Pumping colostrum

MaryBB77

Hi again!
It's been 6 days since my daughter was born. Bf has got off to a rocky start. I'm still waiting for my milk to come in. On an LC's advice I hired a hosp grade pump yesterday and the first try was a success. I got almost 15mls between both breasts.
2 hrs later it wasn't as successful and I got maybe 1ml 2 tops.
2 hrs later I got nothing.
It's now 2 hrs later again & I'm getting a couple of drops only.
Do I keep trying every 2 hrs in an effort to increase my production?
I'm going to try meet with an LC tmr but in the meantime any advice would be appreciated.

MaryBB77

And where oh where is my milk

VitaLuna

Yes, keep pumping every 2 to stimulate production, but also put baby to breast as much as possible and lots of skin to skin. Hand expression works better in getting colostrum out, and massage/ compressions while pumping can help increase output. My lo was fed via syringe in the early days, so I would pump, then hand express. Definitely still try to see an IBCLC.

MaryBB77

Thanks ladies.
I'm pumping instead of nursing because I've flat nipples and LO has struggled with that from the beginning. I use nipple shields to feed her & was encouraged by the hosp to give her a supplement of the bottle. A decision I greatly regret. I feel they should have encouraged me to pump first instead of formula.
My poor girl is all confused. She nurses off me with a nipple shield and she gets hardly anything. Then she gets formula & it flows out.
She's a very very sleepy baby and that's another reason I pumped as she wasn't staying awake to feed no matter how much I coaxed her.
Really hope my milk comes in tmr and that we'll be able to drop the formula and just nurse.

MaryBB77

Thank u. U just gave me hope