Help with pumping

waraz89 · March 2014

Hello my son was born 3 days ago at 34 weeks, he's had some issues with breathing and is on a feeding tube and venthillatior so I have to pump... I think my milk is starting to come in Iwas getting 2floz per breast for most pumps how ever today both breasts seem to have depleted in supply to less than 1 floz is this normal? Should my breasts be hard and hot? They don't have a breast specialist in everyday and I'm starting to worry slightly! Any help would be appreciated!

Hannahwilson19 · March 2014

You might have an infection. Put heat on them before u pump. It might help let down. Talk to a LC as soon as possible.

carrotcake06 · March 2014

The hard is engorgement - the hot is a bit worrisome. I agree w heat before pumping and try to talk to an LC ASAP. Any red streaking? Do you have a fever or feel achy or flu-like?

LucyRicardo3 · March 2014

warm and moist compresses, like a washcloth, applied for a few minutes before and during pumping. Massage the hard areas if you can manage while the warm compresses are applied to help work the engorgement out. Be very careful or you can get mastitis, which is what the other moms are talking about=infection and you will need antibiotics. If you start to run a fever or feel flu-like symptoms or see red streaking, call your OB immediately.
I've dealt with it a few times, and it's awful.
If you can follow up with a cool compress after pumping to alleviate any swelling, it will help.
I even had to get in a warm shower with a manual pump to get the knots out once.

LucyRicardo3 · March 2014

Also, I don't know if anyone has told you, but it's best not to go longer than 3 hours between pumping, especially when you are trying to get your milk to come in and build your supply. I know that is very hard to do if you are bouncing back and forth to the NICU, but try your best to stick with it in the beginning. Your body is still building up the supply of hormone prolactin that keeps you producing milk.

Drink lots of water, too.

If you have access to a hospital grade pump, like the Medela Symphony, you will have a better success than a basic pump since the hospital grade are more efficient and when you exclusively pump, you need the most efficient one to keep up your supply. Then, when you baby is a few months older and you are able to nurse, then the pump in style versions will do just fine.

This may all be old news to you, but I've learned there are vast differences in lactation education from hospital to hospital, so some moms don't get a lot of helpful information.

I hope you have success soon!

haziedaze · March 2014

You can get some redness/warmth/swelling with engorgement as your milk comes in, so that is my guess. It would be somewhat unusual to have mastitis this early, but certainly not impossible. I agree with other try pumping every 2-3 hours, use warm compresses while pumping to get milk flowing and then cold compresses in between to help with engorgement. Definitely do compressions while you pump and even hand express when the flow stops. You can goodle "Stanford hands on pumping" for some great viedos of NICU moms doing this. Good luck!

waraz89 · March 2014

Thanks for the advice ladies! I'll let you know how it goes! It's hard because they've just kind of left me to my own devices! I have a hospital grade pump but didnt know how long every 2-3 hours the milk dowesnt stop so I was just pumping 15 mins and stopping!

Brummy14 · March 2014

Yup, they told me to pump 20 minutes OR until the milk stopped flowing (and then, to pump 5 minutes AFTER it stopped to stimulate supply). So, yeah, definitely keep pumping.

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