Preemie and pumping

[Deleted User]

While I know there is a bf board, I figured posting here might be more appropriate because there might be more experience with my situation. My DS was born three weeks ago at 27 weeks. I'm a FTM. Immediately, I rented a hospital grade pump and pumped around the clock. I'm taking fenugreek, drink mothers milk tea, eat oatmeal and drink a ton of water. Nothing is helping my supply!!! I pump on the average of 15-20 ml each time. It's getting super frustrating and the lactation consultant threw up her hands on Friday and gave me a referral to someone else. What am I missing here? Am I just destined not to produce enough milk? DS is doing well on his feeds and I fear that within this week, the nurses will dip into the frozen stash and we will have no backup. If that's the case, they will supplement with formula. What so I do in the meantime? How can I boost my supply??!!

KTZ17

I had the same problem while DD was in the NICU. Unfortunately I've never produced enough milk for her and I have to supplement, but I know others have had this problem only while pumping because the pump isn't as efficient as your baby. Until you put baby to the breast, you may not pump as much. You can also try taking blessed thistle along with the fenugreek. I also take domperidone, which you can buy online at inhousepharmacy.biz. Lactation consultants think my problem is because I wasn't allowed to pump until the night after DD was born and I should have pumped right away. Damn you, mag sulfate!

GreenMom2B

I was similarly distressed, but the NICU nurses have put my kind at ease with the following information. Your body is producing milk appropriate for his gestational age. My son was born at 32 weeks and is now 36 weeks, it seems like every time tey up his feeding, I make 1-2 ml more per pump. It happens slowly but it happens. I guess it is just another way our bodies keep us in constant stress mode through this process. Ughhh!
Hope this helps!

LaciJaxx

I totally understand the frustration but don't give up. I agree with the posts above plus some. Try using a warm compress for a few minutes before you start pumping. I just used a fluffy hand towel under hot water. Also hand express some milk before you start pumping, it gets the flow going. Are you using the letdown feature on the pump? Start out with it for about 2 mins, then go up as high as is comfortable. It should not hurt. I used the letdown feature once or twice more during pumping. It helped me to get empty. Next, are you pumping 20 mins? And every 2-3 hours? At the stage of the game you'll have to pump often and until you're empty. Like you said, drink so much water that you don't feel you can take another drink. Lastly since my LO was in the NICU, I put his pictures on a slide show so I could watch it when I was at home along with playing baby lullabies. I even went so far as to use his baby lotion on me so I could get the smell. Our neonatologist told me it was all psychological and it def is. Keep your chin up!!!! Does your hospital offer donor milk, if you get behind?

LaciJaxx

Oops, one more thing. Can you do kangaroo care? If/when they allow it, jump all over the opportunity. My boobs were so full they hurt after kangaroo care sessions. Plus it really helps you and the baby to bond. It's not easy to bond when you are apart. :-)

[Deleted User]

Thanks everyone. Your thoughtful suggestions and comments were very helpful. I think I was feeling like a failure for not producing enough milk as I "should." I will take all your suggestions and will hopefully just continue until I'm allowed to try breast feeding.

jbranden12

Things that helped me:

• simple wishes hands-free bra. I had three of them and wore them 24/7 during our 12 week stay in the NICU. Made pumping much quicker and easier.
  
• power pumping one hour per day (20 min on, 10 off, 10 on, 10 off, 10 on) - best if done after at HOT shower or kangaroo care.
• massaging before and during pumping. Sometimes after the first letdown, I'll unhook and do a little massage, then start up again and get another good letdown.
• Turning the suction down helped me get more milk.

MinaE01

Everyone else gave great advice. I just wanted to add that you are doing the best you can and that is absolutely good enough! If you need to supplement eventually, it's not the end of the world. Your baby will be just fine. Keep up the good work and enjoy your baby!

