BF help please!!
ok guys need help am breastfeeding or at least trying...my little lady decided to show early (35wks) and was in nicu for two weeks i have been pumping and feeding her breastmill only ...thing is she will not take my nipple naked!!!! i have to use a breast shield to get her to latch on and let her feed ...she will nurse for a little bit and fall sleep and then i will have to finish her off with bottle ...i dont konw how to get her to take the breast alone or even just to feed with the breast even if i have to use the shield for as long as i breast feed. any info or sugestions will be welcome ...its a little trying and frustrating and i really dont want to give up...thanks a bunch
TaNyA BeCeRrA
I have no personal experience breastfeeding yet (this baby will be my first!) - but I have helped my sister get thru those first tough weeks of breastfeeding (her baby was born in August 2009), and I have also done substantial reading/researching/educating myself on breastfeeding to get ready for my baby...
That being said, I can tell that you are doing great!!! Please do not give up! With my sister's baby (born just a tad early, at 36 weeks) he was a sleepy, picky/finicky baby for those first few weeks when it came to breastfeeding. My sister had to pump & then bottle feed the little guy because he wouldn't latch on the breast long enough, and then he would fall fast asleep!
Fast forward until he was about 5 weeks old and then he finally started waking up long enough to work at the breast. (It is hard work, by the way, for a baby to suckle & "draw out" the milk at the breast. Especially for the little ones born early)
I think that as long as you start out on the breast (even if you have to use a nipple shield for now) and keep your baby on the breast until she falls asleep, then wake her to finish up with the bottle is fine. I know it's probably very tough on you (and emotionally taxing too!) but I know that in time (probably within 3 more weeks for you!) your baby will have enough energy to do an entire feeding at your breast. Then you can probably work on removing the breast shield, but that may be another change that may take a week or 2 to fully accomplish.
Mostly, I just wanted to offer you sympathy, I know that breastfeeding can be tough. But I also wanted to offer you encouragement, because you are honestly doing beautifully! I wish I could give you advice about how to fix it quick, fix it right now, and have her feed at your breast right away... but I truly think it will be a gradual process for you and your little one.
Hope this helps,
Amanda
That being said, I can tell that you are doing great!!! Please do not give up! With my sister's baby (born just a tad early, at 36 weeks) he was a sleepy, picky/finicky baby for those first few weeks when it came to breastfeeding. My sister had to pump & then bottle feed the little guy because he wouldn't latch on the breast long enough, and then he would fall fast asleep!
Fast forward until he was about 5 weeks old and then he finally started waking up long enough to work at the breast. (It is hard work, by the way, for a baby to suckle & "draw out" the milk at the breast. Especially for the little ones born early)
I think that as long as you start out on the breast (even if you have to use a nipple shield for now) and keep your baby on the breast until she falls asleep, then wake her to finish up with the bottle is fine. I know it's probably very tough on you (and emotionally taxing too!) but I know that in time (probably within 3 more weeks for you!) your baby will have enough energy to do an entire feeding at your breast. Then you can probably work on removing the breast shield, but that may be another change that may take a week or 2 to fully accomplish.
Mostly, I just wanted to offer you sympathy, I know that breastfeeding can be tough. But I also wanted to offer you encouragement, because you are honestly doing beautifully! I wish I could give you advice about how to fix it quick, fix it right now, and have her feed at your breast right away... but I truly think it will be a gradual process for you and your little one.
Hope this helps,
Amanda
I would continue to use the breast shield. My sister-in-law used one for a couple of months with her kids.
Also, two of my kids were sleepy babies. One thing that helps is undressing your baby down to her diaper. That will help her stay awake. Maybe even have a wipe handy and wipe her foot or tummy a little to stir her awake while she's latched on so she'll nurse longer.
Melanie
Also, two of my kids were sleepy babies. One thing that helps is undressing your baby down to her diaper. That will help her stay awake. Maybe even have a wipe handy and wipe her foot or tummy a little to stir her awake while she's latched on so she'll nurse longer.
Melanie
...gives me hope 
You are doing great using the nipple shield and good for you that you do not want to give up. I have BF 3 babies and each one is uniquely different. If she needs the sheild to nurse, I would let her. She probably has more of a learning curve b/c of being preemie.
ITA with Melanie's advice about stripping her. You want her to be comfy enough to nurse but not so comfy that she falls asleep. Also keeping the lights on will stimulate her a bit.
ITA with Melanie's advice about stripping her. You want her to be comfy enough to nurse but not so comfy that she falls asleep. Also keeping the lights on will stimulate her a bit.
God Bless! Jen
Mark 9:37a "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me."
Nipple shields are a bit of a pain but they are easier than exclusive pumping (which is great too, but it's better to do straight from the tap, convenience-wise!)
Slightly early babies ARE hard to nurse sometimes. The others gave good tips for keeping baby awake. Anyhow, I just wanted to say I needed a nipple shield for several weeks and then a friend helped me improve my positioning so my daughter could latch without one and we left the "clear boob sombrero" behind! So just hang in there but have any experienced friends or relatives give you a hand because experience really can help.
Slightly early babies ARE hard to nurse sometimes. The others gave good tips for keeping baby awake. Anyhow, I just wanted to say I needed a nipple shield for several weeks and then a friend helped me improve my positioning so my daughter could latch without one and we left the "clear boob sombrero" behind! So just hang in there but have any experienced friends or relatives give you a hand because experience really can help.
Most Active
Recent Topics
