What I Wish I Had Known About Breastfeeding My Late Preterm Baby

You’ve had your cesarean surgery and your baby is born at 35 weeks’ gestation. The doctor, the nurse, the lactation consultant and seemingly everyone says, “Oh! He weighs five pounds! That’s great!” But you’re thinking…if everything is so great, why is his body floppy? Why is he so sleepy? No, he didn’t go to the NICU, but he’s not giving feeding cues, and his suck is really weak. What will it take for him to start…and continue breastfeeding? Meanwhile, you’ve already realized there’s little information and support for breastfeeding a late preterm infant. Join Marie and her guest, Bianca Wooden, DONA, IBCLC, as they talk about the capabilities and limitations of the late preterm baby as he tries to breastfeed in the initial phases and after hospital discharge. You’ll feel validated that your questions and worries are real, get plenty of tips about how to make breastfeeding work for the late preterm baby, and empower yourself with some insights that Bianca learned along the way.