SarahA918

My baby's nurse told me that they supplement all preemies with formula at some point for the calories. They haven't done this with my son yet, though. I also signed a consent for donor milk if they run out of mine. My supply has almost tripled in the past week (my baby is 15 days old, born at 29w3d) just by pumping often and until they're empty plus 1-2 extra minutes. I also started the massage-stroke-shake technique last night! One of the nurses bought me Mother's Milk tea because they didn't have it on my local store so I'll start trying that tomorrow-I left it in the NICU tonight-my memory is shot! Haha

Kelly_12

I have not much different to add, other than have you tried pumping right beside LO? I never had a supply issue (not bragging) but I got plugged ducts like crazy and they wouldn't unclog easily. I took to pumping beside LO's cot when they were really bad and it flowed much better. Also, at home while pumping I'd close my eyes and picture being with LO, holding him on my chest.
The nurses suggested these techniques to me and I found them helpful! Your boobs need to know LO is near and needs the milk!
Goodluck!

carrotcake06

Just wanted to echo the importance of skin to skin until you can try BFing. Once I was able to get the boys latched and nursing, my supply increased dramatically. I was having to supplement in the very beginning bc I couldn't keep up w them and once they started nursing well + pumping, I was able to ditch the supplement.

[Deleted User]

lacijacques said:

Oops, one more thing. Can you do kangaroo care? If/when they allow it, jump all over the opportunity. My boobs were so full they hurt after kangaroo care sessions. Plus it really helps you and the baby to bond. It's not easy to bond when you are apart. :-)

This. When I would spend a few hours holding DS skin to skin I would set personal records!

SarahA918

They just switched my LO off of the ventilator he was on to a conventional one so I'll get to hold him today. Just the thought of that and I had a ton of milk today, especially out of my lower producing breast!

[Deleted User]

With regard to skin to skin, absolutely I get more milk when I hold him. Last few days, he's been back under the blue lights, they think my milk has something to do with it (here we go, just another thing) but I'm hoping tomorrow Ill get to hold him and produce a few ounces (hoping!!!!)

Kelly_12

Aww my little guy suffered from jaundice coming back too, they thought it may have been my milk at first as well.. Very discouraging. However it's a very common thing and if I remember reading about it LO and your milk will adjust.
Goodluck! The "tanning bed" as I called it always made me so sad, hopefully he'll be out soon!

kcamrud

I was so stressed out when my baby was super sick I pretty much lost all my milk. I managed to get it back with domperidone tablets. They definitely work!!

aessary03

I didn't produce milk with my 29 weeker.  It was really pathetic what I got out of my breasts when I did pump.  The doctor started me on a medication that's side effect was increased breast milk production.  It helped for a while.  But my production was still so minimal there was no way I could support my daughter with that.  Have they suggested any sort of medication to help stimulate production for you??

With this one, I can't pump because of the medications I'm on.  So that sucks.  I didn't have much production going on anyway. 

I wish I had some better advice.  I hope it picks up, but if it doesn't, don't beat yourself up about it.

[Deleted User]

@aessary03 I have the long awaited appointment on Thursday with a LC who is licensed to prescribe. I'm hoping the meds will help! Jacob didn't need much until this week, so we have dipped into our reserves and have about 24 hours left before needing formula (major suck).

I think what drives me crazy at this point, after 4 weeks of trying, that friends, family members and even the NICU nurses try to be "helpful" by telling me I should be drinking water and taking fenugreek. I've tried everything and beyond, thanks for doubting me and my efforts. Please come over to my house at 3 am, chug water, drink some mother's tea and have your nips twisted by a mean contraption and see how much milk you produce. Oh, after that, get some sleep for a few hours only to do it all over again!

aessary03

@kvochka, I'm so sorry you're going through all this.   

Please, please, please don't feel guilty or upset if you have to supplement with formula.  27 weeks is really really early and it's not uncommon to not be able to make enough milk to support your little guy.  I know you can't help the feelings you're having and the need to want to exclusively breastfeed. I have those feelings, too, but I have to tell myself that I tried and I did what was best.  I hope they're able to figure something out that will work for your milk production. 

Big hugs, girl!

jennybean80

I agree with the domperidone(motillium) suggestion. It REALLY increased my supply for my 27 weeker. I only took it for a few days but started producing so much that by the time he came home I had a chest freezer FULL of EBM. Which was super helpful for a couple periods where he wasn't gaining weight well.

[Deleted User]

@jenstwins thank you! It's my only hope left.