Hi all, so long story short...I had a preemie (30 weeks/5 days), pumped religiously the whole time she was in the NICU, was not a high producer (she caught up really really fast!) and breastfed 2x a day in the NICU once she got the "suck-swallow-breathe" thing down. All the doctors and nurses said once I got her home, my milk supply would increase because I would be able to breastfeed her all the time...but I don't really feel like that's happened. We went to the pediatrician her first week back and she barely gained any weight (and this was EBF + 2 oz of preemie formula each day). So now we have to supplement...I just don't think she's getting enough from me. I feel like I've done everything. And I understand the supply/demand thing with milk coming in...but I just don't feel like it's happened for me. It's frustrating because I really want to EBF...but I also don't want to starve my LO. And I know that they can suck out a lot more milk with their mouth than a breastpump can ever suck out....so I shouldn't compare the two, but still. Any other moms of preemies have this problem? I mean, who knows, maybe it's not even related to the fact that she was a preemie...I knew other moms in the NICU who were pumping out like 4 oz from each breast at a time. Sigh.
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I don't have any first hand experience with a premie, but P was SGA (small for gestational age) and we've always struggled with advocating breastfeeding b/c of her small size.
I just wanted to say you're doing an awesome job & kellymom might have some good resources for you! =)
http://kellymom.com/ages/newborn/newborn-concerns/preemie-links/ -
@runsyellowlites: Thank you for the kind words and also for the kellymom link!
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You're doing a great job! So glad your lo is home! I had twins, not preemies, but they were both barely on the % charts at birth. So there was a lot of pressure to get them eating and gaining well. My supply never caught up to their needs, despite doing everything 'right' and trying the gamut to increase supply for many many months. The most I ever got from both breasts combined pumping was 3 oz. I was pretty devastated at not being able to ebf, but my kids are now so robust that most people think they are older than they really are. That eases my mind that supplementing worked out a-ok for us. No advice, just commiseration and a happy ending.
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@MerryC: Thanks for the comment! I think I'm just feeling "down" about not being about to EBF because it's such a hot topic these days. I know I need to do what works for me and my LO, but it's still hard not to feel guilty for not being able to produce enough BM for her. And I had a recent experience of being judged (at a new mom's group, no less!) for giving her formula. Oy vay.
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My sister pumped religiously and never made more than 15 oz... Sometimes the breast tissue is just not there.
I have a 25-weeker preemie and struggled with not being able to breastfeed ( due to reflux). It's really hard to let to of, but once I did realize it was better for him not to. (I give half formula , half bm), I felt much better.
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My son was born at 34 weeks. We didn't have problems with BF, but I chose to start supplementing with formula so he could put on weight faster. We use enfacare enfamil and we would supplement 2 feedings with formula and BF the other feedings.
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