Exclusive Pumping

My daughter is in NICU, born yesterday at 34w 5d. She's having issues eating, so she has a feeding tube and I'm supposed to kangaroo hold her. I'm also supposed to be pumping every 3 hours for her. Problem is... I'm not getting ANYTHING when I pump. I can get a few drops of colostrum when I squeeze and massage my breasts, but not much else. Is it normal to get this little?

When I had Olivia... it was on a Wednesday. My milk didn't come in until Saturday morning. Pump long and often. My milk dried up after three months from exclusively pumping.

Keep pumping now though. Practice.

Is your daughter going to be okay?

That's totally normal, it will probably come in another day or so! Good luck mama, I know how hard it is having your baby in the nicu and pumping and all.

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" My daughter is in NICU, born yesterday at 34w 5d. She's having issues eating, so she has a feeding tube ... [snip!] ... I can get a few drops of colostrum when I squeeze and massage my breasts, but not much else. Is it normal to get this little?"

Yes, normal! Keep doing it! You will eventually get more - my sister had her baby early via c-section, and it was almost like her body didn't realize at first she had the baby. The more she pumped, after a few days it started flowing in like crazy. She also took Fenugreek and drank SOOOO much water. Good luck mamma, and congrats on your baby!

Totally normal. Babies only need a teaspoon of Colostrum at a time.   dont worry I never got ANYTHING with a pump til my son was well over a year old. So you're doing great  

Pumop more often. Every 3 hour didn't enough.

You'll get through this and it'll be so rewarding   also look into some herbal supplements to help your supply. Fenugreek is good.

the first or second night i was in the hospital.
they asked me to try and hand express.. gave me a medicine cup to express in and i couldnt even get enough to make a full covering of the bottom let alone a measurable amount..

Hopefully once your real milk comes in, not just colostrum than you will be able to get more. With the mini electric pump I have an hour going from breast to breast I can maybe get an oz. With the hospital grade pump I got an oz in half an hour, but I am having low supply issues and thats a topic all on its own.

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" My daughter is in NICU, born yesterday at 34w 5d. She's having issues eating, so she has a feeding tube ... [snip!] ... I can get a few drops of colostrum when I squeeze and massage my breasts, but not much else. Is it normal to get this little?"

Thats how it was for me.
It is supposed to gradually increase your supply and typically colostrum is not a large volume.
I had to supplement when my lo was in the NICU
Best of luck to you

Quoting Man Bear Pig [WAL]:" When I had Olivia... it was on a Wednesday. My milk didn't come in until Saturday morning. Pump long ... [snip!] ... dried up after three months from exclusively pumping. Keep pumping now though. Practice. Is your daughter going to be okay?"

Yah, she will be. She's just premature and showing it developmentally. She has a lot of learning and growing to do.

Quoting Monkey Man's Momma:" Yes, normal! Keep doing it! You will eventually get more - my sister had her baby early via c-section, ... [snip!] ... started flowing in like crazy. She also took Fenugreek and drank SOOOO much water. Good luck mamma, and congrats on your baby!"

Thanks! I'll keep pumping every 3 hours and hopefully it'll come in sooner than later

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" Yah, she will be. She's just premature and showing it developmentally. She has a lot of learning and growing to do."

what kind of pump do they have you using?

also, look up the number of your local la leche league leader. they can DEFINITELY help you, with support and advice.

Quoting C&M[PLM]:" Totally normal. Babies only need a teaspoon of Colostrum at a time.   dont worry I never got ANYTHING ... [snip!] ... get through this and it'll be so rewarding   also look into some herbal supplements to help your supply. Fenugreek is good."

How often should I be pumping? Is it actually doing anything even though nothing comes out?

Quoting britmarie204:" the first or second night i was in the hospital. they asked me to try and hand express.. gave me a medicine ... [snip!] ... With the hospital grade pump I got an oz in half an hour, but I am having low supply issues and thats a topic all on its own."

I've been using the hospital pump

Quoting .Colleen.:" Thats how it was for me. It is supposed to gradually increase your supply and typically colostrum is not a large volume. I had to supplement when my lo was in the NICU Best of luck to you"

Thank you! This is so frustrating.

Quoting C&M[PLM]:" what kind of pump do they have you using? also, look up the number of your local la leche league leader. they can DEFINITELY help you, with support and advice."

They have me using a Medela Symphony. It's like this on a pole:

Quoting Ashes[+4]:" How often should I be pumping? Is it actually doing anything even though nothing comes out?"

pump as much as possible lol. try at least every 2 hours during the day and every 3 at night. even when nothing comes out it stimulates production. a pump is no where as effective as a baby is. hopefully your baby can latch soon. try to make sure you're relaxed.. think about your baby or be near LO. try putting warm cloths on your breasts first to help relax.