Premie nicu baby and breastfeeding

My baby was bottle fed breast milk in Nicu but before that she was tube fed and when she got home I transitioned to breast after a week of her being home. I did have issues mainly because of her being a small baby (2lb at birth) she would get tired really easily x

commenting to find this answer out also because my 34 weeker just started eating off breast yesterday! i exclusively breastfed my first and hope to do it this time around

Mines 50/50 tube and bottle fed right now, tried breast didn’t go well, got tired quickly xx

I did 50/50 tube and breast the week before he came home. We were able to bring the tube home with us once 50% of his feeds were on the breast. Tube came out a week after he came home. It was hard to keep him awake/wake him for a feed. In the early days, we topped up a sleepy breast feed with a tube.

I should add that we are now fully breast feeding.

My 28 weeker was nursed and bottled fed breastmilk. When we got home I only did the recommended bottles that had to be fortified for his growth and then when he got chunky I stopped and just nursed him. He maybe got 2 bottles a day. Then ebf or occasionally a breastmilk bottle if I was tired and my husband did it. He had no issues other than refusing to take a bottle if I was the one giving it to him. He wanted to nurse.

@sarah That is absolutely amazing! This is exactly what I was hoping to hear. Congrats on baby:)

@Kit Don’t give up if that’s what you want sis. They do get tired so quick but they’ll build their stamina. Hope all goes well !

@Sarah I didn’t even realize they can send you home with a tube. I’m glad it all worked for you!!

@Khyia oooo I love reading these successful stories. Glad it worked out for you sis!

@Sandy Fatima It might be down to individual hospitals and whether or not they have an outreach team that can support you at home.

My baby was in NICU for 12 days. From day 9 I stayed in hospital with her to help establish breastfeeding, as this was the last thing she needed to tick before being able to come home. She was tube fed from birth and still had the tube up until she was discharged. The nurses on the ward encouraged lots of skin to skin and putting her on the nipple before she was due a feed, just so she could get used to it. She’s 9 month now and still EBF.

My baby was born at 33+6 and was tube fed in hospital for 2 weeks. During that time we had lots of skin to skin and I tried nursing every time he was due a feed when I was there, even when it was just him putting his head on my breast. We added bottles towards the end of his stay as my hospital wouldn’t let him go home with a tube. He transitioned from breast with bottle top ups to EBF a month into his time at home (and a couple of days after his due date). He’s only 11 weeks old (5 corrected) but it’s been going well and he’s been gaining weight. I admit it was exhausting, and it felt like it took forever (I almost gave up), but it was worth it.

I had twins and they didn’t transition to breast, 100% bottle

I didn't but a friend of mine had a baby in NICU for 2.5 months (very premie) and she EBF very well. Worked good for them

Currently bf my 34 twins as we speak , it was a long process ....but we got there! I found once they reached their due date and were about 6lb in weight they got the hang over it very quickly. I really think having a dummy helped with their sucking strength, it takes a lot of muscles to breastfeed xx