my first question as a mom of twins

I'm bottle feeding and having a hard time getting the boys to eat. They aren't even eating the minimum needed to maintain their weight. The pediatrician and I are all over it, but I'm trying to figure out if anyone has any tips or has been through this.

They are 5 days old as of now, btw. No time for me to update my ticker!

Thanks!

 

Maybe they dont like the nipple of the bottle? We had to switch bottles because my lil ones did not liek the nipples at all!!!
They let you leave the hospital with out them eating enough??? They wouldnt let me leave unless both the babies were eating 30cc's at all feedings..

 

My babies had trouble falling asleep while eating for the first week or so, I had to change their diapers halfway through the feeding to wake them up and make sure they were unswaddled and not too comfy.

 

QUOTE(AshleyLD @ Oct 10 2007, 05:20 PM) [snapback]444624[/snapback]
Maybe they dont like the nipple of the bottle? We had to switch bottles because my lil ones did not liek the nipples at all!!!
They let you leave the hospital with out them eating enough??? They wouldnt let me leave unless both the babies were eating 30cc's at all feedings..


they let me leave the hospital b/c my doc is really on top of it. he's an excellent ped, and is known by the hospital, so i think they let him take on the liability of saying it was okay to leave. i'm not going to be able to go more than two days at a time, though, without taking the boys to see him until they are eating/gaining.

i will take a look at the nipples. what were you using and then switch to?

 

How much are they eating Tammy? I would check the flow of the nipple, maybe it is too small and they are getting tired. Are they having wet diapers? Pooping?

 

I would agree with pp about possibility of bottles or nipples being the problem. I know we had quite a time trying to find the right combo for our two when they came home that they would use. We have a big box of bottles from the trial and error and it was just finding the right combo.

 

I had this same problem and mine ended up staying in the NICU for 8 more days because of it. Some things that helped us:

1. unswaddling
2. changing diaper before
3. feeding in an upright position AWAY from our bodies (on knee)
4. holding nipple up towards roof of the mouth
5. while holding bottle with thumb, pointer, middle fingers, use ring and pinky to gently and rhythmically "push" baby's chin up to immitate a sucking motion. This probably worked better than anything else beleive it or not. The NICU nurses taught us how to do it.

Most importantly, relax. The nurses always told me that they could sense my tension and nervous(ness?). They NEVER ate from me until they had been home for a couple of days and then out of nowhere I decided to nurse them instead of doing EBM. They latched on perfectly and ate like pigs from thn on...Go figure.

HTH
-Larami

 

I am having the same problems almost. They are so different at every feeding. Ds did so well with feeding and bf and now he doesn't. He sleeps too long or gets so sleepy I can't wake him up despite everything I have heard to do. Dd is a pig, she wants to eat, eat, eat! Sometimes they need to nurse for 10 minutes just to fall asleep and this is an hour after they ate a full meal. So frustrating especially since I am by myself while Dh works all day

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ Oct 10 2007, 07:58 PM) [snapback]444812[/snapback]
How much are they eating Tammy? I would check the flow of the nipple, maybe it is too small and they are getting tired. Are they having wet diapers? Pooping?


they're goals are 15 oz and 17 oz, based on their size. they're getting about 3 oz less than that per day. although evan did eat 19 oz one day

Forgot to add: they are pooping and peeing aplenty. and have a sense of humor about it, as we've all been 'shot' with both.

 

QUOTE(tgbmomofthree @ Oct 11 2007, 01:17 PM) [snapback]445732[/snapback]
they're goals are 15 oz and 17 oz, based on their size. they're getting about 3 oz less than that per day. although evan did eat 19 oz one day

Forgot to add: they are pooping and peeing aplenty. and have a sense of humor about it, as we've all been 'shot' with both.


Sounds like they are doing ok then. The next weight check will tell for sure. My 2 never ate their "quota" for the day(based on 2.5oz per lb of body weight), and still gained.

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ Oct 11 2007, 07:11 PM) [snapback]446354[/snapback]
My 2 never ate their "quota" for the day(based on 2.5oz per lb of body weight), and still gained.


Thanks, that makes me feel better. We go tomorrow, so I have my fingers crossed....