NICU Moms: Breastfeeding?

Question

Hello! My baby was in NICU for almost a month. I'm trying to give as much breastmilk as possible in conjunction with formula. I don't produce much but figure any little bit helps.

NICU moms, were you able to maintain your supply and how? Any moms able to build supply after a dry spell?

Answer

My daughter was in the nicu for 10 days. While there they had be on a strict 2-3hr pumping schedule around the clock, and once I could attempt to nurse they would have me pump after she nursed. It honestly created an oversupply. Once Home I would pump first thing in the morning, at noon, and before bed. Around 2m I dropped the noon pump. When I returned to work at 3m I pumped after her nursing before I went to work, 3x at work, and then before bed after she nursed. I did this until she self weaned at 13.5months. I ended up donating over 3500oz to a foster family who adopted a baby. Be sure to drink a lot of water (I’m talking 150+ oz), continue to take prenatals. I also ate oatmeal every day. I never tried special teas or vitamins etc. I noticed I dip whenever I was sick, stressed, and when I first went back to work.

Answer

I pumped every three hours, drank mothersmilk tea, ate oatmeal bits that I made at home.... I lasted three months, but I had other problems my son could only get food threw a Mickey-button that went straight to his stomach so keeping up with the pumping every three hours got too hard to do

Answer

I've been there friend! My twins were in NICU for 118 days. I wasn't able to even put them to breast until around day 100. Lucky for me they latched like a champ, but because I returned to work shortly after they were born, my supply was terrible. I could only produce a total of 1oz...and that was only on "good" sessions. I was doing all the teas, food hacks, and water. Here is what helped me to produce a bit more:
1- hand express AFTER pumping: I was able to get an extra 15ml out from that alone! Machine doesn't get it all out and this trick helps increase supply by allowing you to fully empty your breast. 
2-change membrane BRAND if using Mandela (spelling?lol) pump. They have a different one that helped a LOT. I was like holy crap this is amazing! If you have brand let me know and I can include a link.
3- breastfeed if you can: even one session will help. If you can do that when they are home, do feeds how the doctor directed during discharge, and when they are hungry between feeds put them right to breast. 
Hope this helps!

Answer

I've been breastfeeding for 5 months now, my milk supply varies a lot. Particularly when I'm stressed or anxious because remembering the whole birth/nicu experience. The first month I was breastfeeding and two hours later pumping and two hours later breastfeeding and so on. I drink a lot of lactation tea, a cup a day at least (maximum 3), a lot of oatmeal, flaxseed. Yesterday someone recommended capomo coffee, supposedly it helps to improve the nutrients in breastmilk and the production. I got it and just starting today. I also used to eat lacation cookies, I used a no bake recipe, google it it's supper easy Katerina's no bake lactation cookies.

NICU Moms: Breastfeeding?

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