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Pumping for preemies
Hi. I mostly lurk here, but I am trying to help my sister-in-law and
I feel over my head, so I thought I would ask here. My sister in law gave birth to twins 2 weeks 3 days ago at 26.5 weeks gestation. They were born via c-section because of an incompetent cervix. The babies are holding their own and are now above birthweight (which was 1 lb 12oz for one and 1 lb 14oz for the other). She is pumping every three hours and is getting about 12oz in a 24 hour period. The babies are now taking 12 oz in a 24 hour period. So she needs to increase her output. She is taking fenugreek caplets and drinking nettle tea. I have told her about the PumpMoms group, but I am unsure if she has checked it out. I will ask if she is still seeing the LC at the hospital. Is there anything that an LC would be able to advise her on at this point? Other than that, is there anything else she may be able to do to increase her supply enough to provide exclusive breastmilk for these babies? Thanks for any advice, Stacey |
#2
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Pumping for preemies
I didn't have a micropreemie, but it took several weeks to even get my
supply up to equal my daughter's demand (born at 34/35 weeks due to pre-eclampsia and pre-term labor,unable to nurse due to low oral tone and sucking reflex). And, until just recently, as she's changed her demand, my supply has matched. So I wouldn't panic. The body is very good at meeting the needs of the baby, even when pumping. Remember, her body wasn't exactly expecting to have to produce milk quite this soon either, and really, 12 oz a day of colostrum is doing quite well. I would suggest that she find a LC who specializes in pre-term babies. Not all IBCLC's have any knowledge whatsoever when it comes to preemies or pumping. I know that it made all the difference in the world when I found one who really understood my daughter's issues and saw getting her breast milk-not necessarily getting her to breast feed-as the top priority. -- Donna DeVore Metler Orff Music Specialist/Kindermusik Mother to Angel Brian Anthony 1/1/2002, 22 weeks, severe PE/HELLP And Allison Joy, 11/25/04 (35 weeks, PIH, Pre-term labor) |
#3
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Pumping for preemies
The babies would increase supply by nursing more, so the best way
to increase supply is to pump more. It is really best at this early stage to be pumping every 2 hours since that is more what the babies would be doing, and it keeps prolactin levels higher, which is vital to increasing supply. (Some LCs will say every 3 hours, but that is not sufficient for many women, unless you have a crazy oversupply or something.) A few more tips: - use a hands-free set up to allow easy double pumping - compress/massage breasts while pumping to get the most out. - drink plenty of water - eat lactogenic foods like oatmeal, rice, barley etc (There is a book called _Mother Food_ that details just about every food or herb that has been known to increase supply, as well as those to avoid that decrease supply) There is also something called "power pumping" whereby you basically mimic a growth spurt to increase supply. A couple of ways this can be done. Either - pump 10 minutes, rest 10 minutes, pump 10, rest 10, and repeat for a couple of hours several times a day in addition to the regularly scheduled pumping. - pump every hour for 2 - 3 days Good for you for helping out your SIL! -kim "Gorgon Park" wrote in message ups.com... Hi. I mostly lurk here, but I am trying to help my sister-in-law and I feel over my head, so I thought I would ask here. My sister in law gave birth to twins 2 weeks 3 days ago at 26.5 weeks gestation. They were born via c-section because of an incompetent cervix. The babies are holding their own and are now above birthweight (which was 1 lb 12oz for one and 1 lb 14oz for the other). She is pumping every three hours and is getting about 12oz in a 24 hour period. The babies are now taking 12 oz in a 24 hour period. So she needs to increase her output. She is taking fenugreek caplets and drinking nettle tea. I have told her about the PumpMoms group, but I am unsure if she has checked it out. I will ask if she is still seeing the LC at the hospital. Is there anything that an LC would be able to advise her on at this point? Other than that, is there anything else she may be able to do to increase her supply enough to provide exclusive breastmilk for these babies? Thanks for any advice, Stacey |
#4
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Pumping for preemies
My sister in law gave birth to twins 2 weeks 3 days ago at 26.5 weeks
gestation. They were born via c-section because of an incompetent cervix. The babies are holding their own and are now above birthweight (which was 1 lb 12oz for one and 1 lb 14oz for the other). just wanted to say here that it's not normal to give a c-section for an incompentant cervix, more the babies are going to be born because the cervix is incompetant and the position or health of the babies means delivery needs to be by c-section, you could try posting on misc.kids.pregnancy, there is a lady known as Paula J who had 26 week twins and pumped for them. She is pumping every three hours and is getting about 12oz in a 24 hour period. The babies are now taking 12 oz in a 24 hour period. So she needs to increase her output. the first thing that strikes me is that I've always heard you should pump every 2hrs with a newborn, they would usually feed that frequently, so you have to mimic that. Is 12oz the most she has produced? it surprises me, as when I was pumping (but also fully breastfeeding), in the mornings, even after feeding Ada, if I didn't check on the pump and stop I would get that much in about 10 minutes, admittedly it's my 2nd baby, but when your milk comes in you usually have gallons of the stuff, so it makes me wonder if either her milk hasn't come in properly, or if she is not responding to the pump. Do they do Kangeroo care, where they put the babies on the mum or dads bare chest, it is good for the babies and for the mum's milk supply. Where does she pump? often a photo of the babies can help, if she is away from the babies. I'd need more details, such as what type of pump she was using, how long each session is etc. but like everyone else, I'd recommend trying to work with and LC on the spot. Anne |
