Rose deVigne-Jackiewicz, IBCLC, posted "I  would like to know if anyone out
in our "lactnet kingdom" has figured out a solution to the problem to getting
fresh mothers milk to babies while still using the stored milk the mother has
already pumped".

Twenty months ago, I had a 900 gm (almost 2 lb) preemie at 32 weeks.  I was
pumping around the clock and storing milk in the little Ross Sterile Water
bottles.  Directly after pumping at home, I would immediately freeze the milk
in preparation for transporting to the hospital which was only 30 minutes
away.  NO ONE in the NICU ever made the point that fresh milk was much better
for my preemie than frozen milk.  In the "balmy" state I was in after
delivering this tiny baby, I didn't even think about it at that time.  It was
only when I did my research about pumping and storage for preemies did I
realize this for myself.  At that point in time, I began using the fresh milk
I pumped for the most immediate feedings and the frozen milk for the
nighttime feedings when I wasn't there to provide the fresh milk (I had two
older children at home).  During the day, we used the fresh milk I had just
pumped, either at home or at the hospital.  I did have to clearly point out
to the staff to be certain to use the fresh milk first and the frozen milk
second.  This worked well for us.

I also read with interest, the post about nipple confusion and the
observation that all babies instinctively want to be at the breast.  I feel
my situation CLEARLY illustrates that point.  After a few weeks of gavage
feedings, my baby began bottles and rubber nipples. He would do NO sucking at
the breast.  He enjoyed being there, my husband and I both did kangaroo care,
he would put his mouth on the nipple, but not one nutritive suck after
attempting with each feeding.

My first and foremost thought about my tiny baby was his healthy progress and
weight gain, so I was very happy that he began "nippling" well.  As a LLL
Leader I feared nipple confusion the entire time, but felt we would "cross
that bridge when we come to it".  Little did I know how   L  O  N  G   that
bridge was.

To make a long story not so long, it took us 5 weeks of being at home after
being in the hospital for 8 weeks (for a total of 13 weeks) before my baby
was nursing 100% at the breast.  And that was about 4 weeks after he had his
first good, nutritive suck. I offered the breast and snuggled at each
feeding.  There was only a very sporatic pattern to his return to the breast.
 After the first, good nursing session, the number of good nursings per day
varied.  Some days zero nursings, some days 1 and some days 2.

The point that I feel is most important to share with other mothers, is that
there was nothing about the day before he went to the breast for total
nursings that lead me to believe that we were even close to total nursing or
that "tomorrow" was THE day we were waiting for.  I think about what if the
day before was the day I said, "I've had it, I can't do this anymore!".
 Thank God I knew too much about the power of breastmilk to keep from giving
up.  I had nursed my two older daughters, I was a LLL Leader and had an
INCREDIBLE system of support from them and the LC's I knew, and it remained
probably the most challanging time in my life.  I also realized I was just
far too lazy to be a formula feeding mother.  My husband and I learned
quickly that those bottles are lots of work, regardless if they're formula or
breastmilk!  It was a very long, depressing and emotionally intense time for
me.  For my OWN peace of mind, (ped didn't think it  was necessary) I did use
the Medela Baby Weigh Scale as I made the transition from bottles to breast.
 It was a tool that made the transition MUCH easier for me.  The test weighs
were very useful when I was concerned about his suck and his ability to
"transfer milk" and eased my concerns about my milk supply.  I used an
Ameda/Egnell Lact-E breast pump for that 3 month period.

So, in conclusion, I find it fascinating that my baby eventually went to the
breast completely when all he had ever known were bottles, thus, supporting
the statement that ALL babies want to be at the breast when given the time
and patience.  BTW, at 20 months, he continues to "na na" with vigor!

Barb Gabbert-Bacon, LLL Leader, Wichita, KS