Just Had C-section, Been Pumping Milk for My Baby but Not Muchl

If you're even producing anything, you can breastfeed. Are you using a hospital grade pump? If not, try one. Try increasing the frequency you're pumping. That may help, too.

THe pump is a very bad alternative to a baby's suckling. Talk to the Drs about allowing him to start nursing PRONTO - as in right away. Once your baby is suckling, your breastmilk will be much heavier and you'll be able to start getting some out with the pump. The pump usually only gets somewhere between 15-25% of what is actually there and the baby can get 100%. Also, the hospital may have a lactation consultant, even a military hospital should have one. Get her to help you start breastfeeding and to talk to the Drs in support of getting that baby on the breast!

I agree w/ Pamela's earlier response. You need to start nursing your son as soon as possible. Even if you pump often, there is no way for a pump to offer the same stimulation as a baby. Nursing your son will prompt your body to start producing more milk. Good luck to you!

I wish I could help more, but the only suggestion I have is to look at a picture of your son while you pump. Whenever I pumped without one of my kids nearby, looking at pictures of them helped trigger the letdown reflex and I would be able to pump more milk.

Congratulations on your little one, enjoy him! :)

Do you have a lactation specialist available to you? When I had my preemie our hospital had a wonderful service for nursing moms. My son was 1lb 11oz.
He was fed through a feed tube until he was about 3 lbs. When they fed him through the tube, they held a binkie in his mouth to develop those muscles and help him associate a nice full tummy with sucking.

I pumped about a thousand time a day as well. The hospital had wonderful machines. I didn't get much out per sitting either, but I DID have a little leftover after they put the pumped milk through the feed tube.

As soon as he was out of the isolet, pretty much every waking moment I had him at the breast, it took some time, I nursed him while he had is tube feeding. He was given Alimentum to supplement, not in the bottle, just in his tube.

I also had a 21 month old. We pretty much lived at the hospital for 3 months, meanwhile still pumping my pathetic ounce or two.

He did eventually have his preemie formula in a bottle, which WAS a nursing deterent, but man I was freaking determined to nurse that baby!

I did have HUGE support from hospital staff. I brought in some music, and a bottle of wine (no kidding), tried every imaginable thing to just keep that milk going!

After he was off the feed tube, he latched on very weakly (he was after all only about 3 pounds). But he got better and better, and by the time I brought him home at 4 lbs 5 oz, he was nursing like a pro and my supply had increased dramatically.

He still had the supplemental formula at home in a bottle, which made it nice for my husband and other family members that they could feed him too. Of course, this DID inhibit the nursing process, but he HAD to have that extra calories, fat, protein from the Alimentum.

Anyway, we went on to nurse until he self weaned at about 9 months, so yeah it CAN be done, but it's NOT easy.

So really, don't beat yourself up about it too much ok? Be happy he's healthy and strong and eating SOMETHING anyway!

And congratulations!!!

:)

Keep pumping! The more demand, the more you'll supply. I agree with what Pamela said about an LC... they'll be able to help too :) Your body is also still recovering from the c-section, so there's a lot going on. Relax, the milk will come. Pump Pump Pump!! Congrats :)

Pumping, in my experience and opinion, is a valuable and comparable alternative to feeding directly from the breast (especially in cases like yours) and it certainly will not prevent your supply from increasing.

I was pumping/breastfeeding after the birth (c-section) of my son in late January. After a bout of mastitis (when my son was 10 days old) and several days in bed when I just pumped and my husband did all the feedings from the bottle, we went to 100% pumping and have never looked back. In the beginning, the amount of milk I was able to siphon from my breasts after a 40 minute pump was incredibly pathetic. Seriously I have never felt so inadequate, I figured my breasts were broken. However, that was 2 months ago. I am now able to pump enough to feed my 10 week old son AND have managed to freeze a ton of milk for when I go back to work/stop pumping all together.

You figure your going to be this milk machine and in reality it just takes a while for things to get into gear. Also keep in mind that the volume of fluid your baby is even able to take in at this age is surprisingly consistent with the amount of breast milk you are producing right now! Don’t be discouraged.

You are doing a great job, keep at it and things will pick up!!
K.

Oh, my heart goes out to you. My daughter was 2 weeks early (not anywhere near the stress level as what you are going through) but I was told by some LC that eary babies have a harder time learning to nurse. Not to mention I'm sure your body is trying to heal after thec-section. I hemmoraged very badly after delivery and that affected my milk supply the first 3 days; my body was trying to replenish the lost blood and heal. She was also jaundiced and became dehydrated which contributed to her inability to nurse well.

My LC had me pump for 20 minutes every 3 hours after nursing (or trying to nurse her) and within a day I was pumping 4 ounces in 7 minutes. (I froze whatever she didn't take in a bottle). My LC also recommended drinking Mother's Milk tea and eating oatmeal. Maybe you can order it?

http://www.amazon.com/Traditional-Medicinals-Organic-Moth...

Good luck friend.....I hope it al works out for you.