#5
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Pumping for preemies
"Anne Rogers" wrote in message ... My sister in law gave birth to twins 2 weeks 3 days ago at 26.5 weeks gestation. They were born via c-section because of an incompetent cervix. The babies are holding their own and are now above birthweight (which was 1 lb 12oz for one and 1 lb 14oz for the other). just wanted to say here that it's not normal to give a c-section for an incompentant cervix, more the babies are going to be born because the cervix is incompetant and the position or health of the babies means delivery needs to be by c-section, you could try posting on misc.kids.pregnancy, there is a lady known as Paula J who had 26 week twins and pumped for them. She is pumping every three hours and is getting about 12oz in a 24 hour period. The babies are now taking 12 oz in a 24 hour period. So she needs to increase her output. the first thing that strikes me is that I've always heard you should pump every 2hrs with a newborn, they would usually feed that frequently, so you have to mimic that. Is 12oz the most she has produced? it surprises me, as when I was pumping (but also fully breastfeeding), in the mornings, even after feeding Ada, if I didn't check on the pump and stop I would get that much in about 10 minutes, admittedly it's my 2nd baby, but when your milk comes in you usually have gallons of the stuff, so it makes me wonder if either her milk hasn't come in properly, or if she is not responding to the pump. Do they do Kangeroo care, where they put the babies on the mum or dads bare chest, it is good for the babies and for the mum's milk supply. Where does she pump? often a photo of the babies can help, if she is away from the babies. My guess would be that her milk hasn't come in and she's still getting colostrum, which would be expected since the babies aren't anywhere near their due date yet. Alli was almost 2 months old before I started getting really mature milk and before I really started to get engorged, and she wasn't nearly as "preemie" as these little ones were. Remember, she was only a bit over halfway through the pregnancy. Not only were the babies born prematurely, but normally she wouldn't have had to produce milk for several months yet either. Once I started getting mature milk, I could easily pump 12+ oz at a sitting until my supply regulated itself a few months later, but those first weeks where I wasn't getting "milk" exactly yet were tough. And that was with a much older preemie. I remember calling my LC at one point in tears because I was only getting about 12-15 oz a day, and having her tell me that was actually a LOT of colostrum. I do agree with the pump every 2 hours. My LC recommended pumping every 2 hours for 10-15 minutes on the fastest speed setting, but with low suction, with one 4 hour stretch of uninterrupted sleep. I did that for at least the first 3 months or so, then once my milk was in, started stretching things out farther. And, I certainly hope she has a good hospital grade pump with a double kit, variable speed, and suction. If they're driving back and forth to appointments frequently or from home to the hospital, a car adapter would be a good thing. She should be pumping directly into whatever containers the hospital wants used to avoid contamination. I'd need more details, such as what type of pump she was using, how long each session is etc. but like everyone else, I'd recommend trying to work with and LC on the spot. Anne |
#6
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Pumping for preemies
My guess would be that her milk hasn't come in and she's still getting
colostrum, which would be expected since the babies aren't anywhere near their due date yet. Alli was almost 2 months old before I started getting really mature milk and before I really started to get engorged, and she wasn't nearly as "preemie" as these little ones were. Remember, she was only a bit over halfway through the pregnancy. Not only were the babies born prematurely, but normally she wouldn't have had to produce milk for several months yet either. Once I started getting mature milk, I could easily pump 12+ oz at a sitting until my supply regulated itself a few months later, but those first weeks where I wasn't getting "milk" exactly yet were tough. And that was with a much older preemie. I remember calling my LC at one point in tears because I was only getting about 12-15 oz a day, and having her tell me that was actually a LOT of colostrum. really? I always thought that milk production was triggered by the removal of the placenta and that it comes in after a similar time regardless of when the placenta is removed, which is why mums with late losses often have their milk come in and the engorgement is similar to a full term mum who isn't breastfeeding, but having not been though it I probably don't understand all the factors, sorry to ask this, but what happened to you milkwise after Brian? The only data point I have is a friend who had 34 week twins, and she produced gallons. Cheers Anne |
#7
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Pumping for preemies
Thanks everyone. I have passed on your comments to my SIL.
