Trouble Producing Milk - McKinney,TX

***HUGS!***
first of all: good mama!! it seems as though you are doing a fantastic job for your dear little one!
it's amazing for me to read your post...if i were more concise, it could have easily been written by me just three short years ago after my preemie was born: concerned about milk coming in...lactation consultants...supplementing formula...stimulate production...nipple shield...doesn't want it...time limits...too tired for feedings (the magic ticket home, right?), etc. etc.

i know you must be sleepy, but i'm still going to pour out all i can to try & help (forgive me if it's too long, though!) ;D

#1: if your baby is spitting up much at all (even if they say "it's normal") - unless she is a micro-preemie - whatever formula your baby is on now (22 cal?), it's a good idea to get her on an elemental formula (i.e. neocate) instead of a dairy or soy based one. if you have to pay for it yourself & bring it to the hospital, i'd do it if i were you (ebay works great as a source if you can't get a script for it). if i knew then what i know now, i would do everything in my power to get my son on neocate from the get-go. not every baby will develop allergies as a result of early exposure to the proteins/antibiotics zapping the normal flora/not getting as much breastmilk as possible b/c the docs prefer the measurable formula route, but you never know if your baby is one of them until it's too late...(mine was/is)

#2 when it clicks for them that bottle = easy, breast = difficult, it's not uncommon for babies to just develop a strong preference for the bottle...at the sake of stimulating your supply. any doctor or nurse that tells you "nipple confusion" is a myth is lying at worst, misinforming you at best. do what you can to get that baby to nurse as often and as long as possible. you can offer to those that might pester you about time limits that "she's just nuzzling" and will be fine for a few more minutes. ;D that babe is likely hooked up to all sorts of jazzy monitors -- you can keep an eye on her stats while keeping in mind that nursing is typically easier for babies than feeding from a bottle; nursing skin to skin (feet, head, & back/bottom covered in warm blankets) is just as warm, if not warmer, than the isolette; nursing often & long is more beneficial for your baby than a bath everyday, yet think of how tiring that is for her & it gets done! (well, in special care nursery, at least, maybe not the nicu itself, but my point is the same) : nursing is good for your preemie!!!

#3 drink LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of water and get PLENTY of calories (more than you think you need) don't notice a difference? take in more. (the bathroom trips will be worth it.) ;D

#4 stay away from reglan (firstborn is a preemie + little/no sleep + nicu time + breastfeeding stresses + reglan = crazy-bad risk for post-partum depression and or serious & irreversable neurological side effects --- it's not worth it)

#5 you might try a supplemental nursing system (sns); your baby can get the breastmilk/formula supplement and still stimulate your supply. be prepared for the "can't suck/swallow/breathe" routine & remember, it's well-known & proven that even preemies can nurse & it's usually *less* stressful for them to get it from the breast than from the bottle. (have plenty of quality tape on-hand for that tubing!)
regardless of whether or not you decide to use an sns, be sure to surround yourself with positive things/people while you're nursing -- and feel okay about asking a nurse or doctor to excuse you while you nurse if he or she is being negative, making you feel like a failure, or stressing you out; *you're* the mama of that baby & you're doing a FINE job!!! nursing, even "comfort nursing" or "suckling" is a GOOD thing for your preemie -- don't forget it! :)

#6 DO consider these:
-fenugreek pills (taken to the point where you continually smell like maple syrup)
-oatmeal
-mother's milk tea
-salmon oil (good quality fish oil supplement)
-if you contine to have troubles...domperidone (this is the step my husband convinced me to not take with my first, though i told him if our second child brought similar challenges as the first, then i would... here's where i would look if i needed it: http://www.inhousepharmacy.com/general/motilium.html)

domperidone is not approved by the fda in this country, but it's used in many other countries successfully; it's safer, has fewer side effects, and is more effective than reglan - without a doubt.

#7 check out the awesome support and information to be found at these sites:

[triple w].mothering.com/disscussions (there's even a nicu/preemie forum in addition to the breastfeeding forum)

[triple w].kellymom.com

[triple w].breastfeeding.com

#8 if you would like any other help, advice, or just to talk, please feel free to pm me. you can also call connie (a very kind le leche league leader in dallas) at ###-###-####.

