Preemie Squeaking While Feeding

I'm not a Dr, but if they aren't worried I wouldn't be either. My youngest one was breastfed then bottle fed and made all sorts of grunts and squeaks when nursing.

Wouldn't it make sense that if he's pacified as he sucks that his heart rate would slow as he relaxed? Squeaking and other sounds while feeding (we nursed and they were mighty noisy) are normal, I think.

Congratulations!

Congrats on the little one! We had a 30 weeker who had many feeding issues. Have they done a swallow test? It is were they have the baby drink barium and take x-rays to see where the liquid is going? Our son aspirated which is when some of the fluid goes into the lungs. Do you have a feeding therapist?

If you want to talk shoot me a message. Our son is now a healthy 4 year old but the first 2 years of life were a struggle.

Good luck!

Both of my girls did this. The doctors told me it was because the neurological system of babies is not mature and they basically have to learn to swallow while breathing (both with a bottle and at the breast). They weren't concerned and said it would go away within a few weeks and it did. The squeaking is basically a big gulp. The youngest is now 3 months and she stopped squeaking around 8 weeks post birth.

My twins (boy/girl), were also preemies, born at 33 wks. Congratulations on your little one!
I wouldn't be concerned if doctors weren't. Trust me, if there was something not right, they would hve kept them or have you bring him in right away! My twins didn't make any noise that I can recall. They are 20 months now. And if your baby doesn't squek when he's not feeding then he's fine. It's probably the way he's feeding. Does he squek thru his chest or nose? But if you're still concerned, bring him in and have him re-check again to give you peace of mind.

Both of my kids were born a little bit early (no NICU needed) and both of them squeeked while nursing. Sometimes it was raucous squeeking the whole time they were eating, which drove me crazy that it just couldn't be good. However, they both outgrew it after a couple months. I asked the doctor about it and the response was similar to what another mom posted here: they were learning to breathe, suck, and swallow at the same while a rush of stuff is flying down their throats--so it's a defense mechanism naturally ingrained in them so they don't choke. The suggestions I got were more around having the baby sitting more upright while feeding so that the baby had more control over what and how much would go down the throat. You could also try a slower-flow bottle nipple if there is one slower than whatever you're using so that he's getting less per suck so that he can control it better.

Good luck to you!

Hello!
Congratulations on your preemie and being 36 weeks!

I am hoping that perhaps a speech therapist will respond. If you are concerned, I would ask for a speech eval while you are there in the NICU. The speech pathologist can help you with which kind of nipples on the bottles might be best. The squeeking is (I believe) called stridor.

I had a 29 weeker (now almost 7) and he had the same thing. He had a whole mess of feeding issues, and I don't remember where the stridor fit in, but it might be best to get that eval before you leave.

The speech therapist will be the one to tell you whether or not its something to worry about, not the doctors or nurses (and that's not a knock on doctors and nurses....this is the speech therapists specialty).

If you have any mommy related questions please feel free to message me.

Congrats again and good luck!
B.