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Pumping for micropreemie questions...

Kiki11Kiki11
in Preemies
I started pumping about 8 hours after my C-section.  It really didn't take very long for my milk to come in, but I'm not exactly sure how often I should be pumping or how much I should be getting.  He is still days away from trying even a drop of breast milk.  Right now I am pumping about 7 times a day (7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm, 3am).  I am getting 2.5-3 ounces per pump session.  The nurses are all amazed at the amount I am getting considering how early my guy was and the fact that it was a C- section, but honestly I have no idea what 'normal' is or what to expect.  Does it sound like I am pumping enough for now or should I make any changes?  I'll be meeting with the NICU lactation consultant in a day or two, but I thought I would check in here first.  Thank you in advance for any advice or support.  It is greatly appreciated. 
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Re: Pumping for micropreemie questions...

  • Bippy798Bippy798
    I think it sounds like you are doing great! There is going to come  time while he is still in the NICU when you want to quit (there were many times I wanted to) but just remember you are doing what is best for your baby and helping your tiny one grow!!
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  • adelepickleadelepickle
    You sound great! That's what I was producing too! The nurses were amazed. You will be making more than enough milk for your LO. DS was in the NICU for 21 days and when he came out, they sent me home with over 20 bottles of milk that they had frozen. DS was only drinking 50cc when he was discharged.
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  • bhaynietippittbhaynietippitt member

    You're doing great! My baby is still in the NICU and I am pumping, too. I am pumping about the same volume you are, and I asked the lactation person if I was producing enough. She said that I am right on target, in that they want our milk supply to be able to feed a full term baby, so that when our LOs are ready for that amount, we'll be able to meet the need.

    Good luck!

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  • njdcgirlnjdcgirl member

    Holy moly!  DS is 6 weeks, and I'm only getting around 2 oz per session!  I'd say you are doing a.m.a.z.i.n.g.  (especially since it will take a long time for your L.O. to drink that much.  DS is on full feeds for his size right now and he's getting 6ml/hour - only 144 ml/day - which is less than 5 oz. per day!)

    You'll be one of those lucky moms who pump for 6 mos, and have enough milk for a year!  Keep it up!

    (How's C doing?  Thinkiing of you guys!)

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  • FisMomFisMom
    I agree with everyone, you are doing great! You sound like you have a great supply. When DD was discharged, we had to take milk home as well. It's ok to have extra. At some point, you might be able to srop one fo your pumping sessions without compromising your supply, an LC will be able to advise you.
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  • Sweets2005Sweets2005 member
    Congrats! You are doing great! You should be pumping anywhere from 6-8 times a day, so 7 is awesome! You can always ask your NICU about deep freezing your stash for you or you can do it at home. If you store at the hospital, there will be a point they will tell you to stop bringing it in. Which would be sooner rather than later with a micropreemie. You could also look into donating it (ask your NICU if they can refer you to a milk bank). After your milk supply is established, like around 6-8 weeks post partum, you could drop to 6 pumping sessions a day so that you could skip the midnight one but that is up to you.
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  • atdewaldatdewald
    Sounds like you are doing great!  I was about the same while my son was in the NICU.  The only advise I would offer is to keep pumping after feeding when he comes home.  I started EBF when DS came home and it did effect my supply because, as PP said, he was only eating about 40cc.  I think if I would have pumped after feeding him to empty I would have a better supply today.  Good luck to you.
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  • witt0198witt0198

    I was always told by the nurses at NICU that it's really hard for a mom of a micro preemie to keep her supply. So I pumped religiously. It sounds like you're doing great, I don't think I'd change a thing. In other words, don't cut back your pumpings when you see the milk pile up, just keep going. We had to buy a 7cu ft freezer to put my extra in, but it was well worth it. If you really end up with more than you can store/use, look for some breast milk donation sites. I went with the national milk bank, just because they made it really easy to donate to them. Whatever you do, do NOT dump any.

    Pumping really is a pain, and I agree with previous posters that there will be a time you want to stop, but just keep at it, you won't regret it.

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  • lemen99lemen99 member
    It sounds like you are setting yourself up for success.  I pumped 7x/day and had a really great experience (well, as great as pumping can be) :)
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  • magdalina.hmagdalina.h member
    I pumped every 3 hours. I pumped so much that the NICU staff was calling me the floor milk maid. lol
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  • Lavender444Lavender444

    Sounds like you are doing fantastic!

    I agree with the PP who said don't slow down your pumpings as your freezer starts filling up. You will get quite a stock pile of extra milk and that's a good thing! My LO was born at 31 weeks and in his 7 week NICU stay I had almost 2000 oz of frozen milk. But I made the mistake of pumping less once he came home ( due to time restrictions of taking care of 2U2) and my supply very quickly dropped down. Stock up while you can. These first several weeks of BM are the liquid Gold you hear about! Collect all that you can! :)

    To conserve space in your freezer fill each bag (I liked the Lansinoh bags best) with 10 oz and lay them flat to freeze so you can stack them like pancakes.

     Good luck and Congrats!!

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  • agdudley08agdudley08
    I agree it sounds like you are doing a great job!  The only thing I would suggest is what the LC I talked to told me.  Stop the 3am pump.  It is just as important for your supply to be well rested.  It will also help with your healing and endurance to sleep all night.  I stopped pumping at night by the third day after my c-section & my supply did not suffer at all.  I pumped so much that they asked me to stop bringing my milk in, to just freeze it at home.  Keep it up, there will be many days when you want to quit, but you can do it!  Congrats on you little one & good luck with the pumping. 
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