Desperately needing advice. Preemie in NICU & expressing

[Foxybabyhg3]

Hi all

I've been expressing from day one, starting by hand and now on a preemie setting on a pump. Skylar was born by c-section at 29+4 so technically I wasn't ready to BF. Started off just getting a couple of ml's in a syringe and just over a week in I was getting 50ml (off 2 breasts together not each) which is still not huge but it was enough for her (she's getting fed via oral gastrotube). Now she's upto the maximum for her weight (1025g) of 152ml a day, I thought great, I'm getting 50ml each pump, I can stash it. I wasn't pumping through the night. I was trying to get into a routine in between NICU visits. I'd pump at 9am-ish, then 12pm, then go to NICU and return to pump at 3:30pm, then at 18:30, NICU again then back for 21:30/22:00 to pump, and then I'd so one just after midnight if I was still awake.

Anyway since Friday it seems to have reduced to less than 30ml, and then at midnight last night I only got 10ml. I just burst into tears. I have a frozen stash but they prefer fresh bm in NICU. Is there anything I can do to get it back up again? I mean her amounts will increase as she puts weight on and I want to start BF-ing in a few weeks when she starts to get her suck-swallow reflex.

Any advice would be really helpful. Sorry it's so long winded.

 

[MommyJogger]

I know this will sound rough, recovering from a section and with a new baby, but im(not professional)o, 3 hours is too long between pumps to establish a supply. Even if you're pumping as much as baby takes, you're not demanding it at the same frequency a baby naturally would demand feeds. My advice would be to pump at least every two hours and try to do it around the clock. 4-6am is actually a critical time to make sure you get that nipple stimulation, so if you can manage a 4am and a 6am pump, it should help increase your supply even if it takes a few days for you to notice a difference. There's an exclusive pumping sticky at the top that has a lot of useful information. Good luck, hun!
(My advice is based on concurrently bf DS and pumping for twins. I never had to establish a supply with a pump, but I had to double it to meet demand. I did a lot of cluster feed simulation (still do) in the evenings. 10 minutes on, 10 min off; 5 min on, 10 min off; 10 min on, 10 min off; rinse and repeat. A lactation consultant would be a huge help if you can access one.)

 

[Care76]

You definitely need to pump through the night. Between 1-6 am is when we produce the most prolactin which is what helps us produce milk. You can also east lots of oats and take fenugreek (ask the doctor but all of my 7 lactation consultants recommended it). You will be tired, but you will get used to it. Good luck!

 

[Foxybabyhg3]

Thanks ladies. Just spotted the sticky too. I'll do a couple of night ones tonight and I'll start the fenugreek tonight too.

I got about 40ml a few hrs ago, and just got 20ml now, so will hook myself back on in an hr to top that one up.

 

[iwantabub]

Hey Hun... Just wanted to say well done and congrats on your lo.!!!

My sil bubs was born at 31 weeks and she had to keep the schedule of pumping every 2 hours through the day and 3 at night... I know it can be exhausting especially with your already hectic nicu schedule etc but it was worth it for her.
Her lil man is now not so little and is a normal crazy 14 year old boy lol.
Def night feeds are necessary and as pp said babies sometimes at this ave demand boob every hour so def more pumps required.

Good luck

 

[misspriss]

I had to bring in my supply by pump, it was every 3 hours for me (they fed him every 3 hours too) day and night. My doctor said it I may have needed to every 2 hours, but 3 hours worked for me. Nights are very important!!!

Congratulations and keep up the good work, you are doing a great thing for your LO!!

 

[Foxybabyhg3]

Thanks ladies. I'm attached to Daisy (pump) just now (00:30) and setting my alarm for 3:30am & 7:30am. Couldn't get to supermarket for oatmeal & fenugreek as at hospital with a womb infection (1st the section wound now my womb-however really impressed they reverted to an old fashioned natural remedy and stuck some Manuka honey on my wound!).

 

[confused87com]

good luck, i have been there and its so hard, my son was born via c sectionat 29+5. can you do skin to skin. i found milk used to pour out when i expressed straight after seeing him. Can you pump in the hospital? i used to find i would get the most then, but i suppose it is because i had just seen and cuddled him.

 

[Millnsy]

Can you pump at the nicu when baby is with you? It might help to stimulate your supply if you are with baby?

Congratulations and keep going! I was on a strict 3 hour feeding schedule with my 34 weeker and was only able to risk going longer than 3 hours when she reached term age. I only had to pump for a week before she was able to latch and then we needed nipple shields but we went on to breast feed for 15 months!