Preemies
ashmariedunn
member
Pumping for my Preemie
ashmariedunn
member
in Preemies
I had planned on breastfeeding once my daughter was born in August, but she decided that she just couldn't wait until then! So my little girl came 12 weeks early and instead of feeding her, I feed a machine. It's been a rough start and after the first few pumping sessions, I was so mentally exhausted and physically drained that I thought about giving up. But that wouldn't be best for my sweet princess. She needs my milk more than ever. I'm almost on day 5 of exclusive pumping and even though I've made progress, I'm still finding myself discouraged and disappointed with what I produce most times. I know that my milk is still coming in but I can't help but feel like my breasts are already as full as they're gonna get. I feel like I'm running out of milk and despite the fact that I've pumped enough to feed her 2lb 4oz body for a loooooong time, I fear that my breasts are just gonna stop producing milk. I feel so helpless. Anybody ever felt like this? Will it get better? Easier?
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Re: Pumping for my Preemie
2 years, 2 surgeries, 2 clomid fails, 2 IUIs, 1 loss, IVF #1 - 10/25/10 = BFP!, DS is now 3.5yrs!
TTC #2 - 6/12 surgery #3, FET #1 & 1.2 = BFN, 12/2012 FET #2 = BFP! DD is 1.5 yrs!
Surprise! 12/16/14 BFP, loss #2 12/31/14
I can't wait for the "im getting a divorce" post in 5 years or so because your husbands were fed up with your disgusting chair asses from playing on the knot all day and getting fired 4-5 times for not doing any work. you guys are all winners!! ~ Laur929
With my first dd, I found it helpful to have a picture of her to look at while I pumped assuming she wasn't with me as it helped me have more let downs.
GL, this is a hard road, but it's also full of positive moments.
Hang in there. Really. I know how hard this is. I had an AWFUL time getting my supply started -- and I had TWO to feed! I pumped constantly. I never went longer than 3 hours overnight, and pumped every 2 hours during the day. 10-12 sessions a day, 2 of them were power pumping sessions. I calculated that I spent around 8+ hours a day attached to that pump the entire 81 days the girls were in the NICU. I pumped bed-side a ton -- which made me feel like I was still there with them when I was constantly attached to the machine.
That said, it worked. I barely pumped 450mL/day by the end of week two -- and by the time the girls were discharged, I was regularly pumping 1600mL a day, give or take. The amount I pumped increased over that time VERY, very slowly. And, I totally dropped off the length and frequency of sessions -- now pumping 7 times a day, no power pumping, and still getting that same output level. No more increases in output -- but no drops, either.
Take care of yourself first, but don't give up. It's early. It's hard. It's hard without having your baby born this early -- and you have that additional level of stress to handle. Hang in there, mama!
What everyone else said! It took me over a month to get up to pumping about 26 oz a day. I tracked my output religiously to help me figure out what helped me produce more. I upped my food and water intake. I also took hot showers before I pumped as often as I could. In the beginning I also tried to power pump at least once a day (I pumped 20 minutes, then 10 minutes off, 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, 10 minutes on). I pumped every three hours during the day for 20-30 minutes and did two four-hour stretches at night.
Don't give up hope! Anna was born at 26 weeks. We worked from the beginning on getting her ready. We started by giving her a paci while she was tube fed so she would associate sucking with a full belly. Next, we graduated to holding her and giving her a paci while she was tube fed so she would associate being held and sucking with a full belly. Then, we were allowed to try non-nutritive breastfeeding. She was finally able to start trying to breast and bottle feed at about 34 weeks. I had to go back to work so we knew she would need to learn to do both before bringing her home. However, it took her over a month to master the suck-swallow-breathe. I was really upset when it seemed like she wouldn't be able to breastfeed at all due to difficulty swallowing, but we just kept at it with the LCs at the NICU and eventually she caught on. Until she was a couple of weeks adjusted, I always had to pump after she nursed since she didn't drain me, but eventually I was able to stop doing that and now I only pump for missed feeds. She breastfeeds and bottle feeds like a champ!
Good luck!
Yes, I can certainly relate. What helped me in the beginning was lining all my bottles up and taking a picture of them - that way I could visibly SEE that more was coming in over the days. I went on wild pumping sprees, too, and wound up EP'ing for four months total. DS was nipple confused/hot mess after all his feeding issues but he wanted to BF (just didn't know how) and I had the milk so we eventually were able to transition and are still BF'ing
Pumping is HARD. Hang in there