Melanie,
The first question is hard to answer - is it mucus? It could be. It could be
some cells there, maybe the mother has some mastitis like process going on
(sore nipples, and one breast warmer - was that the breast that expressed
the mucus?). I would be very observant about the symptoms but I would
continue to feed the baby unless it really looked like pus.
The second question is easy - suggestions for helping the baby at breast.
The main thing is that the baby needs a good 7 wks or so to mature. Maturity
is the key. The baby is a 33 wk premie and will probably not do too good
until he reaches term and weighs over 6 lbs or more, in my experience. He
may have some good feeds and he may mature before 40- wks but give him the
time. This is very hard for moms to realize, the baby is not supposed to be
out of utero and breastfeeding yet. These little babies need lots of
kangaroo care, good support of their bodies and moms' breast, and can take
paced bottle feeds of mom's expressed milk. A pre/post feed weight can be
helpful if one needs to see what baby is actually taking at breast and to
calculate the supps.
What is very very good is the good wt gain and the baby's good health. Keep
that up and the rest will come.


Laurie Wheeler, IBCLC, MN, RN
New Orleans Louisiana, s.e. USA

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