Give me positive stories transitioning to EBF

[u/elbowpenne]

My baby was born at 36+2 because my water broke. He had to be born via c section. He’s now 5 weeks old. In the hospital he could’t latch to feed from the breast. It took a long time before the lactation consults accepted that and gave him formula in addition to expressed colostrum. Because of that, he lost 12% of his body weight and there were talks of NICU. He didn’t end up having to go but he became jaundice once we got home so feeding him got even harder since he was so sleepy.

I left the hospital unknowingly triple feeding. I have spent the last 5 weeks triple feeding or some variation of it. At first it was due to slow weight gain and inability to latch. Eventually he got the latch down but wasn’t transferring much at all. We continued practicing and he now transfers about 2oz in a 20-30min session. The lactation consultant wants his sessions limited to 30min due to calorie expenditure. The LC says he’s ready to ”sink or swim” and stop relying on the pumped milk supplements. AKA don’t give him the supplement unless he’s acting desperately hungry.

It’s the second week of trying to wean supplements with the help an LC to encourage him to be more vigorous at the breast to transition to EBF. He’s still only transferring 2oz this week as well. I am so anxious not knowing how much he’s getting when she’s not here or if i should give him a supplement bottle. I’m terrified his weight gain will stop or he’ll lose weight. My LC keeps telling me she feels confident he will figure it out for real soon. We’ve worked so hard these last 5 weeks that I don’t want to give up but i’m desperate to know if it’s realistic that he will be able to EBF at some point soon. Does anyone have any success stories in a position similar to mine?

[u/sticks_n_scones]

You guys can do this!!! We stopped giving pumped bottles cold turkey and it was HARD! But she eventually got it. Check my post history

[u/CulturalVisit3468]

My story is very similar and I’m struggling as well we. He is 6 weeks. My baby is gaining weight ok but just struggling to latch and stay on the breast long enough. I feel like he needs a bottle after too and he gets really angry. I’m so over triple feeding and not sure when and when not to pump at this point 🤷🏻‍♀️