Expert: ruth kraft - 8/28/2009

Question
My DD was born in Feb. at 32weeks, 4 lbs. 3 oz., stayed in hospital for 13 days, where I pumped at her bedside every 2-3 hrs. We have been exclusively BF since and she is gaining weight, 7 months about 15 lbs, now she only nurses for about 7- 10 mins only 3-4 times a day. I've tried to start pumping again just so I can have a supply stored so I can give her my milk for as long as possible. The problem is that I can only get about an once total. She sleeps about 10-12 hrs at night. This is our schedule. Awake at 6:30am we nurse for 7-10 min. and then I feed her cereal w/ fruit she eats about 4oz worth of food. Then she's back asleep 8-8:30am til 11am then she nurses 7-10min. back asleep around 1pm, nurses at 3 or 4pm, fed veg/fruit for dinner at 6:30pm then nurses at 7pm goes to sleep for the night around 8-8:30pm. Am I giving her enough? She just started doing this about 2 weeks ago but seems content.

Answer
it sounds like she is doing perfect.... your schedule sounds fine and with the amount of food she is also eating, it sounds like she is getting enough. If you want to pump to store more milk ( you can also add the expressed milk to the cereal you give her to add nutrients to it, you should pump in the morning . this is when you have the most milk. nurse her and then pump. get into a routine of it and your body will adjust and produce milk for a extra feeding.

Good for you nursing a preemie! My daughter was 34 week...4lb 6oz so I know where you are :) pat yourself on the back your doing excellent!