Keep it up! I pumped exclusively for my preemie for 14 months. I had an emergency c-section and she was born 15 weeks early (1 lb 3 oz). Her first 4 months were in the NICU - we had to scrub and gown too everytime going in to see her. I know it's frustrating - take it one day at a time.
Keep pumping every 2-3 hours for 10-15 min, drink lots of water, and eat - breastfeeding burns 500 calories a day - you need to have those extra calories in your diet. After you empty your breasts, pump for a couple more minutes to demand your body to make more. Right now you are probably pumping the amount he takes in a feeding.
Relax and take deep breaths while pumping, relax your shoulders, if you don't yet have a picture of him, close your eyes and make a mental image of him suckling at your breast. Make sure you have a double electric pump - I love my Medela pump n style.
If you keep going it will come - it's hard work but with a little a determination it will happen.
I pumped exclusively for 14 months for my first (due to preemie issues and a long time on a feeding tube), 13 months for my second, and am currently pumping for my 4 month old. I now do it because that's all I know. All 3 were emergency c-sections.
The milk WILL come - don't give up and when he is strong and well enough to hold you can try latching on if that's what you want to try.

Oh A.! I have been right where you are! My first was 8 weeks early, born via c-section and went straight to the NICU. But we eventually went on to nurse and did so until he was 16 months old! It can be done.

If they are bottle feeding him get them to get the doctor to write an order to allow you to try breastfeeding (if you even need a doc's order-at our hospital we did)! My son was too early and didn't have the breathe-suck-swallow down yet so we had to wait. Then you can use your hand to express a bit of the milk and help him open his mouth wide and then get your nipple in his mouth. Make sure he's got that nice wide mouth around the areola. Make sure you have lots of skin to skin contact while you are trying to teach him to nurse.

Don't worry about what is or is not coming out of the pump. Just keep up the stimulation every 3 hours just as if baby were nursing. That will help and then once baby gets to breast your body will know what to do. Pump at least 20 minutes every time using a double electric pump. I was actually able to build a good supply just using the pump. I had to pump exclusively for 12-13 weeks until my son learned to nurse.

Don't feel frustrated with the scrubbing up before you visit. THat is to protect him and all the other babies. We had to scrub up the entire 6 weeks we were in the NICU.

If you have any questions, please feel free to message me. I have so been down this road!

Best to you and baby!

I nursed both kids - one with a natural birth - one after a c-section. That shouldn't affect your milk supply. Are you drinking enough fluids? Every time you sit down to pump you need to drink a giant glass of water or other fluid. You can't produce fluid if you're not bringing it in to your body. seeing as how this is your second child you may jsut be so busy running after the first that you have a tough time relaxing... And finally - consider the pump you are using. I was VERY successful using electric and battery Medela pumps but could get NOTHING from a hand pump of any brand. I really found Medela to even be better than the hospital pump. good luck mama. Worst comes to worst we do live in the 21st cnetury and have formula - so even if its' not your first choice it's a fine alternative.

C-sections FREQUENTLY destroy the breastfeeding relationship. Breathe and try to relax. If you can get him to latch on, it will help stimulate it even better. Also, if you can find herbs there for increasing lactation, that may help as well. Keep pumping, every 2 hours right now, until you can get to him and remember, if they gave him a bottle, then it'll be a challenege, but you CAN do this!

Beer, the darker the better, also helps the milk come in better. And make sure you are drinking a liter per 50 pounds or fraction thereof, while breastfeeding. LOTS of protein and breathe. Stress will cause a drop in the supply as well.

PS My first son, I would pump for 45 minutes and get MAYBE one ounce. He'd latch on get get FAR more, as he was 100% breastfed for 8 months and our daughter was 100% breastfed for 18 months.

Hang in there!!!!!!!!

Pumping is not a good indicator of what your baby may be able to get out. Sorry it has been so hard! Hopefully he will develop a great suck as premies sometimes have trouble with sucking. I had a c-section with baby #2 and nursed him a year (couldn't really nurse baby #1 and quit after pumping 4 mos and went dry and she was vaginal birth with bad suck) -- it can be done. And remember, there are women than go through relactation when they are almost completely dry and start up the nursing relationship again so it can be done. Just keep at it (once you are allowed) and maybe get yourself some Fenugreek capsules online through a reputable source (I got mine at GNC for when I was sick and supply dropped). Best wishes!

My older daughter was in NICU at birth. I let my emotions about the situation get the best of me, and it played havoc with my supply the whole time.

A couple of things you can do for your senses to help yourself :
*Have his photo nearby while pumping (sense of sight)
*Trade out blankets with him each time you see him. You sleep with one and put it with him, then take the one he's been sleeping with; hold that close while pumping (sight, touch, smell)

Also, check out this article from Ameda regarding how to have multiple letdowns while pumping: http://www.amedababy.com/ssi/pdf/ameda/Making_the_Most_of...

I know how hard it is having someone else dictate if, when and how you may touch your own child. Just know that you'd likely be going through something similar here in America. We had to scrub up and gown ourselves every time we entered the NICU, not only for our daughter, but for the other babies who were much sicker.

Hugs, Mama. It's tough, but you'll all make it through.