HTH!!!

3 moms found this helpful

My sister was unable to breastfeed both her babies and I on the other hand have breastfed both. That is why they have formula. Sometimes for whatever reason we are not able to produce milk. In the old days that had wet nurses for that reason. Don't beat yourself up over it. If you can say you've given it 110% effort then there is nothing else you can do. You need to relax and concentrate on bringing your little baby home. :)

1 mom found this helpful

Your situation is identical to mine, 2 years ago. You have my sympathies! I want to tell you that you CAN decide not to pump/nurse. DO NOT hang onto the belief that you must do it, and that formula is radically substandard--it's not. Breastfeeding doesn't work for everyone, and if you go the formula route, please don't feel guilty. I ended up using formula, and would take off my top when I held him so we could get skin-to-skin contact. Guess what? He's a healthy, BIG, sweet little monkey man that you would never believe had a shaky start.

Hang in there! Whatever decision you make, your baby will be healthy and fine!

1 mom found this helpful

My baby was in the NICU and I pumped and supplimented his formula with breastmilk when I wasn't at the hospital to breastfeed. My milk production wasn't great either and that's because I was stressed and exhausted like I'm sure you are right now. If you want to go ahead with breastfeeding then keep trying, if not give it up and use formula. My first son had formula from day one and he is very healthy. Breastfeeding is best, but formula is fine, too. Don't let people pressure you into thinking breastfeeding is the only option or that your baby won't be healthy on formula. That's not true. Do what is best for you. Your baby will be fine with whatever you choose and will be much better off with a happy stress-free mom. Congratulations and good luck to you!!!

Hey L.,

First, DON'T STRESS ABOUT THIS!!!!! My son was born 9 weeks early 2 years ago. He spent a while in the NICU.. I had him right before Thanksgiving, so I know how hard this is for you..

I pumped about 12 times a day and I always pumped after my son tried to breast feed. I also talked the nurses and Dr.'s into letting me try breast feeding as much as possible.
If that doesn't work, call your DR and have her/him prescribe this medicine that helps with that. (sorry I don't recall the name)
Also, and this might be TMI I would put a heating pad on my breast every night for a little while before pumping. I also took HOT showers and right before getting out I let the water beat on my breast. The minute I got out, I pumped.

This all worked for me.. By the time Jaxson got out of the NICU I was producing so much milk that I was freezing a lot of it.

I know this is Hard. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. The day you get to bring your little girl home, makes everything GREAT!!
Merry Christmas Please feel free to email me anytime if you need anything else.

Blessings,
J. ____@____.com

Try to stay positive and pump as much as you possibly can. You can also try Mother's milk tea which you can find at natural food stores and walmart. I like the one from walmart the best!! It is in the tea section!!!

Best of luck!! Keep trying for your little preemie's sake!

First off, relax and get a hold of your local La Leche League immediately. I found them to be the most helpful resource. They knew more than my ped or ob frankly (my OB was the one who told me to contact them). Don't focus on your milk coming in either. People come in differently, mine took forever it seemed, but everyone is different and it does come in.

Also, consider getting a good lactation consultant to work with you. My LC was the one who suggested I get on the domperidone. I took it for about a year with great success. BTW, it's a prescription drug and not an herb unlike fenugreek which personally didn't help me.

Good luck!

I Dont have any advice, since with the birth of my first child my milk never came in at all (she was a c-section too). I definitely know how frustrating it can be! : )
I just wanted to wish you good luck and was happy to see you've gotten some good responses with some great ideas.

My heart goes out to you. My son was 3.5 weeks early, and thankfully, was over 4 lbs, so didn't have to stay in the NICU, and was delivered vaginally. But, I still had similiar issues with the hospital grade pump/milk didn't come in for 7 days/formula/nipple shields/jaundice (baby glow worm bed)... 6 yrs later, he's a happy, healthy Kindergartner (who was BF for 18 months as a baby). This too shall pass.

Having the hospital grade pump or a Pump in Style is great. Really - you need to pump no less than every 3 hrs (8 pumps): 4am, 7, 10, 1pm, 4, 7, 10, 1am... and at the beginning I did every 2 hrs (12). I went back to work and I'd worked SO hard to get my milk to come in and him to get latched on that there was NO WAY I was going to let my job/career stop me from having continued sucess with nursing.

