pumping problems

UFMADDIE09

Hi everyone,

I am a FTM with a recent preemie. I have been pumping now for a week and 3 days and so far, in the morning I get about 4oz and at every 3 hr pump I get 2 oz. Is it normal to have such a low amount? I also have this problem with one breast giving 90% of the milk and the other just 10. Any helpful advice? I've talked to the nurses but they really couldn't help much.

I know I've read that having a premature baby, a c-section, pain meds and blood loss could all account for low milk production. I happen to have all of the above with my placental abruption and emergency c-section at 33w6d.

How long did it take you all for your milk to fully come in? Did it take you having to actually breast feed your LO to start?

hnyloven

Are you doing compressions when you pump? Massage your breast to get all your milk out. Also make sure you do lots of kangaroo time with your LO if possible. I would always pump right after visiting the NICU and found that I got my most milk then. I found that wrapping one of DS' receiving blankets around me as I pumped helped trick my body into believing I was with DS. you should also visit kellymom.com for lots of useful tips. HTH

urbanflowerpot

It sounds like you're doing great I think it took a few weeks for my milk to come in full swing - if I remember right it takes six weeks to establish the pattern. There are many of us who have had to exclusively pump because with LO's in the NICU it isn't possible to EBF...or even mostly BF. I used to take pictures of my milk every day because I felt discouraged, but your production really goes up (usually). One side usually produces more than the other - then for a few days I had a drastically large diff. Turned out I had some ducts clogged - I had to put a warm compress and masage.

UFMADDIE09

hnyloven:

Are you doing compressions when you pump? Massage your breast to get all your milk out. Also make sure you do lots of kangaroo time with your LO if possible. I would always pump right after visiting the NICU and found that I got my most milk then. I found that wrapping one of DS' receiving blankets around me as I pumped helped trick my body into believing I was with DS. you should also visit kellymom.com for lots of useful tips. HTH

What is kangaroo time?

kck329

UFMADDIE09:

hnyloven:

Are you doing compressions when you pump? Massage your breast to get all your milk out. Also make sure you do lots of kangaroo time with your LO if possible. I would always pump right after visiting the NICU and found that I got my most milk then. I found that wrapping one of DS' receiving blankets around me as I pumped helped trick my body into believing I was with DS. you should also visit kellymom.com for lots of useful tips. HTH

What is kangaroo time?

Kangaroo time is skin-to-skin time with your LO. Ask your nurses when you can start doing this, it is awesome bonding and helps with your milk production too. I used to wear button up shirts so we could just button DD right inside to keep her warm. A lot of parents just wore hopsital gowns (Dads can kangaroo too!). Its great for your baby-speeds development, helps with breathing and other preemie issues. It was always a highlight of my NICU days. 

Does your NICU have a LC? If so, make some time to talk to them about helping your milk come in. It can be slow but honestly, I think you are doing great. There are times when I still only get that much and DD is almost 6 months old. 

happyhoopla

The amount that you are getting is wonderful for how old your baby is...great job, mama! As far as what can help increase your milk production, like pp said, do lots of skin-to-skin time with your baby if s/he is stable and able to be held. Make sure that you are pumping every 3 hours round the clock for at least 2 full weeks pp until your milk supply is well established. While pumping, smell fabric your LO has been in, look at his picture, tape record him crying and listen to that. If possible in your unit, pump right at your LO's bedside or pump right after visiting. Make sure you drink TONS of water and remember that you need more calories now that you are producing milk than you actually did when you were pregnant (extra 500 calories each day vs. 300 each day). Do compressions/manual expression while pumping (essentially squeaze out some milk while pumping, especially if you can feel an area of your breast that feels like it isn't being fully emptied). Warm compresses on your breasts or pump right after a warm shower (angle the water on your chest). If you are still concerned, you can drink Mother's Milk Tea or take Fenugreek supplements, both of which will help increase milk supply. Good luck and congratulations on your new baby.

