May I join you? Intro

daisy662 · August 2012

Hello!
My son is one week old today! He was born at 34 weeks 5lbs 5 oz. Likely due to my severe fibroids - he probably ran out of room!! I had 7 fibroids and 2 of them were 7 and 8cm large....

My son (Zach) is doing really great but he is in the NICU. He was on the cpap machine for 2 days and is still under the bili lights. I am expecting he will be off the lights today. We are also hoping he will go in a regular crib today and out of the isolette!! He came off his IV yesteday. Biggest thing now is getting him to eat. Today starts bottle feeds at every feeding - he graduated from yesterday when he was doing every other feed.

It is so hard having to leave him in there. I can't imagine how those of you who have babies in there for weeks on end must feel. We hope to get our little guy home this week.

I am really struggling with breast feeding. I am strictly pumping at this point, but not a lot is coming out... Little drops out of one and nothing out of the other. I have tried hot compresses before pumping, cold after and massage. I bought the mothers milk tea last night and planning to try that today. Any other suggestions welcome.

Good luck to all of you with preemies!

daisy662 · August 2012

Thanks for the congrats!

I spoke with the LC a couple days ago - she is the one who gave me the tips I have been using, but still no luck. I am just getting discouraged mainly because I really want to give him the best nourishment possible since he is so little and working so hard to eat! But, also because my boobs hurt! LOL

urbanflowerpot · August 2012

Hi and welcome - congrats on your son! I'm sorry you'll be spending some time in NICU. BF'ing is hard when your body isn't prepared. How long are you pumping at a time? Are you using a double pump?

wychets · August 2012

Welcome & Congrats. I didn't BF but I bet the ladies on the BF'ing board could be very helpful with it:) Also I agree with PP to see if there is a LC in the NICU if not I am sure there is one available in the hospital:) GL!!

Missa_g · August 2012

Congrats and welcome! I hope your guy gets to go home soon.

adrielegorburu · August 2012

congrats and welcome - I agree that seeing the LC again is a good idea - remember our bodies werent primed to make milk like a full term pregnancy would do - it may take a bit for your milk to fully come in. Make sure you are drinking a ton of water - steel cut oatmeal in the morning can help also - I drank mothers milk tea, took feenugeek and milk thistle supplements, ate lots of protien, drank tons of water and tried to get at least 6 hours sleep (whenever I could) - stress, lack of sleep and your diet can have a big effect on supply - Oh and pump pump pump. You didnt tell us how often you are pumping or for how long. I pumped every 2-3 hours for 20-30 minutes using a hospital grade double electric pump - occasionally I would power pump to boost my supply. I tried a lot of the old wives tales like a dark beer etc. but didnt see any difference with that.

Mrs. Alice · August 2012

Welcome and congrats. I hope the pumping comes along for you. If you are only a few days postpartum that doesn't sound too abnormal. My milk didn't fully come in until 5 days after and I also remember how painful the engorgement was. I was getting colostrum before that. Don't give up though, it just takes time but it's well worth it. I BF my twins for 12 months. I hope your LO continues to do well and comes home with you very soon.

DrRx · August 2012

Congratulations on the birth of your son! I'm sorry that you're having such a hard time pumping. At first I pumped about 8 or 9 times a day for 20 to 30 minutes each. My milk really started flowing about a week later.

GL!