35 week emergency section. Pumping?

BeachMama7693

I posted my intro here a while back. My section was scheduled for the 16th but I went into preterm labor on the 3rd. Because of my placenta Previa they did an emergency csection. We were team green and had our daughter Savannah 5 lbs 2 oz at 35w1d. She is in NICU and on CPAP. She got off her CPAP yesterday morning but was struggling so is back on. I have held her once and during that time I did get her to latch although she had a bit of trouble actually nursing, I believe due to her labored breathing, she is now on antibiotics and being watched. Her bilirubin is climbing and is currently at 7.4, she will go under lights if it reaches a 10. (I have rh sensitization so that's the cause of the jaundice) anyway I have been pumping every 2 hours but I'm having 0 luck getting anything. I have been sitting by her to pump but I'm still waiting for my milk to come in, I ave one more day before they will ave to give formula. Any tips on pumping away from baby? I have no idea when I'm going home and we don't know how long she will be here.

kelly422

Congrats on your daughter!  You and I were the exact same gestation and our LO weighed the exact same  

Keep pumping every 2 hours.  Your milk will come in soon!  You can try things like looking at a picture of her and smelling a blanket that smells like her - that may help!  

Jennypro

I also had my son at 35 weeks and 1 day. He was also off and on Cpap. And he also had to go under the light. NICU stays are hard although we only stayed 13 days. But as for getting milk in I just stayed close and about 6 days after he was born I was able to hold him and that day my milk came in full force congrats on your baby I hope every thing works out with pumping !

carrotcake06

I pumped around clock for 3 days before I got even a drop of colostrum. It took 5 days for my milk to come in. I know how frustrating and stressful it can be.

We ended up having to supplement w formula for 10 days until my production caught up w their demand. Since then, we haven't looked back and are EBFing.

Keep pumping. Keep trying to get her to latch and holding her as much as possible. It'll happen, sometimes it just takes time.

And congrats!!

JTA2426

Keep going! Sounds like you are doing everything right. Make sure you are getting enough to eat and drink, too. Good luck, and congrats.

MissChanandlerBong

Congrats on your baby girl!  I second PPs to keep trying, and drink LOTS of water!  I would also try to relax as much as possible while pumping.  I know it's tough when you are worried about your milk coming in, but I remember trying to take deep breaths and relax while I was pumping which seemed to help a little.  Good luck! 

Brummy14

Ditto everything PPs have said. Just keep on keeping on. It's frustrating (on top of all of the NICU stress), but hang in there! We weren't even allowed to try nuzzling until the girls came off of CPAP -- imagine trying to eat with oxygen blowing down your windpipe! Even eating with just the cannula can be a challenge for these little guys -- bottle or breast. So, hang in there, and feel free to come here to vent and ask questions as much as you can/need!

jbranden12

Congrats! Keep pumping but also try hand expressing colostrum. After my c-section an LC taught me how to hand express colostrum into a spoon and then suck it up with a little syringe. Sometimes it was only 1-2 ml but every drop was precious!

Kawaldrip

My Lo was also born C section at week 34.5. I was on a list of meds because of high BP and to help get rid of the fluid that I gained with Pre E. My milk started to come in and my son had no trouble latching but the medication knocked me right out of the game. I felt awful, couldnt carry full term, couldnt give birth naturally and worst of all cant give him what I know is best, breast milk. I dont know how many nurse doctors said keep pumping it will come. It never did, and the feeling of failure when I would go to the NICU and they ask for the milk that you have pumped and you have nothing is undescribable.

Here we are and he is over 6 weeks baby is home on enfamil 22 cal and is doing so well that our pedi is encouraging us to cut the feeds down to 7 instead of 8. My son was born 4lb 3oz on sept 5th and today he weighs in at 7lb.

Chin up just love and care for your baby to the best of your ability. We are already at a disadvantage emotionally and physically with our babies being premies and the crazy roller coaster that is the NICU.

chicagobride_07

My milk never really came in. LO has been exclusively formula fed and is doing great. At her 4 month appointment, she was at 95 percentile in length for her actual age! I hope BFing works for you but if it doesn't please know that you will be just fine, too. GL!

slh6363

Just keep pumping, it will come! Mine took awhile too. Don't be afraid to supplement with formula, it's really not the worst thing, you can always stop once your milk comes in, the most important thing is that baby eats and grows. Also, in my situation they had me fortify my breast milk with neosure formula anyway, to add extra calories. GL!

LaciJaxx

Congrats! Have you tried a warm compress? Run hot water on a wash rag/towel and lay on your breasts for a few minutes before pumping. Also, you can massage them gently beforehand. Just rub in circles working from the outer portion to the nipple. And lastly, try hand expressing before pumping or maybe even just to get some colostrum/milk early on. If you haven't gotten anything yet, it's not likely you'll get very much for awhile. It took me a month before my milk actually came in but I was still able to get a bit here and there, enough to keep him fed without having to use formula. Have you talked to the LC? They were a huge help to me. Good luck!

megs2011

Congrats! Not much more to add. Keep pumping. I would pumping every 3 hours around the clock. It took 4 days for my milk to come in. Formula isn't the end of the world. My girls were on my milk which they added fortifier to and high cal formula. Here we are almost 13 months later and I'm still nursing my twins. It is tough to pump but keep at it. The best time to pump is between 1am and 5am. The LC told me that was the magic time where your hormones are the highest and that is truly when I got the most milk. Good luck! Hope your milk comes in soon.