Milk supply

I'm 5 days postpartum with my twins I had a hard time pumping and nursing but worked with the lactation specialist yesterday and got about 60cc I have been pumping when I can but definitely not every 3 hours. My one twin refuses to latch the other will latch and feed but is still in NICU and now that we are home we are only going up there for 2 feedings a day. Should I be getting more milk by now? How can I increase my supply? Just keep pumping?

Milk supply

Did you hey 60ccs throughout the day or in one session? For one session I think that's great at this point.

You really just need to stick to a schedule and keep chugging away. When dd was in the nicu, they told me to pump every 3 hours but skip one overnight to get some rest. Do you have a hospital grade pump at home? I rented one and it was great. Get a hands free pumping bra, set up a comfy spot away from the chaos, bring water a snack,your phone and try to make it a little escape. I only pumped 10-15 minutes and didn't worry about pumping till I was empty. Keep it stress free. Also, put your pump parts in a ziploc in the fridge and just wash once a day. I didn't even disassemble so it took no time at all to set up. Maybe pump while you visit the nicu if you can bring a pump into his room so that you get another session it two out of the way while your with him. I got the hospital to give me two sys of parts so I could keep a full set at home and a full set at the hospital and once we were both home I could put one in the dishwasher and switch to the other. Give it time and things will get more routine and your milk will get flowing better each day. I quickly got the where a soon as the cold flange from the fridge hit me I would get a let down lol.

Milk supply

It is all based on supply and demand.

Like the PP said, you need to have a pumping schedule and stick to it. Ideally, you will pump every 3 hours even overnight. Right now, your supply is just coming in so I don't think you need to increase it - you just need to make sure that you are getting in enough nursing/pumping sessions.

Re: Milk supply

Has your milk even come in yet? With my first c-section, it took about 5 days for my milk to come in and that was after feeding and pumping around the clock (DS spent 2.5 days in the NICU). Your body won't produce enough milk if you're not pumping or feeding on a regular basis. I would pump every 3 hours during the day and not go more than 4 hours at night. Drink tons of water and make sure you're eating enough. Good luck! The beginning can be very tough and stressful, but you'll figure things out.

Milk supply

Thank you for the advice! Currently 6 days postpartum I'm Now that I am home it's easier to pump regularly. Overnight is my issue. I have one baby home and one in NICU. My baby that is home refuses to latch. He latched once the first day and that's it. The lactation consultant worked with me in the hospital over 2 days with him and feels he may not latch and nurse. My other baby he was doing great nursing- until I came home. Now that I'm not there every feeding he isn't latching either. We have been going twice daily now to see the one baby in NICU and I pump each time. I've been pumping more.
60ccs was the first time I pumped a full session. There after I was getting only about 20. Yesterday was the first day i pumped multiple times on a schedule. I didn't pump overnight was so exhausted. Pumped this am and got about 50ccs. The water intake I am trying to watch- I know I'm not drinking nearly enough. Is it even feasible to exclusively pump?

Message edited 1/18/2017 7:08:54 AM.

Milk supply

You're still so early in everything. Don't give up on latching yet or pumping. When your littlest one is home and you have more opportunities to try you may have more success. If you've only had a day of really pumping then in a few more days your body should really get going and start making a lot more. The first time I pumped I couldn't believe how much I got, then it dwindled and the next day I was squeezing out drops but I just kept pushing through. Another day and I was getting 60ccs and it went up from there. Be consistent for a few days and see what happens. Also, keep trying to see if each baby will latch and think about seeing another LC to see if they can help you be more successful.

Re: Milk supply