Tips for caring for preemie

[Anonymous]

I need some tips and some general knowledge about caring for a preemie. Our little angel was born at 35 weeks. She’s healthy but very small and sleepy. I’m pumping to supply her breastmilk because she isn’t strong enough to get everything she needs from the breast. Bottle feedings are tough because she is very sleepy and doesn’t want to finish the bottle. I’m so exhausted doing round the clock and need some advice on ways to make life easier. I feel so guilty ordering takeout every night knowing I need to feed her my milk but it’s what is working for us. Any tips and helpful advice is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Order healthy takeout

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Order healthy takeout

We don’t have a lot of healthy options by us. Our options are fast food, a Chinese place, and two Mexican places.

[Anonymous]

I hear you, OP. My son was born at 35 weeks but sent straight home (no NICU) and I felt helpless. He wasn’t like every other baby. He wasn’t “awake” until I had to go back to work at 6 weeks. Maternity leave was a stressful sleepless mess. I’d feed, then I’d put him down and pump, sleep 30 minutes if I was lucky, and he’d be up again. He never had enough strength to nurse fully, despite continually trying. Letdowns caused him to sputter and choke, wasting milk. Lactation consultants had no advice other that to pump.

Order the takeout. This will be a blip on the radar in a few years. Your body will recover from a month of takeout food faster than it will recover from more stress meal planning/shopping/cooking.

When I had to go back to work I gave up pumping and went to formula and it was life changing. You may be able to make it work—I could not. My son is now 11 years old and brilliant and right in the middle of the pack for height/weight. In the moment I sobbed and cried that I was failing my baby when in reality I was saving myself.

Realize that as long as she is fed and changed and loved, everything else is extra. Take care of yourself, even if it means paper plates and a laundry service for a few months.

[Anonymous]

I had 35wk twins and pumped. It was tough.

My advice is to put DH in charge of as much as you can (washing pump parts, errands etc).

For food, maybe order some easy things from Costco or supermarket instead? Rotisserie chicken, bagged salad etc. ask DH to cut up a ton of fruit for you (I was obsessed with fruit at that stage- berries, melon etc). I also loved cut veggies with spinach artichoke dip and that sort of thing. Some of the Costco premade stuff is not bad (chicken pot pie or chicken soup, taco platters, take and bake pasta dishes etc). Definitely better than fast food IMO. Also lots of good stuff in the refrigerator section. Maybe some cold sandwich stuff if you like- easy to safely eat with one hand while holding a baby. Also muffins, quick breads or bagels with cream cheese etc.

[Anonymous]

If you need to expand beyond takeout, those “salad in a bag” kits have become really good. Throw precut/precooked chicken on it and call it a day. Spouse and I split those often when we are too overwhelmed to cook.

[Anonymous]

Take the next 2-5years off and learn to adapt. Cook when you can, feed when you must, but try to relax and just be a mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP. My son was born at 35 weeks but sent straight home (no NICU) and I felt helpless. He wasn’t like every other baby. He wasn’t “awake” until I had to go back to work at 6 weeks. Maternity leave was a stressful sleepless mess. I’d feed, then I’d put him down and pump, sleep 30 minutes if I was lucky, and he’d be up again. He never had enough strength to nurse fully, despite continually trying. Letdowns caused him to sputter and choke, wasting milk. Lactation consultants had no advice other that to pump.

Order the takeout. This will be a blip on the radar in a few years. Your body will recover from a month of takeout food faster than it will recover from more stress meal planning/shopping/cooking.

When I had to go back to work I gave up pumping and went to formula and it was life changing. You may be able to make it work—I could not. My son is now 11 years old and brilliant and right in the middle of the pack for height/weight. In the moment I sobbed and cried that I was failing my baby when in reality I was saving myself.

Realize that as long as she is fed and changed and loved, everything else is extra. Take care of yourself, even if it means paper plates and a laundry service for a few months.

We had to stay in the hospital but no NICU stay. I feel my days are a blur of pumping, feeding, washing parts and repeat. All while trying to care for myself and help my body recover. I think I largely don’t feel that great because I haven’t been eating much with being so busy. I would rather take some sleep over eating so I’m eating usually just a snack and some dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take the next 2-5years off and learn to adapt. Cook when you can, feed when you must, but try to relax and just be a mom.

