First, I apologize for this rambling post… I’m not great at navigating Reddit and honestly, feel like I’m at my wit’s My twins (both female) were born at 31 weeks, 5 days after PPROM 24 hours earlier. I got steroid shots and magnesium in the 24 hrs leading up to the birth. Baby A was 3 lb, 6 oz and Baby B was 4 lb, 1 oz at birth. Today, they would be 37 weeks and 6 days and weigh 6 lb, 9oz (baby A) and 7 lb, 3 oz (baby B).
Both babies were on room air right away and I think that set me up for unreasonable expectations as I was convinced they’d sail through the nicu. A week after birth, Baby A was put on a low flow nasal canula for a couple days due to drifting desats but has been off that since late in week 32.
Our struggle is eating. I’m watching other babies around us drink full bottles w ease at much younger gestational ages and baby after baby (including other twins) discharge. I know all babies are different, but I’m going insane. The hospital didn’t let us try a bottle or breastfeeding until 34.5 weeks gestational age. Both babies sipped a few ml a feed for a week-ish and Baby A surprised us and took a full bottle at 35 and 6. Baby A then went back to taking 5-10 ml at a time by PO. Baby B has had steadier advancement, and has maxed out at consuming about 60% of her total feeds on two days (w a 30% day in between) and Baby A typically consumes 25% P.O. but has had a few random days recently at 50-60%. Both babies are eating w Dr. Brown’s preemie nipples.
Speech tried to keep us on ultrapreemie nipple for Baby A but she gets so mad when eating w it and then just gives up after taking ~5 ml’s. During her NG feed (whatever’s leftover after she stops drinking) she’ll root like crazy and chow down on her hands, clothes, or blankets. If on me, she’ll wriggle her tiny body to my breasts to try to nurse. She does decently well at breastfeeding w a size 20 nipple shield and can take an ounce in 7ish minutes w no incident. She will choke on the Dr. brown’s preemie nipple (seemingly more in the last 3 days) if I don’t pace her carefully.
Baby B just stays asleep most of the time during cares/feeding time but does seem well coordinated, and even can finish a bottle on occasion in her sleep with no events. But other times she won’t even try to drink or will take 10 mls and quit.
They are fed every 3 hrs and if they don’t drink enough, they finish via NG. Both babies are fed in side lying, elevated position. Any suggestions as to other bottles/nipples/techniques to try? Any other general suggestions (other than that I need to chill out and just wait)? It’s so hard when I’m basically using up all my maternity leave while they’re in the hospital and it still seems like there is no end in sight.
Both babies were on room air right away and I think that set me up for unreasonable expectations as I was convinced they’d sail through the nicu. A week after birth, Baby A was put on a low flow nasal canula for a couple days due to drifting desats but has been off that since late in week 32.
Our struggle is eating. I’m watching other babies around us drink full bottles w ease at much younger gestational ages and baby after baby (including other twins) discharge. I know all babies are different, but I’m going insane. The hospital didn’t let us try a bottle or breastfeeding until 34.5 weeks gestational age. Both babies sipped a few ml a feed for a week-ish and Baby A surprised us and took a full bottle at 35 and 6. Baby A then went back to taking 5-10 ml at a time by PO. Baby B has had steadier advancement, and has maxed out at consuming about 60% of her total feeds on two days (w a 30% day in between) and Baby A typically consumes 25% P.O. but has had a few random days recently at 50-60%. Both babies are eating w Dr. Brown’s preemie nipples.
Speech tried to keep us on ultrapreemie nipple for Baby A but she gets so mad when eating w it and then just gives up after taking ~5 ml’s. During her NG feed (whatever’s leftover after she stops drinking) she’ll root like crazy and chow down on her hands, clothes, or blankets. If on me, she’ll wriggle her tiny body to my breasts to try to nurse. She does decently well at breastfeeding w a size 20 nipple shield and can take an ounce in 7ish minutes w no incident. She will choke on the Dr. brown’s preemie nipple (seemingly more in the last 3 days) if I don’t pace her carefully.
Baby B just stays asleep most of the time during cares/feeding time but does seem well coordinated, and even can finish a bottle on occasion in her sleep with no events. But other times she won’t even try to drink or will take 10 mls and quit.
They are fed every 3 hrs and if they don’t drink enough, they finish via NG. Both babies are fed in side lying, elevated position. Any suggestions as to other bottles/nipples/techniques to try? Any other general suggestions (other than that I need to chill out and just wait)? It’s so hard when I’m basically using up all my maternity leave while they’re in the hospital and it still seems like there is no end in sight.
