursing System which, of course helps stimulate my breasts. So, I hope to make more milk and use LESS formula at some point in the next 2 weeks or so. Yucky formula is hard on his tummy.
I hope your ds is able to nurse for you soon. I am so sorry you are struggling.
I am so slow, I am sorry that it took me so long to see this.
I thought I PMed you, sorry! The box came and the undershirts and the outfit got a lot of use and love!
Location: You did what you knew how to do, and when you knew better, you did better. ~ Maya Angelou
Posts: 6,672
Quote:
Originally Posted by Liba
I am so slow, I am sorry that it took me so long to see this.
I thought I PMed you, sorry! The box came and the undershirts and the outfit got a lot of use and love!
Thank you!!
How is your lactating coming now?
Nothing to be sorry about - I just wanted to make sure the package got to you.
Lactation has made HUGE progress since I last posted here. I am so pleased. Down to 12 ounces of formula per day (from 25 oz). So, I am making some milk for sure - especially in the morning.
How is AC doing? Is he able to nurse at all yet?
Thinking of you. How much does he weigh, now? AC looks huge now, lol!
Nothing to be sorry about - I just wanted to make sure the package got to you.
Lactation has made HUGE progress since I last posted here. I am so pleased. Down to 12 ounces of formula per day (from 25 oz). So, I am making some milk for sure - especially in the morning.
How is AC doing? Is he able to nurse at all yet?
Thinking of you. How much does he weigh, now? AC looks huge now, lol!
Wonderful news on the lactating!!
I am still pumping full time. Avraham Chaim doesn't even suck the bottle any more. I had to go back to the preemie bottles because they just flow and he swallows. I am really worried about him. The doctor has other neurological concerns and we are hoping to start physical therapy soon. I was hoping for a referral for feeding therapy but we haven't managed that yet.
He is almost 10lbs now at almost three months (9lbs 12oz)! He is close to double his birth weight. It is a double edge sword though, the two hours it takes per feeding and lack of sucking aren't an issue for the doctor since he is gaining.
I haven't checked in for some time but I am glad I did because reading this made me feel better mamas.
Cache is now a formula only baby. I finally ran out of frozen milk and my milk supply is a joke. If he nurses then I can still get some but when I try pumping, by hand, by machine, even hospital machines, I get less than a tablespoon.
I know it isn't the end of the world and dd ended up ok I guess (she was a 3 lb preemie also and nursed for 5 months before this same type of thing happened and she ended up on formula) but it's very discouraging. I really thought this time would be different.
I've decided if I ever have a preemie again, I'm totally refusing the nipple shield even if it means baby stays in the NICU longer AND once I'm home I'm NOT giving the extra bottles with added calories. I don't care what they say. That few ounces of calories a day in a bottle ended up being the cause of all this nursing trouble, I really think. I think he got so confused between nursing and bottles that bottles were just easier, less work for him.
Anyway, he's 12 lbs 3 oz now (at 5 months) and still growing well so I guess it's okay. Just not what I'd wanted or hoped.
I keep praying for you guys and I'm so sorry for your struggles.
And Liba? My ds will ONLY take the nipples from the preemie bottles. I've tried and tried all other kinds and he refuses to take ANYTHING. He also uses them as a binky since he won't suck on anything else. I don't know what I'm going to do when they wear out and I don't know how to get him to learn to suck better.
I'm so sorry. How old is your baby? Have you seen a lactation consultant?
Hugs,
I've seen several through the hospital, through the WIC and also through LLC.
I admit it, I finally gave up and it's been about two full weeks now that he's been on formula only. His reflux seems a little better but I can tell he doesn't love it as much as breastmilk.
I haven't checked in for some time but I am glad I did because reading this made me feel better mamas.
Cache is now a formula only baby. I finally ran out of frozen milk and my milk supply is a joke. If he nurses then I can still get some but when I try pumping, by hand, by machine, even hospital machines, I get less than a tablespoon.
I know it isn't the end of the world and dd ended up ok I guess (she was a 3 lb preemie also and nursed for 5 months before this same type of thing happened and she ended up on formula) but it's very discouraging. I really thought this time would be different.
I've decided if I ever have a preemie again, I'm totally refusing the nipple shield even if it means baby stays in the NICU longer AND once I'm home I'm NOT giving the extra bottles with added calories. I don't care what they say. That few ounces of calories a day in a bottle ended up being the cause of all this nursing trouble, I really think. I think he got so confused between nursing and bottles that bottles were just easier, less work for him.
Anyway, he's 12 lbs 3 oz now (at 5 months) and still growing well so I guess it's okay. Just not what I'd wanted or hoped.
I keep praying for you guys and I'm so sorry for your struggles.
And Liba? My ds will ONLY take the nipples from the preemie bottles. I've tried and tried all other kinds and he refuses to take ANYTHING. He also uses them as a binky since he won't suck on anything else. I don't know what I'm going to do when they wear out and I don't know how to get him to learn to suck better.
I hear you.
Have you tried the "soothie" passifiers? They the same shape as the preemie nipples, or so I think. LOL His mouth my know better.
I have two nipples from the NICU and Avraham Chaim is doing okay on them. Not great but better. They aren't even the standart Ross ones I could order, they are some Danish version which look totally different.
The funny thing is that he is sucking on the larger part of the nipple so he doesn't have to close his mouth as tight and is drooling less of the milk. It is one step further from nursing though. With milk flowing that easily why even try?
At least Avraham Chaim is eating!! I can't complain as long as food gets into his belly, right?
I really shouldn't at least.
I am sorry about your supply issues. I am sure you have tried everything possible herbally and foodwise. Loosing my supply is really one of my biggest fears. I am so sorry!
It is a double edge sword though, the two hours it takes per feeding and lack of sucking aren't an issue for the doctor since he is gaining.
I hear you.
I really shouldn't at least.
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