Girls are here and pumping/milk question

elampl · July 2013

3Hi all- Our girls decided on a very sudden, early arrival yesterday (they were almost 32 weeks). I was in my driveway getting into my car and my water suddenly broke (gush of water, ruined my shoes, just like in the movies) Our hospital is about 45 minutes away and by the time we got close my contractions were about one minute apart and I was almost ready to push (we even called 911 for a police escort through traffic) I had no time for an epidural and pushed A for three minutes, had a ten minute rest and then B's water broke (exploding all over the nurses and doctors) and came out after a few minutes of pushing. It was a wild experience to say the least!

The girls are doing well- are in the NICU for breathing help and are just starting to get some nutrition but all looks normal for their age. They were born at 3 lbs and 12 oz (Carly) and 3 lbs and 11 oz (Maggie).

I've been pumping, pumping, pumping to try to get my milk to some in and it's so frustrating. Some pumps I get barely anything and some pumps I get maybe a 1/2 ounce total. Everything I'm reading and being told is that this is normal and not to worry but I was wondering what other MoM's experiences are regarding when their milk came in for NICU babies, etc. It's so different from my full term singleton who I could just put to breast from the moment she was born....

amd1982 · July 2013

Congratulations and what an amazing story! Mine weren't as early born at 36 weeks but it took about 3 to 4 days for my milk to come in. When it did I kept at it every 4 hours and my supply came in great. Maybe just give a little
More time and don't beat yourself up. Keep pum

amd1982 · July 2013

Oops sorry! Meant to say keep pumping and in the meantime just do the neosure or whatever they are taking. Best wishes !!!

Brummy14 · July 2013

Welcome! My girls arrived just slightly earlier than yours -- but you're doing everything you need to be doing. Keep pumping like crazy. It took 3-4 days for my milk to come in -- and I had to pump every 2 hours during the day (and every 3 at night) to get my supply up to where it is now -- 50oz/day (which still won't keep up with the girls forever -- we're burning through my freezer stash at a pretty solid rate these days).

That said, I was frustrated in the beginning, too -- but when they're this premature, they won't be taking in a ton of volume, which helped buy me the time I needed to get my body to get itself in gear and produce more. Keep it up!

Mrs. Alice · July 2013

Congrats on your girls! What an exciting birth story. Your pumping sounds really normal for being only 1 day post partum. However any little bit of colostrum you get out is really beneficial for your babies so keep at it. I had mine at 28 weeks and my milk didn't come in until the 5th day. I'd recommend pumping about every 3 hours in the beginning and ask for a LC consult before you get discharged or see one in the NICU. Best wishes to you and your babies!

CNYBride05 · July 2013

Wow! Congrats! My girls were born at 36/5 and I'm now 12 days pp and still not getting a ton when I pump. It's totally normal and really frustrating nonetheless. Hang in there Momma!

carrotcake06 · July 2013

My water gushed when it broke too! I wasn't expecting it AT ALL. Contrax really ramped up and were 5 min apart within a half hour of my water breaking. Baby A's cord prolapsed and I had a very crazy c/s under general. Start to finish was 1 hr 15 min. It's such a whirlwind when it happens so fast!

Anyway, to your question. It took almost 5 full days for me to get any volume. It's so incredibly frustrating when you're a mess of emotions and then you pump and get nothing. I cried when the NICU started supplementing. Rationally, I knew that my body would respond bc it took 4 to 5 days for my milk to come in with my first, but man it was frustrating.

I pumped w a hospital grade pump for 30 min every 3 hours around the clock when i was in thehospital and w a PISA at hime. It took me a week and a half to catch up with their feeds. When I was with them, I'd nurse for 15 to 20 min and then still pump every 3 hours. I drink a ton of water. Just keep pumping. BFing is all supply and demand. The more you stimulate supply w pumping, the more you'll make. This is the time when your supply is established, so pump as much as you can.

Congrats on your girls!

kari.sandall · July 2013

My boy/girl twins came at 32 weeks 4 days after developing preeclampsia. It took 4 or 5 days for my milk to come in. I remember being frustrated while pumping because I would only get drops. Keep at it. Your milk will come in soon.

HK123 · July 2013

Congratulations!!

I just had my baby girls this past Thursday (34 weeks 6 days) and my milk just started coming in Sunday night/early Monday morning. This is also my second pregnancy which I’ve heard your milk comes in a little bit faster the second time around. I have been pumping every 2-3 hours during the day (although today with NICU visits it’s been more like 3-4 hours) and every 4 hours at night. Pumping in general is not fun but pumping when you aren’t getting anything makes it that much worse. I promise, your milk will come in! I didn’t even start getting any colostrum until Friday night/Saturday.

kgs0505 · July 2013

mine came at 35w6d, so about a month later than yours. great weights btw! i didn't start pumping until 2 days after their arrival. i took some convincing to try. by then i think my body was starting to produce. i managed about 20ml that first pump and by the time i discharged i was able to pump about 2 to 3 oz if i'm remembering correctly. my milk changed from colostrum to milk after about 2 to 3 days.

congrats on your babies!

CaliCarly77 · July 2013

Congratulations!! Glad they are doing good! What a wild birth story!!

FTM here so can't give any advice re pumping.

bitsytripmom · July 2013

Congratulations on your girls and good luck with the pumping!

LottaLattes · July 2013

I was induced at 38 weeks and it still took my milk over 5 days to come in. Try to rest and take care of yourself and try not to stress, all of which contributed to my delay, that I didn't have with my singletons.

PinkinProvence · July 2013

Congratulations in your girls! I love their names!

PumpkinAndThePeanut · July 2013

Congratulations! My girls were born at 38 weeks and had no NICU time, but they were sleepy eaters. My milk didn't come in until about day 4. Due to weight loss, we had to start supplementing with formula on day 2 and I started pumping then. The first day or so I barely got anything, and by the third day I was pumping about an ounce and a half of colostrum, maybe? I remember being awfully proud of it, anyway, lol.

NetPetal · July 2013

My preemies were recently born at 34w2d and spent 20 days in the NICU. While I was in the hospital I could only manage to pump about every 4 hours due to spending time in the NICU and I only got a few drops. I was discharged at 48 hours and that was the day my milk came in; I was horribly engorged and at a loss for how to deal with it. I was able to see the LC before going home; she recommended a regimen of damp heat/massage with pumping and to rent a hospital grade pump . DH dropped me off at home and immediately ran to rent one.

Sadly my milk supply is extremely low. Now that the girls are home I am hopeful that it will improve and am doing my best to be patient. I hope your supply picks up and you can be saved from the frustration of triple "feedings" every few hours: nursing, supplementing, and pumping.

elampl · July 2013

Thanks for all the replies, my output has improved dramatically over the last 24 hours maybe due to pumping in the rooms with the girls.

Girls are here and pumping/milk question

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