I had my daughter last Monday, one week ago. She had to go right to Children's for heart surgery and will be there another week. I basically live there. I have been pumping this whole time. I am not really engorged anymore, but I usually only get 10-15 ml per session. I am pumping around 8 times a day. I only get up once at night because I had a C Section and have a 1 yr old here at home. Sleeping is the only time I have to recover and I have totally over done it so far.
Anyway, I wish so badly that someone could help me or evaluate me. I cannot find much lactation help at Children's at all. The nurses are for it, but I am not their priority. I am sure I'm not eating enough, but I'm trying to make myself. I just wish I had some guidance. I am desperate to BF my daughter and will take any help I can get. I thought I'd be getting more out when I pump, but maybe this is normal???
Oh, and I use hot towels whenever I can and massage before I pump, but I don't really know what I'm doing. I just wing it.
Please let me know if any LC's can stop by Children's to help me out. Thanks for "listening" to my ramble.
Signed...
"Fairly Stressed and Slightly Sleep Deprived"
Hello- I would contact Cynthia Guzman and Peggy Healy at the Art of Breastfeeding.
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I would be pretty certain that they would come to the hospital for you.
Best of Luck
J.:
unfortunately Children's does not have a lactation consultant... I would be happy to come see you there. I make hospital visits regularly.
P., RLC, IBCLC
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions,
800 LACTATE
Just to share a success story,
my son was in Special Care right after he was born and stayed for a week, and I did just what you did. I got not much out when I pumped--the nurses fed it to him because they thought it was important but I was so mad I wanted to throw it out.
When he got home it kind of was the same story, he had a hard time latching, and didn't suck very hard. I also supplemented with formula, and didn't want to get up to pump in the middle of the night so got lazy.
But then one day my milk came in and my son didn't need to try so hard to suck and I didn't need to pump in addition to nursing anymore.
Definitely take consultation, but also know that your milk may not be in yet! It takes awhile, so keep doing what you can and don't give up hope. I continued to nurse till he was 2!
Art of Breastfeeding! Cynthia Guzman was awesome helping me to get my preemie latched on and nursing when no one else seemed to much care. She is now a very healthy 3 1/2 year old.
