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My son was born at 30 weeks and after 8 weeks in the NICU hes doing well but cant seem to figure out the suck swallow breathe reflex. The doctors and nurses seem really worried and tell me this is not common. However, he does swallow when I breast feed him using a nipple shield. Why cant he do it with a bottle?
Does he just want mom to feed him and nobody else? Did anyone else experience a late eater?
Everest would get very tired on breast and with the bottle, he got sick at 39 weeks gestational age, and was taken off feeds, and when they restarted him at 40 weeks he began eating well. I do not know the reason behind it but some babies just seem to take a while.
the issue with breast feeding is they dont know how much they are taking in, and they want a specific amount going in each day.
They gave Everest every other feeding by mouth for a while and then the others they used his NG tube, once he got it though he was a champ! Just keep working with him, it will come.
Did they say anything about an oral aversion?
He is a big boy now weighs 13 lbs.
Good luck!
They try the bottle once a day to prevent oral aversion. He takes it in his mouth but its like he knows its the bottle and doesnt want to have anything to do with it. And your right, as far as breast feeding goes. He doesnt eat enough for them to even consider it to replace a feed. However the good thing is that he does swallow. THey also say that his respiratory rate is too high to try the bottle but not to high to breast feed. When I say breast feed, I mean he wallows between 10-20 times at each 30 minute session. Everyone I talk to seems to think that it will click with him one day. However, the doctors and the lactation specialist are making it seem like its extremely rare for him not to be able to feed and that there could be something wrong with his brain as it is a sign of development.
I thought Everest was NEVER going to get it and honestly one day it just clicked. He would do well at BF'ing one day and then the next have no interest and same w/ the bottle.
The doctors never said anything about being too concerned though it was just me.
Hopefully it will just click for him soon.
I was also told by some of our NICU nurses that "little white boys" seem to take the most time to learn to eat.
Hang in there!
hope everything goes well!
Sorry to hear your son is having difficulty w/ feeds. That's an issue we have always dealt w/. We too were told that it would eventually click... well, it never did. Henry got sick w/ RSV/pneumonia and was vented right around 40wks. It was like starting over when he recovered. At 44wks, I had them teach me how to place an NG so we could take him home.
I don't mean to bring you down, but wanted to let you know that things do not always work out as planned. Things got more complicated w/ my son as we learned he has a cows milk allergy, severe reflux, and now oral aversions (he is currently 20 months). Its hard to know at your son's early age if its something that just needs more time, or if there are other issues going on. I know its hard to hear and you want your son home, but I would give it a couple of weeks to see if it does "click." He technically has another 2wks before he should even be here! If at that pt it still hasn't clicked, then you might want to explore other explanations for not eating and/or self limiting.
Yes just like Henrysmom stated it is early to detect a disorder and it is difficult, but it maybe that your baby needs time. Goodluck
My son was on the same boat! he was also born at 30 weeks and remained in NICU not because he wasn't healthy but because he wouldn't eat! My little hunny was at 38 weeks still on an NG tube! it was rediculous...He would barley eat 30 cc's during his feedings. They sent an OT down to see what was going on and she said that the skills were there he just had no interest. Finally after 8 weeks of POOR feeding skills they took out the NG tube all together (even though he was not eating every other feed) and let him eat when he wanted to. Let me tell you something, my son came home 4 days later! And once he got home the weight started coming on and his feedings were 100 times better. My son now does have mild CP but it has NEVER affected his eating. He eats so much now that I worry he might be hurting his stomach because it's too much! LOL.
Be patient, I know it's hard to but it's the best advice I can give you. Babies do things on their own time schedule and it may not always be what professionals consider "normal". I'm sure your baby will be home before you know it and one day soon those feedings will just "click" and he will get the hang of it.
good luck, let me know if you have anymore questions. my e-mail is inlovewithchrist86@yahoo.com
Sarah
Wade was the same way, however he was born at 33 weeks...the thing doctors/nurses seem to forget is not every baby eats on a 2-3 hour schedule...once I basically demanded for them to let Wade "eat on demand-don't wake him up!", he would eat a full feeding, it turned out he just wasn't hungry when they would try to force him to eat on their schedule...
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