I am currently working with a mother of a very preterm infant who is now
adjusted age of 8 weeks.  Mother has been pumping for 20 weeks !!  He has
received breastmilk by NG tube and now by G-tube since birth in July.  Baby
has chronic lung disease.  He has a trach and is on ventilator.  NICU
nurses and his mother have been providing oral stimulation with drops of
breastmilk for many weeks.  Friday, mother began to introduce non nutritive
suckling at the breast (he had been intubated until receiving a trach last
week).  Baby licked and nuzzled and immediately latched.  We were all
thrilled for the mother and baby.  He took a few sucks and was comfortable
(no signs of aspiration).  Monday, the feeding team specialist acertained
that he had a safe swallow and encouraged the mother to begin nutritive
feedings three times a day.  He continues to receive continuous feedings of
breastmilk through his G-tube.
Has anyone had experience with breastfeeding a baby with a trach and on a
ventilator ?  Questions:  At what point do we begin to calculate his intake
at the breast into his 24 hour caloric need ?
I would love to dialog with anyone who has had this experience.
Thank you,
Barbara A. Shocker RN IBCLC
PennState Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, PA.

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