Relax! I know your nipples are sore and the pump hurts. Use Lansinoh BEFORE you pump. Put it on so that it creates a "lube" effect. It will help stimulate those things better too, which will aide in your body kicking in with the milk. It will also stretch your nipples out (yes a fun thought - eventually they do go back, but it'll be like a freak show for a few yrs). This is a good thing for baby because it's easier for them to pull more of your nipple into their mouth once she gets stronger.

My son was 5 weeks old when he finally spit out the nipple shield and was able to latch. We nursed lying down a lot, which helped him breath around the monstrous mammary that was 3x bigger than his head. Also, when you go to get her latched without the nipple shield, imagine your fingers like a scissor and squeeze your nipple that way into her mouth. Just putting her up to the breast and expecting her to open up is too much to ask of her tiny mouth.

I second the idea of using the feeding system. And, Connie at LLL in Dallas is a wonderful resource. She is usually found at Presby Dallas, but I think she will come to you too.

Best wishes to you.
C.

hi L.,

i didn't read all your responses but you have asked the right group of ladies they are very wise. i would be very persistant with the nursing/nicu staff if i were you. you are the mama and you know what you need to do. please do not allow them to push formula on you or your baby just because it's more convenient to them. i think another mom put it like this...they work for you!
of course you are doing the right thing for your baby and they are to work "with" you.

another thing to try to help you increase your milk supply is breastea. you have to order it online but it is worth every penny!! i also take fenugreek and i drink the breastea to help keep me where i need to be. my little girl is 11 months and sometimes when she is teething she doens't nurse well and that keeps my milk supply going up and down sometimes.
hang in there you are doing a great job and i promise your persistance will soon pay off!
here is the breastea link:

www.breastea.com

many blessings!!
A.

I had my son at 38 weeks, but breastfeeding was still quite a challenge. It took over a month before me & the baby got the hang of it.

A few tips: when you are able to nurse the baby, try using the pump on the other side at the same time. That helped me at first. Pump both breasts at the same time when the baby is not around.

When I was pumping at work, I would have trouble with let down sometimes since I had a stressful job in managment. It would help to just take a few deep breaths, close my eyes & think about the baby. I had a picture of him with the pump and several pics on my phone. It would also help to massage or lean forward before pumping.

You may need to try other pumps. I did quite a bit of research on different pumps. I first tryed the Playtex pump that works with the drop in bottles. (didn't like that one, it wasn't strong enough) I had good success with the Medela pump in style, but some people say it didn't work for them. You may want to see if La Leche League has other kinds you could rent to see if they work better for you.

For bottles, we used the NUK bottles (not sure if they would be too small for your baby), but they worked best for switching between breast/bottle. I never had a problem with him prefering the bottle. I really didn't want to give him a bottle until we got breast feeding down, but it seemed to help him learn to latch better after giving him the bottle the first time.

I was able to nurse exclusively for 13 months, even though I was working full time & wouldn't get too see him for 12 hours or more some days when he was 3-6 months old.

Just try to relax. I know it must be hard that you can't have your baby home with you, but it will get easier once the baby comes home. I was determined not to give up breastfeeding since I knew it was best for him & everyone told me it would get easier (which it finally did!)

If you aren't able to breastfeed as long as you'd like, at least you will feel better knowing you tried & you have been able to at least give the baby some colostrum. They say some breast milk is better than none. My sister in law was not able to breast feed (she tried for a couple weeks, but her milk never came in) & her daughter is 2 now & very smart & healthy.

Just focus on knowing that your baby will soon be coming home & do the best you can for your situation.

My lactation consultant advised me to only pump one breast at a time....my son only nursed from one breast at a time was her answer when I asked why....made perfect since. I hope this helps....good luck....

