My baby was born as a big surprise at 30+6 weeks. She's now just under 36 weeks and has done 100% of breastfeeds that we've offered her (3-5/day) for the last two weeks. These have been consecutive with tube feeds for the remainder each day. I have a very heavy milk flow, and she'll normally feed for 10-20 minutes with a reasonably consistent suck/swallow with short breathing breaks. We have been told by the hospital that they feel she's ready to go home. This is great news but I'm also feeling nervous about if she's feeding properly and getting enough milk. I feel a good suction and she looks like she's swallowing fine, but it seems hard to tell because I can't actually see! She's not cueing or getting cranky between feeds but is also extremely low-fuss and placid and never ever really cries. She also has gone a couple of days without bowel movements since we've upped her breastfeeds but has lots of urine output.
The nurses aren't concerned about the bowel movements and she's so far gaining weight at 20ish grams per day (last weighin was after 3/day breastfeeds). We've been very autonomous with the feeding and not been offered much help, which I guess adds to the nerves.
Any help, advice or tips would be appreciated. Did other people with premmies feel nervous about going home? I guess my biggest fear is we leave the hospital and have to go back, or we disrupt her progress by taking her home. Perhaps also some first time Mum jitters too!
Thank you all in advance - Google couldn't quite help :-)
5 Replies
I don't know about having a premmie but you've just described the feelings of most new mums. Breastfeeding is not easy and congratulations on your little one getting there, sounds like she's feeding really really well. It's nerve wracking not having that extra support and assurance. Make sure you have midwife visits set up and accept as much support from your partner/family/friends as you can. Get as much sleep as you can (when my family visited in the early days I would leave them with baby and go and sleep for an hour or two. They came to see the baby anyway ?) and don't forget to eat, sounds obvious but it's very easy to get caught up and all of a sudden it's tea time and you realise you haven't eaten since breakfast.. You have to look after you as well!
Totally normal to have those nerves. I had them too, and my, baby was late! As long as baby is gaining weight you are doing great.
Congratulations on going home
Maybe make an appointment for a lactation consultant for a couple of weeks time in case you have questions? I would take bubby in every week for a weigh at your child health centre. So long as she is getting lots of wet nappies. My baby can go for a week without a poo! Apparently fully bf babies can have less poos - they use up all the milk and not much waste. Good luck and great job!
My baby was 4.5kg at birth and gains a kilo a fortnight consistently and he's 10 weeks now. And even I worry he isn't getting enough sometimes haha. My husband has to remind me that he's the chubbiest baby anyone's ever seen before I accept he's alright when he's gone 4 hours between a feed instead of an hour and a half haha. So the worry is natural.
Be confident that your body knows how to provide for your baby. Because it does. Breastfeeding has hard times for a lot of people where they think they don't have enough milk. It's actually very uncommon for this to happen in reality. It's more of the fact breastfeedinfor is hard and that baby sucks you dry for weeks at a time making you think you don't hsvr enough! You've already been doing it for 6 weeks so congratulations. She seems like a good feeder! I assume she's still very tiny so she doesn't need much at the moment.
You'll do great. The nurses should visit you and weigh her often to make sure. You'll know if there is an issue before it becomes a problem
The only true ways to tell if Bub is not getting enough is weight gains and wet nappies, if Bub is having enough (6-8) wet nappies a day and gaining well then she's doing fine. My first was born at 35 weeks and I found once she got to a couple weeks after full term she became a bit normal with feeding cues, I was setting alarms for every 4 hrs day and night before that to wake her up for feeds because she was so sleepy. That's just a premmie thing, the nerves though, is totally normal lol bubs feeding routine will change as she has growth spurts and you'll be feeding non stop, and probably feeling like you don't have enough milk, that's totally normal and is just bubs way of increasing your supply as she gets bigger and needs more. There's a few great Facebook support groups if you're ever feeling unsure there's usually always another mum up during the night that can help :) 'Breastfeeders in Australia' , 'the Australian breastfeeding project' and there's always the aba helpline to call too :) don't stress too much, it's an exciting time bringing your baby home from hospital xx