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Preemies
Pumping in NICU / Low Supply
My twin boys were born at 33 weeks and they have been in the NICU for the first 2 weeks and are expected to be here a few more weeks. I have been pumping since day 1 but my supply continues to be low. I started off collecting the milk by using syringes and now we are using regular 2 ounce bottles so that is good news, BUT I only get about 1 ounce total per pumping session.
I have met w/ the lactation consultant a couple of times and she said that the supply I have on day 14 (tomorrow) is usually what I am going to have and it doesn't really increase from there.
I am trying everything. I am drinking "mothers tea" and taking Fenugreek supplement. And I called my doctor and asked for a Rx for Reglan which is supposed to increase milk supply.
I hate to be, but I am so discouraged. I had every intention of feeding the babies breast milk only but they have had to supplement with formula since the beginning and said thats what I will have to do when I go home. One person today suggested that it was the separation from me and the babies that is making my supply low.
I just want to know if anyone else has had experience with this and if so, does the milk supply ever change?
Thank you
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Re: Pumping in NICU / Low Supply
I think your LC knows jacks*it. That might be the most you would produce IF you were with your babies. I struggled for the first two weeks with pumping too - eventually I made more than what my baby needed in the NICU - but not anywhere near as much as what my LC's worksheets said I would. Personally, I don't think LC's really know about pumping/nursing and the NICU experience.
I eventually made a LOT more milk when my son came home. Less stress and way more hormones/touch with DS. It will also help when you can put your babies to breast since their stimulation is better than any pump. There are some side effects and problems staying on Reglan for a long time so I'd just try to sleep, drink a lot and get permission to try to nurse the babies at least once a day. I swear it will get better - I really used to freak out about my supply too and I'm happy to say I'm EBFing my 10.5 month old - it took us 7-8 weeks until he was strong enough to take all feedings at the breast.
How often are you pumping?
I got kind of lax after we'd been in the NICU for a while and my supply really dwindled. I took fenugreek and atea lot of oatmeal and that helped SOME but until I started taking domperidone (a lot like Reglan, but not available in the U.S. I order it online) I couldn't get more than maybe 9 or 10oz/day.
Now I'm back up to 20-22oz/day.
I hope it works out for you guys.. just keep at it.
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I had a very similar situation as well. I pumped for 6 weeks and had to stop since I had very low supply and it was very difficult once DH went back to work and I was by myself. I tried it all...mother's milk tea, oatmeal, fenugreek, reglan (which made me feel absolutely awful!!!) and power pumped for 2 days every 2 hours for 10 minutes on a hospital grade pump and nothing worked!
I hope something will work for you...I know how hard it is. I cried a lot and really struggled with my decision to stop. GL!
here is a positive post for you.
my lo was born at 29 weeks, and was in the nicu for around 80 days. he wasn't even allowed to try to learn to nurse until he was 33 weeks, but breastfeeding was my supergoal, so i worked my ass off at it. i was pumping every 3-4 hours at first and missing some and sleeping through the night. i freaked out because my supply seemed to be decreasing after a few weeks and i was afraid that by the time mason could nurse, i wouldn't be able to make enough milk.
i talked to a la leche league leader who suggested aiming to pump every 2 hours with one 5 hour break overnight. it pretty much ruled my world. i couldn't make 2 hours all the time, but i pumped at home, at the hospital, if i was going to a friend's house, i took the pump with me. i used a double electric hospital grade pump which my insurance covered since mason was in the nicu.
i started writing myself a schedule on a white board on my fridge. i wrote the number of ml that i pumped each time next to the time. at the end of the day, i would total it up and add it to a master list of dates and amounts. it happened slowly, but over about 3-4 weeks, by following a really tight schedule and drinking TONS of water, i was able to increase my supply from 15 oz a day to 35. writing down amounts each day really helped my morale, because i would feel like i wasn't getting much and then at the end of the day if the total was even an ounce or two higher than the previous day i felt so successful. i think that it was just the sheer number of times a day that i was pumping that made all the difference. however, it was summer and i was a teacher and not working, so that and visiting the nicu was pretty much all i did for two months.
i'll be thinking of you- i know how exhausting it all is. good luck!
Congrats on your babies. I have not posted on here in a while but back in March, April and May I think I had a different pumping question every other day.
My DS was born at 27 weeks. I pumped in the NICU - he stayed there 66 days and continued for about 2 months after he came home. So all together I pumped almost 5 months. I did everything "right". I took the vitamins, drank the tea, was on Reglan (not all these at the same time), had 3 different LC's helping me... had a ton of kangaroo care and in the end, I never got more than 12 oz. a day - and that was a good day. It was very discouraging and sad to me because that was one thing that was important to me.
It was not until Ethan came home that I was able to let go of the guilt and hang it up. He never latched on (again 3 LC's helping me) and when he was home and eating every 3 hours and I was pumping every 3-4 hours, something had to give.... Since he ate so little in the NICU at first, I had a good supply frozen but I finally hung it up. I know everyone is different but do your best and "stick with it" but also know that your body will give you all you've got and you have to do what is best for you. I hope things turn around for you but if not, it is ok. I wish I would not have held so much guilt around this topic when I was going through it. Good luck!!