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Low supply while pumping

misswendykmisswendyk member
in Preemies

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Hi ladies,

I have read the low supply questions over the past 3 pages, but I am wondering how low my supply really is? My boys are 4 weeks old (as of yesterday). They were born at 29 weeks and I have been exclusively pumping since then. I take Fenugreek, drink Mother's Milk, pump every 3 hours, massage, double pump with a hospital grade pump and the MOST I have ever pumped during one session is 3 oz, but I usually only pump 20 cc per session. Is this very low?

Anyone else have this issue and able to increase your supply? Please let me know that it is not a lost cause. Obviously I do not provide enough for the boys so they supplement with formula, but I would love to increase my supply to eventually nurse or make enough to feed them both.

Thanks for any tips/suggestions I may not have tried.

As you know it is a lot of work and very discouraging when I cannot produce that much.

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Re: Low supply while pumping

  • Lilystar82Lilystar82 member

    I wish I had a success story for you - but I also struggled with low supply. I was getting anywhere from 20cc-45cc a pumping session. It just wasnt enough to keep up with my babies needs. They got all the BM I could pump plus formula when they were in the NICU and then when they came home we went straight to formula. The stress of trying to keep up with their needs and trying to pump enough for them was so overwhelming. After talking with my neonatologist and the NICU's lactation consultant, I decided that they would be ok on formula.

    Big (((hugs))) - it was one of the most difficult things I've tried to do. Please try not to beat yourself up. It's so hard.

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  • kck329kck329 member

    Does your NICU have a lactation consultant? They have been really helpful and encouraging at my hospital.

    In addition to the things you mentioned, can you hold your LOs skin to skin? My supply always goes up a lot when we do that. And ask when they can start non-nutritive breastfeeding (you pump, then let them try to latch on while they are fed through the tube). That also helped increase my supply a lot--its like my body needs to be reminded there is an actual baby not just a machine that wants the milk :)

     Good luck! I know the constant pumping is exhausting!

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  • ayramayram member

    Ditto the LC. 

    Try pumping every 2 hours, and write it down - keep track of when & how much - that kept me accoountable! 

    Also, someone suggested to me that I google power pumping  - it mimics baby's evening cluster feeding to help build supply.

    Good luck!

    Mom to 4 boys under age 6 Evan, Darren, Liam & Isaac
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  • LuckyMom0203LuckyMom0203

    So I hate to suggest drugs but...

    I pumped religiously and my supply gradually decreased to a terribly low amount.  I pumped every two to three hours, did kangaroo care, took herbal supplements, did massage, etc., etc.

    In the end, my friend who is a nurse practitioner suggested I try domperidone.  I got a prescription (you have to get it prescribed "off label") and it helped almost immediately.  It honestly made such a huge difference.  

    I know how frustrating this can be so I hope you're able to find what works for you.  Good luck!

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  • mrsV719mrsV719 member

    Ditto the LC and the power pumping. Also look into Motherlove tincture... it's not actually the fenugreek (or however it is spelled) that helps... it is goats rue. 

     

    Also, keep track and see what you get over the course of a day. My LC said she likes to see mother's getting 22oz a day to start and then when it drops a little you are still producing enough for the baby. My milk supply goes up and down a lot throughout the day. Sometimes I pump less than an oz and sometimes I pump 5 oz. I try to keep track of what it is over the whole day so I know if it is dropping. 

     

    GL... it is sooooo hard to pump. It's exhausting but you can do it! Keep up the good work. Oh yeah.... and make sure you are DRINKING enough fluids and eating enough food... without that you won't produce any milk! :) 

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  • lemen99lemen99 member

    I am sorry you are having a hard time.

     

    I had a great supply and did what you are doing.  I didn't try Fenugreek or anything.  The other thing I did was I ate a ton (I was seriously freaking starving) and I didn't diet.  I also drank a TON of water.  At least 4 32-oz cups a day.   I also tried to get enough sleep despite Andrew being in the NICU. 

    I think the stress of having a baby in the NICU can work against you, and there is some genetic component, I'm sure.  Hang in there.  FWIW I got a surge of supply around a month-ish, and that's also when pumping got a lot easier for me (all the issues I was having kind of went away.)

    I agree with talking to the LC.  Make sure your pump is getting enough suction, too.

     

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