Scheduled vs ad lib feedings

At the beginning of our girls lives we tried to feed them whenever
they woke up (which wasn't often). They call this Ad-Lib type feeding.
And as I've said in earlier posts, we were all clumsy.

Then, to sort of inspire them to eat and to ensure I was making enough
milk, the nurses put us on a schedule. I am breast feeding or pumping
every three hours (3:00 a, 6:00 a, 9:00 a, 12:00 p, 3:00 p, 6:00 p,
9:00 p, 12:00 a). I did that for the last two days I was in the
hospital and the first five days home (thus the lack of blog posts!! I
had to sleep sometime!)

When we went home, we picked the three best daytime feedings the girls
had with us (9:00 a, 3:00 p, and 9:00 p) and have been going to the
hospital at these times to breast feed. Then on the between feedings I
pump, and the nurses put the breast milk down the feeding tube.

In the past two days, in hopes of getting them home, the nurses have
been giving them the breast milk via bottle if they are awake between
feedings. Again, they have to eat all feedings via nipple to come home
either breast OR bottle! Yesterday they ate 9:00a breast, 12:00 p
bottle, 3:00 pm breast, 3:00 pm tube, 6:00 pm bottle, 9:00 pm breast.
We will find out how their night feedings went when we go this morning.

Soon, we will be adding in daytime breast feedings which means I will
be at the hospital longer. (say from 9:00-3:00 p to start, and then
keep adding in feedings until the girls are taking all feedings from
breast/bottle.

The last two days I will stay overnight at the hospital as a guest
(they have a guest room!) and basically feed anytime the girls wake
up. So we are moving back to the Ad Lib type feeding. When we get
there, the girls will be home!!

Amy