When you’re struggling to produce milk early you’ll quickly learn
the value of spilt milk and cry over it. Here are some tips to help pick you up
and get back to pumping!
·
Every drop counts – literally. If you produce
one drop your 3rd try they will feed it to your baby and make you
feel like the champ you are!
·
Catch every drop with a syringe.
·
You must establish your supply ASAP! Pump 8-10
times per day without fail – once your supply is in and solid many of us drop
to 6-8 times with a six hour solid sleep stretch at night.
·
Take pictures. Your supply is increasing but it
helps to document it with a visual aid.
·
Look at pictures or video of LO.
·
Have a support system in place. Whether it’s
family, friends, or an online group like The Bump – it’s essential to surviving
the pump and establishing your supply.
·
Set up your pump area at home so you have
somewhere comfortable to sit. Always have water on hand. Snacks, books,
magazines, laptop, Netflix, Hulu…you’ll be there a lot!
·
Consider renting a pump from the hospital. They
are the best and you’ll produce more.
·
Buy (or make DIY-style) a hands-free double
pump.
·
Do kangaroo-care (skin to skin) as much as
possible while in NICU and when LO comes home.
·
Ask to do non-nutritive breastfeeding as soon as
possible. Pump right before so baby doesn't get much but can practice latching.
·
Tip for
moms of multiples: if one baby is a good BF’er and one isn't, continue with
the one that is because it will help your supply, which is key. Eventually, the
other should pick it up and if not, that is ok too.
·
Try different holds and positions! From what I’ve
heard often the side-lying position can be the golden ticket – easy on you and
baby! Your LO will prefer a hold and probably a nipple so make your way around
the different combinations while giving LO a chance to lead you.
·
Don’t be afraid to use a nipple shield if your
LC recommends it. Once LO is BF’ing you can work on weaning him from it.
Whatever you decide remember consistency
is key. Nipple confusion is real! NICU babies are often too small to latch
without a shield.
·
Other nipples! You’ll want the slowest flowing
nipples possible. Suggestions include the Medela Special Feeder.
·
If you’re nervous LO isn’t getting enough once
home head into your pediatrician and/or BF’ing center to weigh them pre/post
feeds.
·
Consider a holistic approach: Fenugreek and
Blessed Thistle.
·
Eat oatmeal or other high-carb foods.
·
Ask your doctor about prescription-strength aids
and if they think that’s the right path for your situation.
·
POWER PUMP! I (Stephanie) didn’t know there was
an actual method to this, so once my milk came in I’d pump 45-90 minutes solid
once/twice a day to really kick up my supply. Here is the proper way to power
pump thanks to Katie! Power pumping is
pumping at the same time of day for an hour. Not an hour straight. It is an
hour total. 10 mins on and 10 mins off for an hour. It is supposed to simulate
cluster feeding which babies do at night before bed or when they are gearing up
for a growth spurt. You'll need to
do it for about 3-5 days to see a real boost.
·
Remember, you’re drinking for two!
·
Keep up a good diet. Freezer foods are helpful
so if someone offers – take it! Keep snacks around the home and in your bag.
·
One mother suggested researching what a real
latch looks like on YouTube; I wish I’d thought of that! If LO is consistently
drinking small volumes of milk she isn’t doing something right. The faster you
figure things out the less damage control you’ll have to do.
·
The mess can wait! Say it with me…all you neat
freaks, I promise you that countertop will wait! Just focus on pumping/BF’ing
right now because that’s time spent wisely.
·
Relax! If you’re nervous or anxious you won’t
let down. One mom wrote that she had to turn the pump on for the familiar sound
of it when it came to starting to BF at home with her DD.
In the end, it's practice that makes perfect.
Give your LO every chance possible.
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1 comments:
One issue I had was a major oversupply in the beginning, which led to painful clogged ducts. The best advice a NICU nurse/lactation consultant gave me was to take lecithin. Kellymom.com talks about it as well. It was my miracle drug and I was able to quickly wean off of it after my supply was established. But, it was miraculous that it stopped the clogged ducts immediately!!!
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