My daughter was also in NICU for a while and I had to pump. My milk was slow coming at first but it does increase. I also used a nipple shield nut my daughter eventually got it and I was able to quit using it. Just remember to relax, eat right, and drink lots of water. I always saw a great difference in my milk production when I would follow these simple rules. Good luck with your sweet angel. I hope you get to bring her home soon.

do not know all your details but my son was in Cook's NICU. I got very little help from staff there. I do not know where your baby is but ask them to let you pump crib side. Being right with baby may help milk to flow. they may not like it but they have screens or sheets or whatever to block you. Everyone there has seen boobs. It is about doing the best thing for baby not about being discreet or embarrassing someone else at another crib. Remember the staff is working for you. You are paying them BIG bucks. The breastfeeding center at Harris Downtown is great and they probably have something similar at Baylor dwt also.
I did have a problem with the nurses at Cooks giving my son formula because it was more convient than thawing breast milk. He could not nurse because he had a breathing tube. If your baby can nurse I would nurse as much as possible and insist on the breast milk instead of formula. Are you sure you need the nipple shield? I have never used one but it does not sound very warm and comforting.
It is tough. I was lucky in that my 2nd baby was in the NICU so I sort of knew a little about what I was doing but it is very hard pumping and nursing in the open NICU. Have you contacted La Leche League for help with breast feeding? They may be able to come to the hospital with you. Are you using the Medela Synphony? Oh, my insurance reimbersed me %100 for the pump rental.
It is not fun. And I think your milk will come in when it needs to if you keep at it. It seems like they told me that. They told me to pump every 2 hours 24 hours a day. I did the best I could along with recovering from surgery, taking care of 15m old and drivng back and forth to hospital.
Stay in charge of your baby. Momma knows best. Touch and hold baby as much as possible. Kangaroo care will help baby and probably milk supply if possible. I do know that sometimes the nurses want to do the easiest thing. Setting you up to pump crib side may be a pain but may be worth it. You are the momma and you are in charge.
You will get through this because you are now a mom and mom's do what mom's have to do. Keep doing what your instincts are telling you your baby needs. Good luck.

Dont give up!!!!If you can hold her while you pump or just go in there while you pump that can help.I am sure after she get out things will look up because they say stress can keep your milk from coming and also a lack of sleep which I am sure you probably have both of those with your baby still in the hospital.Also if all else fails they do have meds you can take to help your milk comee in but if you spend more time worring about your milk than it is worth then just dont do it.I breastfed for a lot longer than I wanted to out of pure guilt.They make it seem like you are a bad mom if you dont breastfeed but that is simply untrue.Babies thrive just as well on formaula so dont beat yourself up if you cant do it.Just take care of you baby and treasure every second with her because they grow so fast.

L.,

It looks like you've received some great advice. I hope you are able to take your daughter home with you soon. I think you are doing a wonderful job in trying to breastfeed. Don't give up...continue to be positive. It will get better.

I also agree that stress may be the cause. I was so stressed after I had my first child that my milk wouldn't come in. Once I realized I was stressed and realized it was the cause, I did a lot better job of trying to relax. With my second I wasn't stressed and my milk came in right away.

I can only imagine the kind of stress you must be under. Take a long bath, get a massage, anything that you enjoy that makes you relax before you go to the hospital.

I read some of the posts, and did not see any mention of a supplemental feeder. It supplements your daughter while you are nursing. I belive that you fill it up with the supplement, and you might be able to use your breast milk. I considered using one with a couple of my children that had rough starts in the nursing department. I know that you are tired, and nurses can get pushy; I am praying for you and your daughter.

Here is what I was talking about
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/breastfeedi...

Hi L.,
Two things that I didn't see in previous posts: First, you might need a different size breast shield. I went through three before I got the size right and I went overnight from pumping 1/4 oz to 2 oz's! Second, when you pump, you need to keep pumping for 5 minutes after the milk stops flowing to tell your body to up production. If your baby was nursing and didn't get enough, they would keep sucking until they did, therefore telling your body to produce more the next time around. You may also find you have a secondary letdown.
I pumped for 6 months with my first before I dried up (the pump just didn't do it for me!) and this time around I have exclusively breastfed for 12 weeks. It is worth the trouble you are going through, I promise!
Keep up the good work, and I will keep your little one in my thoughts.
A.

L.,
You've already gotten some great advice. I just wanted to give you some positive support. I know you must be so frustrated. Breastfeeding can be difficult and frustrating even when you have the perfect circumstances. You are already doing so much for your new little one! I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you to not have your baby home with you.

