How long?

Question

How long can you go without pumping? My twins were born really early Sunday and are in the NICU. They are only feeding one of them because the other is sick right now. They are feeding him 1ml every three hours. I had an emergency c section and I've been in so much pain. I've been doing every three hours and so far last night I got around 30ml when I pumped. I've pumped so much they have a couple week suply for now if they stay at 1ml every three hours. But everyone is making me feel like crap because I don't get to sleep and I hurt so much. I feel like I'm not healing at all from the c section. My mom let me pump around 1am last night then hid my supplies and made me sleep through the night. It's 9:30 now. Will not pumping hurt anything?

Answer

Congrats on your twins! I had my little girl 3 weeks ago (at 34 weeks) via emergency c-section and she stayed a week in the nicu. They told us at first that as long as they could get her to eat 3ml at a feeding they wouldn't have to use the ng tube...... Well after the first feeding she went from 3ml to 15ml to 25ml and by the end of the week was at 60ml. Your babies won't stay at 1ml for long so I would try to keep pumping. I know you are exhausted and in pain but I promise the more you move the better you will feel. I feel almost completely normal again at 3 weeks pp and I really think it's because my nurses encouraged me to get up and move and pump as much as I could. Now that you took a little break last night maybe you could start again. I know it's hard but if you want to breastfeed I think you have to keep with it. Good luck! I hope you heal really quickly and that your babies do well and get to come home soon!

Answer

Unfortunately the amount your babes will need increases significantly so 1ml is only going to last a few days at most. I had to pump after my c section, I'd definitely recommend doing it over night. It sucks, I know 😢 but it will help your milk come in faster and you'll be so happy when it does!!

Answer

Congratulations on your twins! You are one strong mama! It is so hard to find a balance between taking care of yourself so that you can heal and taking care of your babies. One of the coolest things about breastfeeding is that it is a supply and demand system. Your body knows how much milk to make according to how much and when you are pumping/baby is on the breast. The first few weeks can be really exhausting because of this, specially if you are having to pump but it is so important to keep up with your pumping schedule because the first few weeks are also incredibly important for establishing your supply. You will want your pumping schedule to mimic the intervals and amount that your babies will be breastfeeding. Unfortunately that included night feedings. However, with that being said, the most important thing for your babies is that they have a happy healthy mama. If you already have a decent supply and you forgo a pumping session here and there it's not the end of the world and won't effect your supply too much. I definitely recommend talking with a lactation consultant at the hospital and making a few appointments with a lactation consultant over the next few weeks.

Kellymom.com and la leche league international are great resources!

Answer

Be careful not pumping because you could end up with blocked ducts from keeping all the milk in there. If you find any lumps that are sore, that is probably what it is you have to pump and massage to remove them. My lactation consultant said try not to go over four hours and never over six.

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