[SereneBabe]

Hi all,

This is Heather's husband, Josh - we have had our second child, Althea, about four weeks early. We had her by caesarean section. at 3:38 p.m. on 4/8.

She had some respiratory distress, so she has been in the NICU since she was born. I am down here with her now as Heather is up in our room attempting to get some rest. There are many many other stories to tell regarding this birth, but right now we very much need your help with an evolving issue.

Heather was able to produce enough colostrum for Althea in the first few pumpings after the birth. We have convinced the staff to feed Althea the colostrum through a feeding tube, as she has shown serious inclination toward breastfeeding already but little stamina as yet. However, starting late last evening and going through until now, Heather's colostrum is almost not pumping at all. We just completed about a 30-minute session with the pump, while Heather was in the NICU room with Althea by her side and after having gotten skin-to-skin contact and some sucking from Althea, but the yield was probably not even 1 cc.

We are going to get with a lactation consultant first thing in the morning (actually, I'm e-mailing one now), but in the meantime, there is no more colostrum to feed Althea through the tube. We are looking for ANY and ALL tips for getting Heather's colostrum flowing again and for avoiding the use of formula entirely. Given that we are due for another feeding in about an hour and a half, I don't know how we're going to get around this, but we really want to very much. We have asked the staff for advice on getting Althea back on the dextrose drip she was on before we introduced colostrum, but we don't have a definitive answer on that yet and won't until feeding time.

So, please, help! We really want to get Althea out of here and want to provide her with milk. Again, any and all ideas welcome and appreciated. Thanks!

Josh Denkmire

 

[MountainMamaGC]

Its normal to not have tons of milk in the beginning. Babies are designed to live off of colostrum.

My brothers baby came about that early a few weeks ago. The baby had a weak latch and a tiny mouth so they had to use a nipple shield. Is the baby able to lacth at all because the colostrum may flow better if the baby is on one boob while the other is pumped.

The colostrum is there its just that some women can not respond to a pump as well as they can for a baby.

Also the baby may be very sleepy. Skin to skin, blowing on the babies face, tickling her feet are ways to keep her actively feeding on the breast.

 

[kalamos23]

I didn't want to read and not answer - can you get the baby to breast at all? The baby is going to be much more efficient at getting the colostrum out than a pump. Even if the baby has little stamina, she will be getting some colustrum even if she nurses a teeny bit. Their stomachs are really small at this point and don't need much.

Also, I'm assuming she is using a hospital grade pump, but if not, I'd see if you can get one to use.

*hugs* keep us updated!

 

[Limabean1975]

 

[*Erin*]

first of all, congrats!!!!
now-i had lots of colostrum then nothing, much, too, for a day or so, then my milk started to come in. that's normal, but i know what you mean about getting your baby out of there asap. try telling your dw to drink tons of water. tons. relax as much as possible. massage her breasts and nipples before trying the pump. if it's possible, skin to skin with the baby, and letting the baby try to nurse, but i understand that's prob. not possible just yet. is there somewhere she can pump where she is all alone? that's private? i know i had a hard time pumping in the reg. hosp. room, bc nurses kept interrupting, as they do, and it made me feel nervous-which inhibits milk let down.

i hope she's feeling ok tonight, that the pumping is going well, and that your new dd is doing well.
hugs,
e

 

[jessica_s]

It might really help her to be with the baby and pump. Skin to skin is preferable. She can try breast massage, be gentle but firm. Don't turn the pump up in effort to get more, start low and work only until comfortable.
Really push to see if she can't try to nurse, even if she doesn't she might be able to pump something while the baby is hanging out near the breast. You'll have to help, that's a lot to juggle.
Stress is a big deal, it's hard to get milk of any kind when your stressed. Nearly impossible in the situation your in, I know. Keep the mantra that "I'll pump what I pump and that will be ok" keep breathing, do some serious relaxation, make sure she's warm and comfortable.

 

[Jojo F.]

Pump continuously, skin to skin as much as possible, and I learned today it's good for the mother to lick her baby (LLL was good today!!).

 

[AnnaNova]

well, this is obviously late, but just maybe for the future...
i had to pump too the day after my son was born when it was still colostrum, what helped me was getting in a hot shower (it is recommended for milk, but for me it worked with colostrum too)... and also massaging the area between collar bone and the breast and then the breast itself. there was still not much, probably not even an oz, but in those first couple of days its not much they need till the milk comes.
Congrats on your very special arrival, and we're so proud of you for making these extra efforts! keep us updated if you have a chance

:

 

[moonshine02]

Hi Josh- way to work for your mama and baby! My LO was in the nicu for 8 days and I had very little colostrum to pump (it was thicker than honey-- and nearly impossible to collect) and although she had a strong suck reflex, her condition did not allow me to BF her for a day or two when she had formula/IV. So I pumped and pumped and got up in the middle of the night and pumped. Finally I was able to produce milk (it felt like finally, but really was faster than it felt-- 2-3 days maybe) so she did not "have" to have the formula but my BM. Keep up the faith, don't feel like a failure if your little girl has some formula. Formula helped my DH get stronger and me to breathe so I could efficiently pump. (Don't get me wrong-- I hated seeing those formula bottles in the NICU room!). My 5wk is doing great on the breast despite having a bottle& breast for 8 days and having formula for those few days.
Best to you all!

 

[sunflowergirll]

I needed to pump too. Did it every 2 hours for 2 months

What helped me get the most from the pump was a high-grade pump (which I'm sure you're using).

Before each pumping session, I'd sit in my pumping chair for 2-3 minutes. I'd close my eyes, imagine my milk flowing, try to release stress. I'd put very hot wash cloths on my breasts and gently massage, thinking of all the milk that will be flowing, thinking of snuggling with my baby.

Even now when nursing (well, before I got pregnant), if I'm tense about something my milk won't come. I need to consciously relax to have a let down.

Good luck!!

What did the lactation consultant say? How's your baby today?