I agree that stress can hinder your milk production, and let down. However, I know that it must be hard not to be stressed. Just try to remember that the important thing is that your baby is getting nutrients, and every little bit of breast milk you can give her will help. You are an amazing mamma...pumping 8 times a day, wow...give yourself a break, you're doing a great job!!!

I didn't read everything, so I don't know if anyone suggested this, but did your lactation consultants suggest anything that's kind of like an "IV" for your breast? I had shingles right after I gave birth and it totall screwed up my production. Pumping just doesn't do the trick. She taught me how to use this thing - it's a small container of formula that you wear on a necklace or clip to your bra, with a VERY thin tube that you hold to your breast/nipple (a little bit of a learning curve). Then you nurse as usual - you can tell if the baby's getting the formula because bubbles form at the top of the container as the baby drinks. The way it works in increasing production is it helps the baby get a better suck, also the baby is rewarded because they're getting more milk easier when they nurse, which makes them want to nurse, which makes your production go up, etc.

If your lactation consultant people don't recognize this process, please contact my consultant directly and tell her Trish sent you - Ellen "Binky" Petok, BS, IBCLC -
www.thepumpconnection.com. I think she worked in the NICU, so she may have some very helpful advice. She's in California, but she may be able to refer someone here. Good luck!

It worked very well for me. He's 20 months old and we still nurse a little. My production was never fantastic, but it was enough for him :) I also took the fenugreek capsules to help a bit.

My only advice is to keep trying. I was in the exact same situation you are this time last year. My daughter was born 6wks 1 day premature and was in the NICU for a week. Even when she was home she tired so easily from trying to suck. I rented a pump and pumped for a month and added that to her formula, but it was so time consuming. I didn't want to put her down to pump, so I basically gave up. I was under an insane amount of stress at the time and I know that probably added to my issues. I still feel bad about not trying harder and just giving up. If you really want to nurse her then just keep doing what you are doing and your milk will come in. I know that there are some natural things that you can take to help your milk come in. I read a post on CafeMom (which is an awesome group if you aren't a member you should check it out) about a mom wanting to know what she can take, I don't remember that the name of the suplement was of course, but I do know there are things out there. Feungeek or something like that I think. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Good luck and God Bless!

try oatmeal and some fenugreek supplements!

good luck mama, you can do this!!!!!!

I have been where you are - my first son was born at 32 weeks and was in the NICU over the holidays in 2003. I was pumping all the time to try to get him breast milk - tired, frustrated, trying to recover. I know you are super tired, worried, upset, and trying to put on a brave face for everyone. If you can keep at it until your precious one figures out what she is doing, she will build your supply. I agree with a previous poster that you should try pumping one at a time. That will help. The fenugreek will help a little, but you have to take a lot of fenugreek for it to make any difference. Oatmeal will definitely help. Make sure you are drinking so much water that you feel like you might float away. :) And don't forget to eat!!
All that said, do not feel guilty if you feel like you need to stop to save your own sanity. She will be just fine if she drinks formula instead of breast milk. She needs a happy and healthy mommy and if stopping the pumping makes you happy and healthy, then that is what you need to do.
Please message me if you need someone to talk to who has walked in your shoes.
Love and prayers,
L.
PS - Don't give up your hospital grade pump - that's the best there is! :)

First of all you are pretty amazing to do this for your little one. When I went back to work at three months and had to start pumping only 5x a day it was horrible. I hated to pump with a passion plus could not find the time or energy to do it along with working. I ended up stopping with my second around 4 1/2 months because I was only pumping 3x a day and that just was not enough to keep it going. I can't imagine if I had to pump 100% of the time. The best thing to do is pump as often as possible b/c the baby is not feeding from the breast. The more you pump the more milk will be produced. That tells your body how much the baby needs. Just remember that babies really do not drink that much - their tummy is very small. I remember only pumping 1-2 ounces from each breast the first 6-8 weeks or so. If your baby is gaining weight normally, then I would not be concerned about the ounces. Just pump, pump as often as you can (every 2-2 1/2 hours). That will train your body to produce milk every few hours. Continue to gain support from the lactation consultant. My best suggestion after having two little ones is do what is right for YOU and your baby.

