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Preemies
Pumping NICU Moms: How did you do it?!
Today is day 40 into our NICU stay. I am getting a little worried about my milk supply. I am trying to pump as much as I can, but can only get in 6-7 pumps a day (8 on a REALLY good day). Plenty of those pumps only give me a small amount of milk. The babies have plenty for now, but I'm concerned about down the road when their feeds increase and even when they eventually come home.
We were traveling 3 hours a day total to and from the hospital to see the twins. Fortunately, on Tuesday they were FINALLY transferred back to the hospital where I had them ---it's 40 minutes closer to our home. (Their NICU became full hours before their delivery, so they had to transport them out.) I am hoping the shorter drive time will help allow me to have more time to pump. The lactation specialist at the hospital told me to pump 12 times and day and to get more sleep to increase my supply. I practically laughed in her face. Having twins in the NICU allows for lots of time to rest and get in 12 pumps a day!
Sorry for the vent! Just getting a little frustrated! Anyone have similar concerns/tips/etc.?
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Re: Pumping NICU Moms: How did you do it?!
Vent away! I would be frustrated too if I was told to pump 12 times a day, but make sure to sleep enough. That's not even close to possible! I was pumping 10 times at first just to get the milk going. Then with all the stress and lack of sleep, I ended up doing it 8 times a day and was still getting plenty.
I would do it as much as you can and don't beat yourself up over it. You are doing the best that you can! That is great that your babies are being transferred closer to you.
awww lady it's hard, man I remember how hard those days were.
It's hard to stay attached the pump and get enough sleep. I remember one night I woke up at 4:00 am and fell asleep pumping and spilled it all=(
A few things I recommend:
1. pump as mush as you can while you are in the NICU, having them in site were my best pumping sessions.
2. drinking milk and lots of water.
3. hot showers focusing on my breast.
4. my breast friends: https://www.amazon.com/The-Happy-Company-Breast-Buddies/dp/B001SERJVK
5. hands free bra (greatest invention ever): https://www.amazon.com/Simple-Wishes-Hands-Free-Breastpump-XS/dp/B00295MQLU/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1312479508&sr=1-1
5. when my supply was low later during BFing. I took special blend mother's milk and blessed thistle.
6. for back support during pumping : https://www.amazon.com/Belly-Bandit-Couture-Hearts-Medium/dp/B0038HSTKA/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1312479609&sr=1-1
7. in the NICU visiting my girls I would pull in a kangaroo chair and just sleep between them. I had some really good naps there.
sorry, I don't know if I answered your questions or not, just stuff I found helpful.
Savannah
Callista
Baby Trail Blog
"Someday we will look at our babies and know it will be worth it. If it was easy, we would not have had our babies, the babies we were meant to have." From Amy052006
When you pump at the hospital do you leave the NICU to go to a pumping room, or are you able to pump at your LO's bedside? If you aren't already pumping at the bedside that might help you get in some more pumping time.
When I pumped at the hospital it felt like every pumping episode took forever, especially having to clean the parts after and find a place for them to dry. For me it probably would have been helpful to bring several pumping parts so I wouldn't have to clean them every time... I could wait until I get home.
If someone is driving with you it would be reasonable to pump in the car with a portable battery operated pump (Medela PISA or Freestyle).
Everyone's body is different, of course, but it might be helpful for you to focus on pumping as much as you can during the day, and to let yourself go longer at night (5hrs?) so that you can get some better quality sleep at night.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
In addition to what everyone has already said, some things that worked for me:
--asking for a hospital grade pump at DD's bedside. I could pump behind a screen or under a nursing cover without leaving her. I bought extra sets of parts and the Medela wipes so I didn't have to worry about cleaning things there.
--drink TONS of water and make sure you are eating enough, I found it hard to do both of these
--I ended up taking fenugreek supplements at the recommendation of the LCs in the NICU and that made a big difference
--my PISA pump came with a battery pack. Once I got good at pumping I could pump in the car with a hands free bra and cover so I pumped on the way to and from the NICU.
Annnd now I have a crying baby....good luck! You are doing awesome to have kept it up this long!
Our precious girl, born at 27 weeks.
Yeah, it's hard. No, it doesn't get easier. But we suck it up and deal with it because it's best for the babies! Even if they are only on 50% breast milk it is better than none. I ended up not ever breastfeeding, but if you start actually breastfeeding them both then it will probably help your supply.
Other things to help out time wise/supply wise:
1. Pump in the car on the way to/from the NICU. There's two pumps right there!
2. Even if it means pumping only 7 times a day, get a 6 hours stretch of sleep at night. My supply was unaffected by doing this and it helped my sanity so much!
3. Drink more water (like think while pregnant quantities), drink more milk (I had it with every meal in the hospital cafeteria), eat more complex carbs - all of this helped my supply.
Good luck mama and congrats on those babies!
I actually got to do this for the first time yesterday! I had to go to a pumping room at the first hospital they were at. Here, they have private rooms so I can pump away!
Thanks for the awesome tips---I just ordered #4 and #5!
- Extra sets of pump parts
- Medela pump part wipes are awesome (I've used them while road tripping and camping too)
- If you can, pump on the drive to the NICU. There's a car adapter plug for the PISA. (Also great for road trips later)
- If you don't already have one... the simple wishes pumping bra is awesome. Eating while pumping = win.
- Drink more.
- I couldn't pump more times... but I could pump for longer at each pump.
Pumping is so hard. I pumped 7/day during my son's NICU stay but I also had a short drive to the hospital. The other girls have good advice.
I EPed for 15 months and my best advice to you is to do what you can, and try not to stress about the rest. My attitude was every bit of milk I can provide is a good thing. When I was so stressed I didn't think I could make it another day, I just dropped a pumping session. I was able to provide breast milk exclusively until he transitioned to whole milk this way! Even if you eventually supplement with formula, that is more than ok!
DS was in the NICU for 41 days. You get stressed and your supply dips. It helped if I pumped and drove at the same time; it helps to distract you. The LC can pump 12 times a day then ::rolls eyes:: And when your babies need more milk, your body will make more. They sometimes supplemented Jackson with formula if I didn't have enough.Now I have an entire freezer full, but I don't have twins so I know it's a different story. Drink tons of water, hold your babies before you pump, wrap a blanket around them then take it home. Omg and cleaning the supplies...I cleaned it EVERY TIME I pumped! That was killing me. I learned like 2 months ago just to put the used supplies in the fridge until they're ready to use again then clean them at night, that saved me so much time. And once they reach about 3 months old you can drop a pumping
YAY!!! you won't regret it!!!! Good Luck Mama, you are doing great!
Savannah
Callista
Baby Trail Blog
"Someday we will look at our babies and know it will be worth it. If it was easy, we would not have had our babies, the babies we were meant to have." From Amy052006
12 pumps in one day? Is she nuts????
I still can't stand the color yellow from the horrible Medela pump. I hated that thing! I don't have much advice for you, but wanted to let you know that I totally feel for you! I lasted for 5 weeks and after DS was home for 2 weeks I just couldn't do it anymore. I was hit pretty hard with postpartum depression, which definitely threw a wrench in things. Also my milk never fully came in (I never got more than 4 oz a day).
The one thing that helped me when I pumped at home before DS was released was listening to podcasts on my phone. The Moth story hour was fantastic and each one lasted for about the time of my pumping sessions. A hands-free bra would have been helpful too.
Good luck! And every little bit of milk you can provide makes a difference. And if you need to stop, that's ok too.