> Anyway, if babies are going to breastfeed why give them a bottle at all?
> What is the rationale for this? Based on what research?

Well, purely anecdotal, but I gave my preemie bottles of bm in the NICU just to
get him discharged.  Feeding was the only thing holding up his discharge and the
doctors wouldn't let him go until he was "nippling" all feeds.  He was not nursing
well mainly because he was very sleepy at the breast...very sleepy when
bottlefeeding too if he was held close.  So, I allowed the NICU nurses to give him
the Avent bottle for 24 hours so he could go home.  He was 37.5 weeks when
discharged at six weeks of age.  Once at home, we made breastfeeding the #1
priority.  At 38 weeks gestational age, he suddenly woke up and nursed well and
has not looked back.  I suppose he could have stayed in the NICU for another six
days until he woke up but our insurance probably wouldn't have covered it (not
medically necessary) and my family was going crazy with me gone for long.  I had
been away from home for almost seven weeks (I was admitted during pregnancy
because of a very high risk situation).  Our home is 50 miles from the hospital.
Also, as one of the LCs said, "the NICU is a very expensive place to learn to
breastfeed."  The key to successfully breastfeeding a preemie is largely based on
support on home, IMO, and yes, finding that support at home is next to
impossible.  I'm one of the lucky ones who had experience nursing two full-term
babies, had 100% support from husband and family, and very close LLL ties.  Even
with all these positive forces in my life, I found teaching my preemie to nurse
very challenging.


Kathleen Salisbury
Listed Leader, LLL of Gig Harbor
Gig Harbor, WA USA
Mom to James, Reed and Evan
Mailto:[log in to unmask]

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