This is one of the last things you want to hear but eat cake! The more sugar and fat you take in your body will make more milk. The best way for you to let down is to a crying baby you body will just re-acted to the sound. You need to relax I know that is a dumb thing to say I'm very type A but the happier you are the easier it will be for your body to let down!
I have had 3 boys- 2 in the NICU and the 1 that was not was my worse I had to use the nipple shield because his for some reason he would make these sores that would bleed!

Hi L.,
Congratulations on your baby girl. My baby girl is going to be 6 years old in April! I hear your frustration in your letter, and I wanted to let you know that you're not alone. My daughter and I struggled mightily with breastfeeding, and after 3 months of "I know I can do this/Why can't I do this" I realized that she would be OK and I would be OK if we discontinued the nursing. I am by no means encouraging you to stop, and I hope you receive some other tips that help you jump start the process, but I wanted to put the voice out there that says it's ok if nursing doesn't work out. I really struggled with that because I felt like a failure for a short while before realizing that being a good mommy isn't all about where the baby gets their food from. Enjoy your baby girl...she won't stay little for long.

I just wanted to offer my story and encouragement. My now 6 year old son was born premature also. We were in a rural area at the time and he was flown to a more urban area with a hospital with a NICU while I had to stay behind for a few days. I pumped from the get go, and continued pumping for 3 months. Amazingly, he learned how to latch on at 3 months, and I was able to directly nurse him at that point until he was 6 months old. ONe thing that helped me produce milk in those first weeks was to try to relax into it. I listened to a lullaby CD; I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, thinking of my new little miracle. I also drank tons of fluids. One other note--I did get mastitis (sp?) and pumped through that as well. Just keep going as along as you feel you want to keep trying. If ever you decide to stop trying, rest assured that your baby will be fine. Don't give up until you are ready, and then don't look at it as "giving up." I have a 4 week old now, and we have to use a nipple shield like you. I felt bummed about it at first, and like I should try to get us off of it, but I've taken that "relax" advice in that area too, and it is just so nice not to feel pressure from anyone (including myself) and to just go with the flow. Enjoy your baby! Take it one day at a time:)

I really don't have any experience with this so I can't give you any advice. Rather I just wanted to encourage you not to give up. I would again ask the Lact Cons b'c that's their job to know matters such as this. Hang in there sweetie, and I'll be praying for you.

L., I had the same problem a few years with my 34-weeker! I tried the supplemental nursing system (the little tube with formula taped to the breast) and that helped a bit. We kept trying, and we had our good days and our bad days, but we never got into a good schedule. Then when my daughter was about 3 months old, she and I got a dreadful stomach virus that put me in the hospital for a few days and had her just as ill. Vomiting and diarrhea. To make a long story short, the diarrhea did something to her intestinal tract and made it hard for her to digest lactose, even from my own breast milk. I cut out dairy and sugar from my own diet, but nothing worked. We switched to soy formula, gave up on breastfeeding, and she thrived.

All of that is to say that I treasured the times I was able to nurse my baby and I wish it had been for longer, but she was happy and actually healthier once we switched to soy formula. I hope you can work it out with the breastfeeding, but please know that the formulas are really good these days, and your baby will be fine either way. Good luck!

hi L.
i completely understand !!! :) i had a preemie also...8 weeks early! although i didn't have your exact problem while in the hospital, i did at home after he came home! Try drinking mothers milk tea...tates great and helps a lot, also marshmellow root and fenugreek work really well. I will tell you that the marshemellow root doesn't taste very good though, but i found the tea and fenugreek worked best for me! Hang in there, stress makes it harder to produce the milk. feel free to ask me anything else! congrats on your new little angel!!!
S.

When my son was born I had no problem producing, he just was having trouble nursing! However, when he was three weeks old we went to Colorado to visit family and people were constantly coming in and out of the room while I was nursing and I felt like an animal in a zoo being watched. My milk started to dry up. I was in a panic because we were running out of stored up milk and about to drive back to Texas and I wasn't producing. The stress of trying to produce and being on display played a huge role in my decrease in production. When I got home, I immediately started to drink lactation tea (Mother's Milk tea or Lactaction Tea by Yogi Tea or Traditional Medicinals.... you can buy it at Wal-Mart(tea aisle) or Kroger(in the health food section) and at Sprouts. Then I made sure that I was alone when I nursed. I immediately began to produce again. I can only imagine that you are stressed and not in a familiar, comfortable place. Try drinking the tea at least three times a day (you need to be drinking PLENTY of fluids!!) and maybe try to pump in a quiet place alone, or in the sanctity of your home. This may help you relax and hopefully start to see results!!!