I can’t take for the next 2-5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had 35wk twins and pumped. It was tough.

My advice is to put DH in charge of as much as you can (washing pump parts, errands etc).

For food, maybe order some easy things from Costco or supermarket instead? Rotisserie chicken, bagged salad etc. ask DH to cut up a ton of fruit for you (I was obsessed with fruit at that stage- berries, melon etc). I also loved cut veggies with spinach artichoke dip and that sort of thing. Some of the Costco premade stuff is not bad (chicken pot pie or chicken soup, taco platters, take and bake pasta dishes etc). Definitely better than fast food IMO. Also lots of good stuff in the refrigerator section. Maybe some cold sandwich stuff if you like- easy to safely eat with one hand while holding a baby. Also muffins, quick breads or bagels with cream cheese etc.

I will do this. We are just wrapping our heads around it all and have been eating snacks and delivery. My husband had to work this week because to finish up work before he takes leave. He will be home for the next 8 weeks starting next week.

[Anonymous]

Mine was born at 36 weeks, NICU, etc.

Looking back I would have totally dropped trying to BF, no LC etc. Just pump if you want to. My sleepy preemie just didn't get it and was not alert enough at all. Once I had my 2nd at FT the contrast was so clear.

Agree on DH washing pump parts etc. I also got a bunch of sets so I could soak them during the day and then put it all in the dishwasher at night.

Definitely also used formula and it's fine!

I used the baby sleep time to rest and also watch dumb Netflix and read my Kindle, all of which helped me sort of feel like a person again.

Fast forward a few months and the preemie part was much less relevant, we were going on outings, I joined a moms group (which was great!) etc. The very beginning is tough.

[Anonymous]

What’s wrong with takeout? I love takeout. Supplement with formula.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had 35wk twins and pumped. It was tough.

My advice is to put DH in charge of as much as you can (washing pump parts, errands etc).

For food, maybe order some easy things from Costco or supermarket instead? Rotisserie chicken, bagged salad etc. ask DH to cut up a ton of fruit for you (I was obsessed with fruit at that stage- berries, melon etc). I also loved cut veggies with spinach artichoke dip and that sort of thing. Some of the Costco premade stuff is not bad (chicken pot pie or chicken soup, taco platters, take and bake pasta dishes etc). Definitely better than fast food IMO. Also lots of good stuff in the refrigerator section. Maybe some cold sandwich stuff if you like- easy to safely eat with one hand while holding a baby. Also muffins, quick breads or bagels with cream cheese etc.

I will do this. We are just wrapping our heads around it all and have been eating snacks and delivery. My husband had to work this week because to finish up work before he takes leave. He will be home for the next 8 weeks starting next week.

No reason for the both of you to be home, take alternating leave. Preemies require more care for longer time, you don’t just send these types of babies to daycare at 8-12 weeks. That’s absurd!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s wrong with takeout? I love takeout. Supplement with formula.

We are eating a lot of high salt and high fat foods. Think burger and fries, Chinese, tacos, etc.

I don’t want to use formula. I am only interested in feeding my milk. I don’t need formula supplement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had 35wk twins and pumped. It was tough.

My advice is to put DH in charge of as much as you can (washing pump parts, errands etc).

For food, maybe order some easy things from Costco or supermarket instead? Rotisserie chicken, bagged salad etc. ask DH to cut up a ton of fruit for you (I was obsessed with fruit at that stage- berries, melon etc). I also loved cut veggies with spinach artichoke dip and that sort of thing. Some of the Costco premade stuff is not bad (chicken pot pie or chicken soup, taco platters, take and bake pasta dishes etc). Definitely better than fast food IMO. Also lots of good stuff in the refrigerator section. Maybe some cold sandwich stuff if you like- easy to safely eat with one hand while holding a baby. Also muffins, quick breads or bagels with cream cheese etc.

I will do this. We are just wrapping our heads around it all and have been eating snacks and delivery. My husband had to work this week because to finish up work before he takes leave. He will be home for the next 8 weeks starting next week.

No reason for the both of you to be home, take alternating leave. Preemies require more care for longer time, you don’t just send these types of babies to daycare at 8-12 weeks. That’s absurd!

He needs to take leave now because that what works best for his job. I can use his help since it’s a lot of work caring for her.

I’m not sure what you’re talking about with the daycare comment. I never said we would be sending her to daycare.