Breast Feeding Help and Advice!! PLEEAAASSEE

[Logiebear]

For those who have any experience I am in need of help. As you probs know I am going to try and bf Hannah but have no experience or knowledge other than what my bf coordinator is giving me and she is great, very knowledgeable too. I am currently harvesting it (expressing and keeping) so that I can take it into hosp with me to give to Hannah should she go to special care.

Problem is I have only managed to get tiny tiny tiny amounts out and was hoping for tips on how to get more milk there quickly! I have gotten to the milky looking stuff but then it just stops. I probs sound silly but I really need some help to make sure I have enough for her with her being so early I really want the best for her.

HEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

 

[XKatX]

Hi hun. First off, good luck for everything. I hope the delivery goes well.
A good way to increase breastmilk is to continue pumping for 10 minutes after the flow has stopped. This encourages your breasts to produce more. Also looking at a pic of baby helps, if you can't be with them. So maybe you can do this once she is born. Once baby comes, your hormones will kick in and your flow will kick in after a few days. Then there'll be no stopping you!!!

 

[Pyrrhic]

please, please, please don't mess with your milk supply before your baby is born. Don't try and stimulate more milk, or express. Expressing can bring on premature labour. It doesn't matter if you aren't leaking any milk now, you're milk will come through, and you will have enough when your baby arrives

 

[Serene123]

Yeah, I wouldn't pump before she's born hun x

 

[Logiebear]

I have been advised to do this by my midwives and medical staff, it causes no harm and has been done for years by ladies who are expecting to have their babies early to ensure they don't go without. As I am diabetic my baby will need feeding asap and I would rather feed her my breast milk than have her go to special care without it.

I asked for help and advice on how to do this so thanks for the advice on not doing it but I assure you I am not doing this lightly xxx

 

[Pyrrhic]

Why do these medical staff say you have no milk? Most women never leak during pregnancy, but are still able to BF normally. Whats going to happen with your colostrum? Presumably if you express now, you won't have any for your LO?

If they've recommended you do this, haven't they shown you how and given some advice in the best way to do it?

 

[Serene123]

I never had any milk when pregnant.

But if you were advised, and that's what you've chosen to do, then do it. But there really isn't any way to bring much milk in before your bodies producing the hormones to do so.

 

[hypnorm]

Your milk wont come in until after the baby is born, i'd be really surprise if you got much before hand i only got drops.

 

[Sarah88]

You will be suprised at just how little your LO will need in the first few days. Savannah wouldn't latch on for a few days and as soon as she was born and we realised she wasn't going to latch they had me express. I only got maybe a ml or 2 and they said that was heaps. Your supply will rise as her needs do hun

 

[Sarah88]

Oh, and if you're going to give her bm in the hope of bfing then please don't give her a bottle. Use a syringe and put it in her mouth to prevent nipple confusion

And also don't use a pump at the moment, just use your finger and squeeze a bit behind the areola.

 

[Pyrrhic]

You will be suprised at just how little your LO will need in the first few days. Savannah wouldn't latch on for a few days and as soon as she was born and we realised she wasn't going to latch they had me express. I only got maybe a ml or 2 and they said that was heaps. Your supply will rise as her needs do hun

Yeah, for the first three days I could only get a teaspoon at a time and was told it was plenty. I didn't even really manage to feed her anything for the first 48 hours. It wasn't until my milk came through properly that I could give her more.

 

[ajarvis]

Yea I only got a little while in hospital - my milk didn't come in until my DS was 5 days old. But they said when they're born their stomach is only the size of a pea so they don't need much!

 

[ajarvis]

Yea I only got a little while in hospital - my milk didn't come in until my DS was 5 days old. But they said when they're born their stomach is only the size of a pea so they don't need much!