Need Tips for Preemie Who Only like Bottles

[mommy2be412]

My 34 weeker will only take a bottle. I pump breastmilk into the bottles for her so at least she is getting it but cleaning the pump parts after each session is such a pain. It is well worth it for little one I just wish she would take to the breast. She went to the NICU at birth who fed her a bottle and they were very particular on seeing how much she was eating and didn't really encourage breastfeeding so now she is stuck on the bottle. When I try to breastfeed her, she will latch but then stops. I've even tried a nipple shield but she seems to choke on it and doesn't like it. Any tips would be helpful. She is 11 days old now and does not have any health issues.

 

[VGibs]

Are you home with your baby now? I'm a lac consultant in training and one thing I have seen work is to lay beside baby skin to skin with your breast and nipple exposed. Let baby latch as often as she wants even if she doesn't get any milk so she can practice suckling and build up her muscles for suckling. Preemies really need to practice suckling because they don't have the muscle tone of full term babies.