RClaffee

I think that you are doing great for this early in the game! I also have a serious discrepancy in the amount I get from each breast.

As for ways to get your milk established, make sure to pump at least once at night. I think the nurses told me to never go more than five hours without pumping. I tried to do every four. Also, make sure that you are staying hydrated. I know it's hard when all of your time is spent in the NICU. 

I delivered my girls by c-section at 33w5d, and I think it took a good two and a half weeks to get my supply going. My girls were attempting to breast feed, but they were still getting most of their nutrition from gavage feedings. 

Sarahagraham

I had very similar problems, I tried fenugreek and blessed milk thistle, breast compressions, massage went on medication and saw 5 specialists; nothing really helped. my milk never really came in well. that is just what my body was capable of. I was getting 2 oz each 3 hours. my daughter was also not able to latch due to preemie complications. I have been pumping for 7 1/2 months now, and she is getting 90% BM, the rest formula. My milk did gradually increase until about 5 months, and has been fairly stable since then.

i found taking the pump off after the first let down, massaging in circular motions towards the nipple, and gently "shaking" them downwards helps release the milk from the ducts. Do this after each let down to help trigger the next let down. ALSO you cant take the nights off- i wanted to as well, but was told by every specialist BF is not the same as pumping, certain horomones are not released the same way which makes it harder- every 3 hours until your milk is established. no exceptions (which is what all the dr.s told me- i should have listened from day 1!)

whatever you decide to do, keep your sanity, your milk production does not reflect your worth as a mother (taken me 7 1/2 months to figure out) 

happyhoopla

I forgot to add that you can also try power pumping. For one hour each day, you pump for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, and then pump again for 10 minutes. This lets your body know that milk is in high demand and needs to increase production.

MrsMVM

Sounds to me like you are doing great. My max has been 2oz total, and that only happens once or twice a day. I have all the same issues as you and my baby is now 23 days old- and I still haven't gotten loads of milk. I am going to get my thyroid checked out just in case it hasn't regulated after birth.

I also use fenugreek and Mother's Milk tea- they do work- at least, they did for me... I went from 15 ml's at a time to an ounce or more.

katie4253

Your supply sounds really good for how little your guy is! It wasn't until about day 10 that I started getting that much milk. C-section, pain, early delivery, and being a first time mom all cause your milk to be delayed when coming in. Don't worry though, it will come. Just keep pumping pumping pumping! Be sure to pump 8-10 times a day. The neos recommended I sleep about 5hrs in a row at night. That really helped my supply. I also took Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle. In the early days, I would often cry about how little I was getting. It was so stressful. But, now I have a HUGE freezer stash (after pumping for 3.5 months). I know it is hard, but it does come in. Don't get discouraged. You are doing great! ETA: also it is very normal for one boob to give you less milk. I call my left boob my loser lefty. It pumps 1/2-1/3 less than the right at every pump. It is also 100% normal to get more milk in the morning. Moms who EBF and want to build a small stash are told to pump after the first morning feeding for this reason (there is more milk in the mornings).

UFMADDIE09

Thank you all so much for your comments and support! I guess I am just overreacting. They just keep increasing his feedings on me (he's up to 1.33oz) and everyone looks at me like I should be over-floweth by now. I'm glad to see that this seems to be normal for our situations.?

Thank you for all the tips!?

kar5162

Pretty sure the chart the LCs gave me wanted me to get to a minimum of 500ml a day by day 10, ideally 750, so it sounds like you're doing just fine.  You mentioned a morning pump and then every 3 hours - how long are you going overnight between pumpings?  At this point, you should really be pumping every 2-3 hours around the clock - maybe stretching to 4ish hours overnight, but no more than 4-5 and making sure you get in at least 7-8 pumps a day.  Look up Stanford breastfeeding on the internet - there's a video about using hand compressions to increase milk flow.  You might also want to get your shield size double checked on your low producing side - while it's normal for the supply to be uneven between sides, you might not be getting a good fit too leading to lower production.