Breastfeeding a peemie?

Question

right now im 34 weeks and was hospitalized this week because i was having frequent contractions and im already dilated and my son is still breech.

anyways, the doctor said that if i did have my son early, i'd have to pump my milk and feed it to him in a bottle. he said preemies cant suck right? well im really concerned because i have a feeling i might end up having him before my due date, i really want breastfeeding to work, and i dont want to start him off with a bottle.

is it possible and reasonable for me to stand up and ask to breastfeed, or will the hospital force me to pump? i feel really strongly about breastfeeding and i want to start it off right.

need advice please!

Answer 1

I have been told the same thing and at first I was worried but now Im more used to the idea. Its still breast milk you will be giving bubs if you pump it so he wouldnt be missing out on any of the benefical properties of breast milk. best of luck

Answer 2

It's great you have a desire to breastfeed and the hospital won't discourage it if it's possible, however if you do go early the doctor is correct that preemies don't have the ability to suck off the breast. They aren't trying to discourage you from trying but being realistic with you about what to expect. Smaller babies often use bottles specially designed for them. They are much smaller in size than a normal bottle and the baby will more than likely not eat as much. The great thing about breastmilk as that even if your child isn't eating as much it can be frozen and used later. I know it's a bit frustrating to have to delay breastfeeding but it will only be a short time before you'll actively involved in it. You just have to do what the baby can handle until it's ready for the breast. Take care of yourself, stay off your feet and good luck. I hope works out how you want it to.

Answer 3

Hon, how can you demand to breast feed if your baby isn't capable of sucking? A premie will be off to a good start if you pump. Breast milk is the best nutrition for a premie.

If your little one can come out of the incubator, you can have the baby snuggle at your breasts. Baby needs to feel your skin, your sent and your voice.

Your doctor & the nurses have experience to know what you can and can't do.

You will have nurses to help you pump and make this sucessful. You will need your sleep. and good nutrition and lots of water and your baby will thrive.

If the baby is big enough and mouth muscles are strong enough then you can breast feed.

I am wondering if the doctor has told you his estimated weight of the baby?

I had my babies two weeks early and averaged 9 pounds.
They were early and yet able to breast feed. My doctor just said that I grew my babies quickly. *smile*

Don't let your worries take your energies. You need to take a day or an hour or a minute at a time. Before you know it your little one will grow up and you will be a grandma holding his or her baby in your arms.

Sweet Dreams

Answer 4

It is EXTREMELY imporatant that you pump, and pump often, to establish a good milk supply! I am very glad that I did. My son had open-heart surgery and doctors said he's likely be too weak to breastfeed. The first week or so when he was at the cardiac ICU, he was bottle fed (breastmilk), and I was pumping like crazy! I was very eager to finally breastfeed when I got him home. It was hard, believe me... some nights it would take 30 minutes to get him to latch on. It took us about two weeks to get it right. There were nights where I almost gave up, and went back to pumping. But I am SO glad I didn't.

So even if you do need to pump and bottle-feed, don't think that your baby will not want to breastfeed in a couple of days or weeks. Yes, it will be difficult at first, but not impossible! Hang in there!

Best of luck and congratulations on your decision to breastfeed!

Answer 5

You can feed the baby with the pumped milk out of the preemie bottle, but still allow him to attempt to suckle. The closeness will do you both good, and when he's strong enough to nurse from the breast, it won't be a foreign concept to him.

Best of luck sweetie.

Answer 6

I dont know at what age a baby will develop the suckle reflex, so I cant help there, but there is always the option of feeding with a spoon/medicine dropper until your baby is big enough to breastfeed directly. Otherwise you are right, your baby will likely never latch on if started with a bottle from birth.

I think it is very reasonable to stand up for yourself. You need it. Especially for preemies, they need the goodness of breastmilk!

Answer 7

My baby girl was 3 weeks premi. WHile I was in hospital i pumped and fed trough a bottle and then also topped up with my breast. that way she was getting enough food and learning to handle the "boob" I successfully breastfed my baby girl up until 3 weeks ago. ( Gave up as I am pregnant and wanted to give my boobs a break!!) She is 1 tomorrow. Dont panic let nature take its course and remember that the nurses know what the are alking about. If you dont listen to there advice your baby may suffer. Good luck and congratulations ( coming!!)

Answer 8

call La Leche League. Some 34 week babies and a lot of 35 week babies will be able to nurse at least partly. A lot depends on the individual. I f you want to avoid nipple confusion (and don't let them convince you it doesn't occur ) use another method like tube feeding rather than letting him learn to use a bottle.
And no matter how you start, don't let your milk dry up and keep trying - they can get it.

Answer 9

Follow your doctor's advice, regardless of whatever your wishes are concerning this. There is a reason your doctor is telling you to pump your milk, and you should trust that.

It could be that preemies do not have the muscle maturity in their mouths to latch on properly. If that's the case, not only will breastfeeding not provide your baby with the nourishment he needs, but it will crack the skin of your areolea, and that is painful, and it bleeds. (Then you have pumped milk with blood in it, by the way.)

I empathize with your wanting to breastfeed, but I still think you should heed your doctor. I doubt the hospital will enforce the pump, but please reconsider the bottle, anyway—don't think of it as defeat; think of it as:

a) easy for baby to drink from
b) easily sterilized with boiling water
c) able to be stored in the refrigerator
d) non-offensive to the public-at-large
e) still filled with your antibody-infused milk
AND:
f) could be your key to free arms and more sleep (if someone else is feeding your baby)

Answer 10

I don't have any personal experience with nursing a preemie but I wanted to share these links with you, hope they help: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/maintainsupply-pump.html, http://www.kellymom.com/bf/preemie/preemie-links.html. Good luck!