Community› The Bump Message Boards› Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
New Discussion

What were your "tricks" when you started breast feeding

rascus15rascus15 member
in Breastfeeding
I had an emergency c-section due to fibroid tumors, placenta previa, and placental abrubtion on 2-25-14.  My OB told me that my body was confused after because it was not ready to deliver and to give my milk at least a week to come in.  I was pumping every 2 hours during the day and none at night because they told me they wanted me to focus on sleep at night to heal (which I know confuses things)  I am now a week out and today started my every 3 hr schedule and will be doing it round the clock. Baby is in the NICU so I am pumping. The things I have been doing are diet, warm showers, compresses, kangaroo with baby and heaps of water.  What are some things that you have done to help with your milk?  I have had a breast reductionin the past so I was not sure if I could even breast feed, but I have been producing some colostrum, and at each pumping today have produced a couple drops of milk. 

BabyFruit Ticker

image     image

Report Reply to Post

Re: What were your "tricks" when you started breast feeding

  • rascus15rascus15 member
    I also want to add that I would talk to the hospital's lactation consultant, but her last day was the day Ian was born and they have not replaced her :(

    BabyFruit Ticker

    image     image

    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • mommatotwo2mommatotwo2 member
    edited March 2014
    First if all congrats!! It sounds like you are doing all of the right things. Can you put baby to the breast at all? I would say it's important to pump as often as baby eats in the early weeks, every few hours including overnight, I would talk to your ob again and see if it's ok for you to get up once overnight. The more the baby or pump demands the more supply you will have. Definitely eat plenty, and drink tons of water, you need to rehydrate after all the blood loss . Look up info on massage, compression and general pumping tips for improving pump response. It really is something you get better at with practice. Good luck!

    Edit to fix word
    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • ChichigoChichigo member
    Is your hospital independent or part of a group? If it's in a group, maybe a lactation consultant from a partner hospital can meet with you.
    Lilypie Breastfeeding tickers Lilypie Angel and Memorial tickers
    Parent of Baby Boy M, born December 2013 Angels: Miscarriage @ 9 weeks, May 2015, Chemical Pregnancy November 2015



    Lilypie Maternity tickers
    Report Reply
  • eves1989eves1989 member
    Eating oatmeal helps. Keep yourself hydrated at all times as well.
    Report Reply
  • BootsOrHeartsBootsOrHearts member
    Definitely attempting to breastfeed, even if not successful, will help. It's a combo of skin contact with baby, stimulation etc. that causes the hormones to surge. Agree with asking for help from the hopsital LC staff.
    **Warning: Losses and living child mentioned**
    BFP#1 1/31/12, EDD 10/6/12 Harrison Gray born sleeping @ 18w6d. You changed our lives little guy.
    BFP#2 EDD 10/29/13, C/P 2/25/13, Bye little Ish, we barely got to know you.
    BFP#3 EDD 12/21/13, Baby Boots born 11/23/13 My rainbow baby!
    image

    imageView Full Size Imageimageimage
    January PAL Siggy Challenge: Good Advice
    image
    image

    Report Reply
  • sschwegesschwege member
    theresat858 said:
    Sadly, the advice to not pump at all at night will probably significantly delay your milk coming in...newborns nurse around the clock.  I would try to pump as often as you can - ideally every 2 hours during the day, and every 3 hours at night.  More pumping is your best bet in terms of establishing (re-establishing) your supply.  The week of not pumping at night means that you are going to have an uphill battle, but it's definitely possible that you can still get your milk in fully and breastfeed - or at least provide a significant portion of your LOs nutrition from breastmilk.

    Are there any other LCs in your area?  Sometimes pediatricians offices have them, or you can find an independent IBCLC.  https://www.ilca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3432

    For us, in the early days, it really helped to do skin to skin with baby while I was pumping - I'm not sure if this is possible for you with LO still in the NICU or not.
    Yes, as hard as it is you have to pump every 2-3 hours around the clock. 

    As pp said skin-to-skin can help a lot if it's possible.  DS was in the Special Care Nursery and when he was about 12 hours old they finally told me I could hold him.  I was all excited to BF and was sure he would latch right on.  He had zero interest.  The nurses encouraged DH and I to hold DS skin to skin and it wasn't long before he started rooting around, it really works wonders!
    image




    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers Lilypie Third Birthday tickers My Ovulation Chart Lilypie First Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • rascus15rascus15 member
    Unfortunately for us, the reasoning behind not pumping at night was because I was too ill after the delivery.  They were watching me closely and said it was possible that I would even have to stop day pumps.  Yesterday was the start of every 3 hours including overnight.  LO has had breathing issues and has a feeding tube.  We just started alternating tube feeds with bottle yesterday.  Since my milk is not in, we can not attempt breastfeeding because it will expend too many calories with no return.  We do kangaroo care and I try to time our cuddles with a prepumping time in hope he will help to stimulate me.  By diet I mean healthy with things like oatmeal and cookies for milk stimulation and supply increase. I have located an independant LC and will be seeing her later this week. I just want to do this for him so badly and am getting frustrated.

    BabyFruit Ticker

    image     image

    Report Reply
  • Cheerbuddyloves her hubbyCheerbuddyloves her hubby member
    Buy a feeding tube to put at breast so he can nurse with a return. I believe Medela makes them? My LC gave me mine.

    My Blog

    Report Reply
  • rascus15rascus15 member
    Cheerbuddyloves her hubby said:
    Buy a feeding tube to put at breast so he can nurse with a return. I believe Medela makes them? My LC gave me mine.
    They still won't let me because I am not producing enough :(

    BabyFruit Ticker

    image     image

    Report Reply
  • Cheerbuddyloves her hubbyCheerbuddyloves her hubby member
    My go to for my low milk supply is domperidone, mother love special blend, lactation smoothies and cookies, mothers love tea, fennel oil from young living, power pumping, and tons of skin to skin.

    My Blog

    Report Reply
  • eves1989eves1989 member
    Cheerbuddyloves her hubby said:
    My go to for my low milk supply is domperidone, mother love special blend, lactation smoothies and cookies, mothers love tea, fennel oil from young living, power pumping, and tons of skin to skin.
    Yes, these too will help a lot. I agree. :)
    Report Reply
  • sunnyplacessunnyplaces member
    This is all great advice and I'd add to hang in there!!! There's a ton of pressure on you right now and it's so stressful!!

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker


    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"