For someone unable to pump...

[AlpineMama]

... what happens if she has a preemie who cannot breastfeed for a few days/weeks/months/what have you? Is the BF relationship doomed?

I'm only asking because I had some PTL and although I doubt this would be my case, I am still curious what I could do in case I did have a baby who couldn't nurse right away. DS had an oral aversion for a few weeks and pumping didn't work, period. Milk completely dried up within days. I tried different styles, hospital grade, etc. No letdown at all. Is there anything else that can be done right away to establish a supply? The only thing I can think of is to nurse another baby but if that's not a possibility, then what?

Excuse my hypothetical ramblings!

ETA: I did get a few drops out via nipple expression but that's not a realistic way to build up a supply...

[bri276]

it might be different this time. your breasts are different, your hormones are different, etc.

What age was your first child when he experienced the oral aversion? I just wonder because if your milk ducts had been used to the suck of a baby and not a pump for a long time, the pump could have been sucking in a non-productive way for your breasts at that time. If you had a preemie and started pumping from day one, your breasts might forge new pathways for the pump.

How long/often did you pump? if a newborn isn't nursing at all, pumping needs to occur 20 minutes per session, 8-10 times per day, with a high-quality pump.

And I have known a few, rare women who were able to exclusively hand express milk. I found that even after pumping for 20-30 minutes, I could often get up to 1/2 oz from hand expression. I agree that it would be difficult, though!!!

I understand your concerns- but cross that bridge when and if you come to it, which I hope you don't.

[Ruthla]

Relactation is always possible, even if you're not able to establish a milk supply right away. However, it's not always possible to build up a FULL milk supply when you relactate- it's far better to keep on pumping right away, even if you only get small amounts of milk- it's easier to continue a milk supply, or increase one, than it is to start it up from nothing.

If you're able to get a few drops of colustrum already, chances are pretty good that you'll have plenty of milk when the time comes.

[AlpineMama]

Well I posted about this before so I didn't want to write it again for fear of irritating people, but my specific story is that I got one successful BF session in after DS was born. After the "helpful" LC's and nurses tried to teach us how to BF correctly, he never went for the nipple again. He would root and root and as soon as I lifted my shirt, he would scream and turn purple and arch his back and totally not go near it. My milk came in late, about a week maybe? 5-6 days at least, and I pumped round the clock and took supplements and did everything by the book. I never got more than an oz pumping even when I was engorged. Then my milk dried up completely two days later and although I tried relactating for a month there was zero and I mean zero result, except smelling like maple syrup forever. So... yeah. I got one chance to breastfeed my son and I couldn't even provide him EBM. Sigh.