And you may ask your doctor about a medicine you can take to help produce... it can help women that haven't even had a baby to nurse!! (Some people who adopt, or have a surrogate do this).

Good luck, try to relax and God Bless.

Hang in there and don't give up!!
My daughter who was not a preemie didn't take to breastfeeding well for 10 weeks..so I exclusively pumped until then. Steel cut oats--rather than the instant oatmeal is good--you can make a big batch by crockpot and heat it up every morning. Eat at least 2 servings per day. Keep pumping 8-10 times a day---make sure you are pumping 20 minutes each time. It is HARD in the beginning I know...use lanolin like crazy in between. I got really sore from pumping.
You are doing the best thing in the world---providing your baby mamma milk!
p.s. My boobs/nipples were way too big for my baby--that plus a high palatte she just couldn't get the latch at all for quite a while. Her growing and her mouth getting bigger helped so much...don't give up!

I know one thing for sure; stress will impair your milk production faster than anything. If you are having a hard time relaxing, try some yoga stretches before you pump along with some deep breathing exercises. Apply hot compresses before and during pumping to relax your milk ducts and encourage "let down"...and one crazy thing to try (but if it works, who says it's crazy?) Video record your baby in the NICU, preferably when she's crying or fussing. Turn that on at home before nursing time. Something about a crying or fussing baby (doesn't even have to be yours!) makes you "let down" like crazy. Best of luck, Mama, hang in there. Remember, this too shall pass!

I don't have any advice to add that other haven't already said but I wanted to encourage you to hang in their. I also had trouble establishing a good supply when my twins were born. One was in the NICU being fed with a tube and the other was having trouble latching on. But things improved very quickly once they were both able learn to latch without the nipple shield.

So hang in there, it WILL get better. Drink your mother's milk tea. Try to nurse (and pump) as much as possible. And try not to worry about anything else except your little one.

It is a wonderful thing you are giving you daughter working so hard to give her the best nourishment possible. And no matter what every drop you give her is a gift.

L., I feel your pain. Ask your Dr to prescribe Dom-peire-Dom (not sure of the spelling, but it sounds just as I wrote it) It's a natural herb the kick your milk glands into gear.

Hope this helps

I just wanted to say I have been in your position. My daughter came 8 weeks early by c-section and my milk never really came in. After a while one NICU nurse basically gave me permission to stop pumping. I tried every trick in the book, but I think the emotions, stress, and timing of it all just hindered my milk from ever truly coming in. My daughter thrived on formula and did just fine. It's a really tough decision to make, but sometimes you just have to "give up." It's hard enough as it is doing the whole NICU thing. Pumping 12 times a day will leave you very little time for bonding with your daughter. That is what she needs most right now. I have been there. It is so hard. Feel free to msg. me and we can talk more. I understand!

Wow, that sounds like such a challenge. I used Fenugreek (a supplement you can find at Whole Foods, Sprouts, or Central Market). It made a huge difference in my milk supply. I struggled keeping my milk supply up when it did come in. Maybe that will help.

I've been there too, with a 32 week baby. If she is taking a bottle - that's a good sign. Once my son took a bottle, they let us go home, so I'm not sure why they are keeping her there so long? You will do much better at home, so don't give up yet. Try to wear a button down shirt to the NICU and undress the baby so you have skin-to-skin contact. (you can cover both of you up with a blanket) Then you immediately go to the pumping room and pump - don't wait until you get home. I would give up the shield if they are giving her a bottle anyway - she needs to have contact with you to stimulate milk production. Good luck - I'm sure it will work out - mine did!

Check www.zoneofnaturalremedies.com. They offer natural drpos that help produce milk. Good luck-W.

