NICU/Pumping question...(Not a preemie mommy)

am369

I figure you ladies are the most knowledgable in the NICU area.

Do you notice that you can get a lot more out of a pumping session after kangaroo care?

Also, do you notice that when you get home you get less out of a pumping session?

It seems at night once I get home my pumping sessions take a little longer and I don't yield near as much.  Today we got to do kangaroo care and I got at least .5 oz more in each of the 2 pumping sessions. 

Heather1979

I can't tell you much about kangaroo care, because dd's bilirubin (jaunduce) levels were so high that she could only come out for meals, bath, and diaper changes, but I got a LOT more pumping in front of her (hard to explain how the room was laid out, but there was some privacy there) than when I was home.

sweetpea18

I always got more after skin to skin, even at home.  If you can, take a blanket or piece of clothing that the baby has used home with you and have it close when you are pumping.  Also, have a picture of the baby out, too.  Sounds strange, but it worked for me!

sweetpea18

I forgot to add-you will probably get less at night and the most first thing in the morning. 

At1stsight

sweetpea18:

I forgot to add-you will probably get less at night and the most first thing in the morning. 

This plus the benefit of skin to skin. And definitely look at a pic if you're not able to pump in front of LO. It helps you relax and get more milk. 

SkypekWithoutAC

I know my milk came in right after DD nursed for the first time. Whenever possible, I'd put her to the breast for a bit, then pump. I think it helped, but I never really got much pumping no matter what I did.

Sweets2005

It's normal to get less in the evening, whether you are pumping or nursing (which is why BF babies often seem to want more in the evenings). I think there is just a natural dip.

Yes I always got more in the NICU, especially after KC.

I always got the most though first thing in the morning, which is to be expected.

One thing that helped at home was looking at pictues of my LOs (maybe, I dunno!)- sometimes it just made me cry!

Here are some other things that helped: when it started to slow down, I would stop, massage, apply a heating pad for a couple minutes, and restart and would get a 2nd let down. Also just massaging while I pumped helped a lot.

ijack

It's very normal to get more milk after skin to skin contact. It's one of the best ways to help your supply. As far as being at home, it could be because it's at night and your supply goes down during the day, or it could be because you're away from your baby. I've head of people using a digital picture frame with pics of the baby when they pump. Or a blanket that smells like them

GL!

Oct08bridge

The lactation consultant told me to think about DD when I wasn't with her to try to get more. I never did kangaroo care so I don't know about that part. And I agree with PP...I usually got more in the morning than at night.

kessmd

I usually got more after Kangaroo care.  I also find that if I don't look at the pumping and relax with music or TV it also helps. I agree with the other moms that if you can relax and think about the kangaroo time/LO while pumping it tends to increase the amt. Not sure if you are asking about increasing your supply but be sure you stay hydrated. that helps too.