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pumping for a preemie

honey23honey23 member
in Breastfeeding
DS was born 4 weeks ago at 31w 4d, he's still in NICU and so they are giving him 35-40 ml (about 1.25 oz) per feed.  When I pump I get 5oz per pumping (2.5 per side) pumping every 3.5-4hrs.    Even when he comes home they want him to get bottles everyother feed so he can get the HMF half of the time.  Question is when I nurse (which is usually only a couple times a day right now) he obviously doesn't take a full side yet, so should I pump the side he takes to empty.  He'll eventually need the need more than the 1.5 oz he's currently getting so I don't want hurt my supply by only telling it to make 1.5 oz...as he empties me more in the future will I my supply increase again?  I should probably talk to an LC but wanted to see what you ladies thought.
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Re: pumping for a preemie

  • katie4253katie4253 member

    Yes, I'd pump yourself empty.  That way you can be sure you don't have a supply dip.  

    Yet another thing that makes having a preemie hard!   

    Born at 31w3d due to severe IUGR & Placental Insufficiency--2lbs 3ounces
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    We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
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  • happyfish723happyfish723
    yup the answer is pump pump pump their intake double quickly so ur going to need it just lable and freeze it right away i have a preemie a 32 weeker  im proud to say he is now 15months and was strickly breast feed  he only got a bottle the 3weeks he was in nicu all pumped milk  and for me feed was hard it took a lot of time and practice. cuz my son was 5lbs and i have 40 f's  so latching was difficult at first  but just hang in there  wait til u have to wean thats a whole new challenge still working on that 1 . 
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  • blondie42107blondie42107 member

    I would suggest pumping after the feedings.  I know my friend could only nursing 2-3x a day at first because her LOs were too week to nurse exclusively until they were older/stronger and she started a freezer stash with the extra.  Good luck!


     
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  • SushiNoMoreSushiNoMore

    Agree with the others.  Pumping is really important with a preemie.  Many preemie moms have enormous stashes (I did, although I lost a lot of it due to some freezer issues), which is a good thing for the long term.

    It sounds like you're doing a great job! 

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  • honey23honey23 member
    yes my stash is growing very quickly.  Luckily we already had a deep freezer but I do think about whether or not I'll be able to rotate it enough to keep it somewhat fresh
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  • katie4253katie4253 member

    imagehoney23:
    yes my stash is growing very quickly.  Luckily we already had a deep freezer but I do think about whether or not I'll be able to rotate it enough to keep it somewhat fresh

    deep frozen milk is good for a year.  So don't stress about that too much.  It's hard enough to have a preemie.  BTW, there is a preemie board on here.  If you'd like to mosey over.  The gals on that board are amazing! 

    I had a 31.3 weeker. 

    Born at 31w3d due to severe IUGR & Placental Insufficiency--2lbs 3ounces
    image

    We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
    Lilypie Premature Baby tickers

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  • damabo80damabo80 member
    imagekatie4253:

    Yes, I'd pump yourself empty.  That way you can be sure you don't have a supply dip.  

    Yet another thing that makes having a preemie hard!   

    Agreed. Plus, all the extra you pump now makes a great freezer stash for bottles on the go when he comes home.

    You can tell a difference in the milk as well. The milk I pump now (at 5m PP) is more watery and gray/white than the milk I pumped that first month. That first month milk is like liquid platinum (the later months' milk is like liquid gold). Get all you can from it!


    BFP #1 via IUI ~ L (Fatal Birth Defect) 4/7/10
    BFP #2 via IUI ~ m/c
    BFP #3 via cancelled IUI ~ C (2lb 3oz; HELLP) 5/16/11
    BFP #4 via the natural (free!) way ~ E (8lb 11oz) 9/13/12
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