911 breastpumping help! PLEASE!

I have beautiful 10 day old twins who were born prematurely (33+6) and are currently in the NICU. I have been pumping like a fiend and still do not have much milk supply to show for it. I am so frustrated I could cry (and have, many times). I get the importance of nursing them and want desparately to provide this for them, but I need to see results or I am going to go crazy. I am currently pumping about 8x per day (every 2-4 hours) using the medela symphony at night which is painful and yields very little and the pj's comfort during the day which I have been using for 2 days with slightly more success so far. Then at night I go home again and have 30-50 ML to show for 6 pumpings. ARGH. I try to nurse my twins each once per day at least but I feel it is wearing them out; the more I try to nurse them, the more they need to use their NG feeding tubes. I am afraid if I stop, there goes my already meager supply. I am taking fenugreek (3pills 3x/day) drinking the lactation tea, and don't know what else I can do. I just pumped for 15 minutes and got 2 ML from both breasts. Can somebody PLEASE PLEASE help!

 

Is there an LC in the NICU that you can meet with? If so, have her meet with you regarding pumping. She can check that your flanges are the correct size which will help with output. She can also help make sure that all the parts of the pump are in good working order. While pumping can at times be uncomfortable, it shouldn't be painful.

A few other things to try:
- when you're at the NICU try to pump next to your babies bedside. If that's not possible, take something that smells like them or a photo of them to the pumping room with you.
- think about & picture milk flowing from your breasts while you pump. Try to stay relaxed as much as possible & not stress about how much you're getting.
- use breast compressions while you pump.
- pump for an extra couple of minutes after your milk flow slows to indicate to your body it needs to make more.
- google Jack Newman & read his info on nursing/pumping for preemies (apologies for not linking to it but I'm on my phone). He has some great insights.
- any amount of breastmilk your babies get is of benefit. You are doing a great job & I know it's really hard right now. :hug:

 

Oh, dear!

Firstly, your babies are getting stronger every day. Your milk is perfect for them- don't lose heart! You are doing a great job! Rachel's given you great advice- get thee to an LC ASAP! They can check to make sure you're hooked up properly. I would get sore nipples and chafing with pumping if I didn't use copious amounts of nipple cream (Lanoish).

Also, google Jane Morton's Hands On Pumping video. It's amazing and doubled my output.

:hug: you can do this!

 

Rachel's advice is right on. I just want to add that it took a good two weeks of pumping 8-10 times a day for my milk supply to REALLY come in. I know the pressure you feel to give your preemies only breast milk (mine twins were 31 weekers), but don't be so hard on yourself; stress is a killer for your supply. Any breast milk they get is great! One other thing I did that I think helped my supply and definitely helped me relax was a Guinness beer every other night (or any dark beer... but it has to be dark beer). My twins never took to breastfeeding but after a really rough start, I was able to pump for them for 10 months. Keep at it, you are doing a fantastic job!

 

My number one piece of advice to you is to minimize stress and be good to yourself. My boys were born at 34 weeks and like you I really struggled with my pumping output...I worked so so hard to pump enough for my boys and stressed out so much and none of that helped. Eventually after the boys came home from the hospital I was able to find a good LC to come to my house and help me get the boys nursing, they were only on bottles when we came home. I took domperidone to increase my supply and though I never did have enough supply for them to nurse exclusively, they got about 2/3 of their milk by nursing and had about 10 oz of formula a day, when they were eating their max.

Find an LC pronto, and if you don't click with one, find another or another. Hang in there, don't stress about your output and soon those beautiful babies will be home with you.

 

I agree with all of the above... great advice! Seek out the LC now...possibly rent a hospital pump to help build your supply. I was concerned about it too at first and I took Fenugreek (found at any health store), drank tons of water, ate nearly everything in site, including oatmeal daily, drank dark beer and tried to get as much rest as possible. I pumped in between feedings to build supply. I ended up freezing 20oz+/day on top of all my feedings....so I was producing at my peak +/- 84oz per day. I stopped pumping so much, as I did not have any need for all the stored milk, being a stay at home mom. You can do it!
Do your best...anything you can give is great! Best of luck! I imagine it is very difficult for you right now, emotionally...so just do your best.

 

My boys were born at 28w 4d and like you I knew how important BM was. I strictly pumped...as much as I wanted to nurse as Lucas was getting sronger and closer to going home I refrained and continued to pump mostly because he would get so tired and he would have a set back and that would add to my guilt/frustration. There is nothing wrong with expressing BM and bottle feeding. Have you tried Kangaroo'ing right before going to pump? Also my LC suggested taking a picture of the baby with me and induldging in a treat (mine was a piece of chocolate).

It did take my milk about a week to come in totally so in the mean time I was fortunate enough to have my sister BF'ing at the same time so I used some of her milk that she dontated to me. If you are totally opposed to formula you can ask the NICU if they have donated milk that you can use to supplement. As hard as it is you have to try and relax as much as possible

Good luck to you can your babies.

 

i justwantto add that there are supplements to take if youcan't stomach the beer

 

does your hospital let you borrow a hospital grade pump while the babies are in the NICU? you definitely need a hospital grade one. if not, rent one.
have you tried the Medela SNS? that would be a great way for your baby to be at the breast and still get enough milk. we did that with my boys for a couple days and it really helped. actually it helped after the first time we used it. that's when i really started getting milk.

 

You've gotten great advice, so I simply wanted to send support and hugs your way - YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, even if what you provide is measured in ML. My twins were preemies, who were in the NICU for 3 weeks, and I had a TERRIBLE time with supply at first. Plus, I was a first time mom so I had no idea what to do. I can remember being so proud the first time I filled up the tinyist syringe, then crying with DH when DH spilled 3 ML.

The NICU you is an incredibly stressful experience that makes doing anything new a challenge. If breastfeeding is important to you, don't give up. No matter what you are making, it is helping your body learn what to do. Especially if you are a first time mom. It's not like there is a magic switch that comes on and WHAM milk machine momma. Think of it like learning to ride a bike. It is going to take some time, practice, and hard work, but YOU WILL GET THERE!!!

Go momma!

 

WATCH THIS!!!! This is definitely a KEY to establishing a good supply while pumping.
Also, what was your delivery like? Any chance you could have a retained placenta fragment?? or did you have a great deal of blood loss?
Do you have any diagnosed (or undiagnosed) medical problems? PCOS? Thyroid issues?