Stacey |
#8
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Pumping for preemies
I was told you do produce "milk" just that it is the right kind of milk for
a premmie which is often rich in colostrum as well. at day 3 with my twins (34weeks) I was pumping 10oz + a sitting. I could have fed all the babies in the nursery! Cheri "Anne Rogers" wrote in message ... My guess would be that her milk hasn't come in and she's still getting colostrum, which would be expected since the babies aren't anywhere near their due date yet. Alli was almost 2 months old before I started getting really mature milk and before I really started to get engorged, and she wasn't nearly as "preemie" as these little ones were. Remember, she was only a bit over halfway through the pregnancy. Not only were the babies born prematurely, but normally she wouldn't have had to produce milk for several months yet either. Once I started getting mature milk, I could easily pump 12+ oz at a sitting until my supply regulated itself a few months later, but those first weeks where I wasn't getting "milk" exactly yet were tough. And that was with a much older preemie. I remember calling my LC at one point in tears because I was only getting about 12-15 oz a day, and having her tell me that was actually a LOT of colostrum. really? I always thought that milk production was triggered by the removal of the placenta and that it comes in after a similar time regardless of when the placenta is removed, which is why mums with late losses often have their milk come in and the engorgement is similar to a full term mum who isn't breastfeeding, but having not been though it I probably don't understand all the factors, sorry to ask this, but what happened to you milkwise after Brian? The only data point I have is a friend who had 34 week twins, and she produced gallons. Cheers Anne |
#9
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Pumping for preemies
"Jake Mysterio" wrote in message ... I was told you do produce "milk" just that it is the right kind of milk for a premmie which is often rich in colostrum as well. at day 3 with my twins (34weeks) I was pumping 10oz + a sitting. I could have fed all the babies in the nursery! Cheri "Anne Rogers" wrote in message ... My guess would be that her milk hasn't come in and she's still getting colostrum, which would be expected since the babies aren't anywhere near their due date yet. Alli was almost 2 months old before I started getting really mature milk and before I really started to get engorged, and she wasn't nearly as "preemie" as these little ones were. Remember, she was only a bit over halfway through the pregnancy. Not only were the babies born prematurely, but normally she wouldn't have had to produce milk for several months yet either. Once I started getting mature milk, I could easily pump 12+ oz at a sitting until my supply regulated itself a few months later, but those first weeks where I wasn't getting "milk" exactly yet were tough. And that was with a much older preemie. I remember calling my LC at one point in tears because I was only getting about 12-15 oz a day, and having her tell me that was actually a LOT of colostrum. really? I always thought that milk production was triggered by the removal of the placenta and that it comes in after a similar time regardless of when the placenta is removed, which is why mums with late losses often have their milk come in and the engorgement is similar to a full term mum who isn't breastfeeding, but having not been though it I probably don't understand all the factors, sorry to ask this, but what happened to you milkwise after Brian? The only data point I have is a friend who had 34 week twins, and she produced gallons. I didn't get much milk at all after Brian, but there was absolutely no demand, and the nurses had me binding my breasts almost from delivery. I did get some spontaneous letdowns and leaking for quite some time afterwards, but never the engorgement and producing enough milk for three babies that I got with Alli once my milk came in. It also may make a difference as to WHY the babies were premature-my LC told me at one point that sometimes mothers with a lot of fluid retention due to pre-eclampsia had delays in milk production, and I definitely had major fluid buildup with both pregnancies. And I still wish the nurses and LCs at the hospital had realized that I needed to start pumping earlier, so I wouldn't have had such a supply hit due to lack of demand at the beginning. |
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