|
|
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 272
extra helpful experienced member
|
OP
extra helpful experienced member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 272 |
Our new son is a preemie. He is about 7 weeks old, and was in the NICU for about 5 weeks. He has never had anything but a bottle. He doesn't have a good latch, and at times I even have to pry his mouth open a little, just to get the bottle nipple in his mouth. He has a lazy suck at times, where the milk just dribbles out of his mouth. I have tried a little to get him to the breast, and I did get my breast in his mouth, but he wasn't really latched.
What should I do? I have been terrified that I might think I have him latched, but he wouldn't be latched well, so wouldn't get anything. He was only 2+ pounds at birth, and needs all the weight he can get. He is getting mostly expressed breastmilk right now, in a bottle. I don't want him to wear himself out "trying" to get milk, and then have him too tired to get milk from a bottle, too. We went to the Dr today, and he was 6 pounds 11 ounces, so he is gaining well. I want to keep that up. I am currently making about as much as he is drinking, so if I'm going to get him to the breast, it's going to be now or never. I want him to be able to increase my supply, so I won't have to pump a million times a day.
So, where do I find an IBCLC? The pediatrician recommened seeing a lactation consultant at one of the hospitals, because she hates to see me pumping for months on end, when my baby could be getting it "straight from the tap"
wife to Jim, mommy to Daphne and Jeran and Jalen
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,785 Idaho
extra helpful experienced member
|
|
extra helpful experienced member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,785 Idaho |
Dawn I would fingerfeed him instead of using a bottle. You can find a IBCLC at this site http://www.iblce.org/US%20registry.htm
Laurie~Craig's wife~Mom to 4 blessings nurtured at the breast CJ(24)Travis(21)Beka~adopted(9)Rab(6)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,347 Canada
extra helpful experienced member
|
|
extra helpful experienced member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,347 Canada |
Hi Dawn, Congratulations on your new arrival! As a mother of a preemie who was in the NICU for 6 weeks I totally empathize with your situation. Can the NICU near you recommend an LC who is familiar with getting preemies to the breast? It's worth calling around. Also you can try www.ilca.org and click on "Find a Lactation Consultant" at the top of the page. Or the link Lalle provided. Pressing on his chin encourages him to clamp shut and can cause jaw problems in a tiny baby since you are so strong and he's so little. To get your baby to open his mouth, we can take advantage of the "gape relex". Gently stroke his upper lip, from one corner to the other and he should open wide. The LC will be able to show you how to get your baby from the bottle to the breast. Sometimes finger feeding helps but wait until you see her before you change anything. Preemies are super sensitive and need extra care. In the meantime, hold your baby skin to skin against your chest as much as possible. This helps to comfort him and build trust. Best, Lenore
Lenore Goldfarb, Ph.D.,CCC,IBCLC
Wife to Rob, Mom to Adam aged 13, and Ethan aged 9, both born via GS and breastfed via Regular Newman-Goldfarb Protocol.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 272
extra helpful experienced member
|
|
OP
extra helpful experienced member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 272 |
Thank you!
I just emailed an IBCLC, so we'll see if she can help us. The other night, I was able to get Jalen latched, with the help of a nipple shield, easily. but he immediately fell asleep. I kept him latched on for about an hour, switching one time. When I took him off and laid him down, he immediately cried, and drained a bottle. I know he was getting milk from me, as the nipple shield was full.
I tried to get him to use an Avent bottle the other day as well with similar results. He did get about .5 ounce, but fell asleep almost immediately.
At this point, he has such a lazy suck that I am terrified that I will starve him if I try to force him to the breast. The pediatrician recommends that I keep trying with the Avent bottle, because if I can get him to take that, it should be easier for him to transition to the breast.
We'll see what I find out from the local lactation consultant. I will be a little disappointed if I wind up just giving Jalen expressed breastmilk, but as long as he continues to grow and is happy, that is the important thing. He currently has very explosive, breastmilk poops, so I know I am doing a good thing for him by expressing my milk. It would just be easier for me if he would take it "straight from the tap", you know?
Thanks again,
wife to Jim, mommy to Daphne and Jeran and Jalen
|
|
