[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

 

[HikeMama]

not exactly an expert but couldn't read this and not TRY to help. First, congratulations. second- Did you try massaging breasts in a circular motion, or ENVISIONING the let down reflex in your mind? That's all I got. Good luck and remember, we do what we can do and if it doesn't work out the way we planned, it's still okay.

 

[baileyann3]

Congratulations!

I am no expert, but I am pretty sure newborns don't need very much milk. I don't know anything about premies but my milk took 36 hours to come in. I have heard it is also normal for it to take 5 daya or more. All they need is colostrum and it only takes alittle. It's jammed packed with vitamns and all the essentials.

Make sure she rests. Get pleny of skin to skin. Co sleep, and nurse on demand. Maybe mothers milk tea, or nettle tea? Think milk.

And if the nurses are insisting, consider donated breastmilk

 

[baileyann3]

Also, maybe you could xpost this is nicu and premie parenting, it's it's very own forum, those ladies might be helpful

 

[Limabean1975]

Quote:

Originally Posted by baileyann3 Also, maybe you could xpost this is nicu and premie parenting, it's it's very own forum, those ladies might be helpful

Good idea...to make it easier for you that is here, NICU and Preemie Parenting

 

[curliemama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by baileyann3 Congratulations! I am no expert, but I am pretty sure newborns don't need very much milk. I don't know anything about premies but my milk took 36 hours to come in. I have heard it is also normal for it to take 5 daya or more. All they need is colostrum and it only takes alittle. It's jammed packed with vitamns and all the essentials. Make sure she rests. Get pleny of skin to skin. Co sleep, and nurse on demand. Maybe mothers milk tea, or nettle tea? Think milk. And if the nurses are insisting, consider donated breastmilk

This is very true. A newborn, especially a preemie, doesn't need that much. The nurses will tell you that they can use literally DROPS that you get--WHATEVER--so don't stress about the amount. Just keep pumping. Let down will come. This early I wouldn't try to do a 30-minute pumping session; 20 minutes will at least get things going even if you don't produce a lot, and 30 can really stress out your body. Try pumping every 2-3 hours and see what happens. I did this when my son was in the NICU, and while I was traveling from another city to where he was at a separate hospital he had to be given some formula in an NG tube. It was not the end of the world, and I was able to attempt nursing (he was not a preemie) when I got there. At that point he was 2 days old. I ended up getting enough milk to feed him by the time we all went home a couple days later, and all worked out well. Please don't stress.

I hope all works out for your little baby and that you are all home and relaxing very soon.

 

[pbjmama]

Also make sure mom is eating and drinking. When you get the LC ask about proper breast shield fit for the pump.

 

[PatioGardener]

Hand expression is often better at getting colostrum than pumping. You can catch the drops in a syrynge or little medicine cup.

 

[justmama]

Even drops of colostrum is wonderful for her, just keep pumping. Get mom to drink water like it's her JOB. I know it's hard while driving back and forth to the nicu and dealing with stuff at home and pumping constantly but make sure she's eating regularly and well. Pumping every 2-3hours around the clock sucks but it's what works. After the first 24 hours, I'm sure they have gotten the baby on full feeds so they are probably supplementing with formula. It's nearly impossible to avoid formula in the nicu but any amt of colostrum and milk you can provide to her, even little drops is important. Most nicu's take the little plastic bottles you pump into and add the formula or the fortification directly to it so not a single drop is wasted. There's a reason they call it liquid gold and a lot of nicu's nowadays are really up on breastfeeding lit and encouraging moms to pump. I'm assuming that with her lack of stamina for feeds she's got an NG tube so try dry nursing after mom pumps while she's getting a tube feeding because it will help her associate the feeling of a full belly with nursing. Lots of kangaroo care will help and even just a minute or two of nuzzling the nipple helps get mom's body used to having a newborn. Also, positive reinforcement from you. I knwo it sounds simple and it really is. You guys had a stressful experience happen when it was supposed to be joyous and you are continuing to be stressed. That affects her milk too. Anything you can say to her to show her that you think she's doing a wonderful job will help. It's so so so common to feel like your body betrayed you and that YOU caused a preterm delivery when your baby is suffering in the nicu. If you are going to be there for a few days, try to take people up on the offers of help with making dinner for you or walking the dog or just providing an ear to listen. It's hard dealing with nicu time and driving back and forth several times a day and not having your house fall apart around you. Having a family member provide a homecooked meal instead of drive-thru or walk the dog so you can make it to the 2am feeding makes all the difference in the world. When I was doing this the last time, I was single and have no family in the area with two older kids. I didn't get to the nicu even half as often as I would have liked and it still nags at me. I wish I could have LIVED there.

Above all, congratulations!!!! Preemies are wonderful little miracle creatures. I have a former 34weeker and a former 33weeker and they are beautiful. My 34weeker didn't attempt nursing until day 8 of life and continued to have problems until 3 months old. She went on to self-wean at 22months. My 33 weeker was smaller but stronger somehow and she nursed well on day 2 of life and is still nursing constantly at 15months and is a nice hefty 24lbs.

:

 

[letniaLynne]

s
Did not have time to read everyone else's posts but Colostrum is VERY hard to pump. It is THICK and honestly their is not suppose to be very much in the first few days. Babies are born to survive for up to 5 days without even feeding AT ALL! Hand expression is EXCELLENT at removing colostrum from the breast. The LC at the hospital should be able to teach your wife how to do it effectly. I would add it to the pumping routine after she pumps. I think you will be amazed how much more is still in there even after 30mins of pumping!

 

[MonkeysRUs]

http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastf...roduction.html

The video on the above link has some wonderful info on increasing yield when pumping. My thought and prayers are with you and your family.