PLEASE don't give up!! I had my son almost 6 weeks early & he stayed in the NICU for a while as well. It is hard & emotional but the benefit your baby will receive is well worth it. I know you want so much just to have your baby home & your body feeling better, but give it time & it will all fall in to place. It's hard to have to leave your baby in the hospital every day and not enjoy the comforts of your own home, your own time schedule and so on. Just remember, your body thought it was holding on to that baby a little longer so it isn't ready yet to produce milk. Keep pumping and nurse the baby as much as they will let you. I walked around like a zombie until my baby got to come home and wanted sooooo much to stop pumping cause I wanted to just nurse the baby. Your emotions can play games on you but be strong and know that it will all smooth over & you will have your precious baby home to nurse on a regular schedule. If you'd like to talk, message me with your number & I'd be glad to lend an ear!! Happy Holidays

You have already gotten a lot of great advice -- so I just want to say -- Congratulations on your new baby and stick with it and it will work out. And don't worry about using the nipple shield...my 4 pounder needed one early on but was able to ditch it after she got a little bigger. We are now at 14 months and still happily nursing (okay -- so I was ready to wean 2 months ago -- but she is still happily nursing!) ;-)

So sorry that I am late for this posting.
I used herbs called Marshmallow and Blessed Thistle (whole foods, sprouts, or possibly vitamin shoppe). One thickens it and one makes more. Start by taking 3 of each three times a day and then you can adjust to do more or less depending on how your body starts acting in regards to the herbs. They are natural and work-- I used them with both my kids.

Hello L.,

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! I pray that she's out of NICU soon and at home with you!

Have you tried star anise tea? and anise seed tea? you can find them at whole foods, sprouts (bulk section much MUCH cheaper you just boil you own). You already got some wonderful advice, I just wanted to mention the anise tea.
Oh, are you taking any allergy meds, decongestants, etc? that can "dry" all you secretions (including milk). Good luck and God Bless you and your new baby! Merry Christmas! ~C.~

Awww, you're doing a GREAT job trying so hard. If I were you (which I know is easier said then done), I would DEMAND that I get to hold my baby and breastfeed her very very frequently. And don't feel like your "milk hasn't come in"- 10-15 cc's is just fine. Your body already knows what to do and it is producing the amount that your little precious one needs.
Hang in there and I'm so proud of you for wanting to stick with it and reach out for advice. You're already a great M.!! Breast IS best, don't give up!!!!

Congratulations and i hope your NICU experience is good. My son was born 16 weeks early, so i was in your same situation. I finally had a lactation consultant suggest domperidone which is a drug to help stimulate milk production. Not all doctors are willing to prescribe it, and it is expensive, but within 3 days I had tripled my milk production and it continued to increase throughout the next month. I quit taking it after about 60 days, and as long as I pumped or he fed, the milk stayed at a good level.

There is another drug, Reglan, which is more widely used, but my lactation consultant said it is not as effective. because my milk production was so low, she suggested the domperidone.

Good luck over the next few weeks....

R.

I've been there. My first was 6 weeks early and my second was 5 weeks early. I had so much trouble with my first I wound up pumping for over 3 months and finally gave up. My second is 22 months old and still nursing. Please don't give up. With my first I had blocked milk ducts. Of course I didn't know it because it was all new to me. The lactation consultant came in and we put HOT wash clothes on the top of my breasts for about 5 minutes and then basically pressed on the blockages until the milk came out. It took a couple of weeks of doing this at EVERY pumping to get the milk flowing easily. It was painful, but when I got them unblocked I had milk to spare!

Also, stress will really reduce your milk supply. So if it's not a problem with blockage and truly is a production problem contact you can take a supplement called Fenugreek. It's completely safe and it will increase your milk supply like crazy! Go to the la leche league's website. You will find plenty of information and support. Good luck! You are doing the best thing for your baby!

L., I don't have a lot of experience in premies or pumping full time to get milk, but I will suggest trying the Avent Isis breast pump. I have the Medela Pump in Style double pump and I am not able to get near as much milk as I can with the Isis hand pump. I know it would be cumbersome to use it full time, but you may try it a couple of times a day. It is only around $40-50. It has a part on the cone that is most like the babies sucking action and is so much more comfortable than the electric pumps in my opinion. I would also be a little more persistent with the nurses at the hospital and tell them you want to nurse her longer. It is your right as a Mom!

I ate a lot of rice to produce milk. Try it and see if its helps.