Can a 34 weeker nurse?

I am almost 34 weeks and think I am getting close. I am already 2cm and 70-80% effaced. If they were to come now is there a chance they will be able to nurse?

 

There is a chance.
I had 35 weekers, one could nurse. One had some problems. She was surgine feed for a couple of days, then could kind of nurse but also got a bottle. At one month old she was not a good nurser and perfered the bottle, but I did not give up. I got a special bottle and make her work for her bottle feeds as well. She eventually learned to nurse and did so until she was 15 months old.

 

There's definitely a chance. Mine were born on 34w2d and were great nursers from ALMOST the beginning. Due to circumstances -me being in ICU-, I don't know what would've happened the first few days though. On the fifth day they were supposed to sniff (is this even the right word? being close to the breast so as to get used to it) during kangooroo care and they immediately latched on in the most perfect way and never stopped doing it right.

Hang in there, every day you can keep those babies safely inside of you is a day to celebrate.

 

it all depends on the baby, dont be worried.
I also woudlnt fret about your effacement and dilation. I was where you are at when I ws just 29 weeks.... I got induced at 37 weeks. You just never know!

 

As the pp's said, there is definitely a chance, but as long as you want to nurse you can make it happen regardless of how much trouble they have. Some 34-37 weekers do need extra help and you may do some pumping and supplementing at first, but with a good lactation consultant and supportive family and pediatrician, you can definitely make it work. Mine were 37 weeks and my daughter nursed great but my son had a lot of trouble latching. I used a nipple shield with him for about a month until he figured it out. Now at 17 months, he has been my better nurser! Good luck and keep us posted

 

Oh MY! I am in so much pain and discomfort now, I could not imagine making it to 37 weeks!

 

It depends on the baby - DS could and DD couldn't, but DD was a horrible nurser and I needed a nipple sheild to get her to breastfeed. She was fed thru a gavage (sp?) until I was able to successfully breastfeed her.
Mine were born at 31 weeks.

 

They let you try to nurse at 31 weeks or not until 34 weeks?

 

Not at 31 weeks, they were on a special fat/glucose blend for the first couple days. Once we were moved to a level 2 NICU the nurses were more - for lack of a better word - laid back and willing to work on breastfeeding.

Usually the suck/swallow/breath at the same time skill isn't developed until 36 weeks (feel free to correct me if I am wrong) but they let me try with DS and he was able to latch and get some milk. He didn't do full feeds at first though, he wasn't strong enough.

I should also mention DD is a great feeder now, she was off the nipple sheild within 6 weeks if I remember correctly.

 

i really like Dr. Newman's thoughts on breastfeeding preemies. here's what he has to say.

 

My twins were 35 week deliveries. One could not nurse due to a cleft palate. The other weighed 3.12 at delivery would not nurse until she was 9 weeks old but then continued till she was about a year old. Thankfully I got a medela pump and was able to give both breast milk
for a year. Once she started breast feeding I was able to continue pumping and got about 20 ounces out of one side while I breast fed.

Try and don't give up if this is something you really want to give your babies.

 

I have also noticed that I have no signs of "milk" With my past pregnancies I would leak occasionally when I was close and be able to express some from my nipples. I do not have any right now. My nipples are extremely sore when I do try to express and even when I don't. Since there is no signs of milk does that mean that I am really not that close to delivering?

 

Don't worry about not leaking or not being able to express anything! It varies from woman to woman and even from one pregnancy to another, and means absolutely nothing about whether you'll be able to nurse.

As to your first question - 34 weekers may or may not be able to nurse right off the bat, but it is very, very, very likely that you will be able to nurse them in the long run even if you have a rough start. I had my babies at 34 wks. DD nursed successfully pretty much the first time we tried (which wasn't until a couple days after delivery since she was on a respirator at first). DS couldn't figure out how to latch for a few months, and then one day it just clicked. And we nursed happily for a long time.

So you can totally do this! And we are always here to help no matter what comes up. Good luck getting through the last days/weeks/however much longer of your pregnancy!

 

I just wanted to say--Momof6 tomorrow you will be 35 weeks! Remember no matter how uncomfortable you are at this point, everday ups your chances of a positive outcome!
I can't wait to hear that you are happily nursing those two.

 

I was going to say the same! 35 weeks and counting! Every day in you is another that they get more mature.