Expressing to establish supply - hand holding please!

[baileyslover]

Csection 7 days ago for my triplets at 34 weeks. They are in SCBU and being tube fed, otherwise healthy.
I am massively committed to get bf established for all 3, with the eventual aim to rotational feed with a bottle of formula once over risk of nipple confusion. SCBU are supportive of this and will only use cups if they are awake and I am not there.
Only issue I have is not sure whether my milk is coming in properly. Currently expressing every 2 1/2 - 3 hours and continuing a few minutes beyond milk stopping. Expressing once between 2-4am as well.
Getting 30-50mls each time but don't feel it is increasing much.
Was hoping the collective wisdom of mumsnet would be able to give me some more tips, or at least reassure me that it sounds ok!

What an incredible thing you are doing for your triplets! Massive respect to you. When I expressed for my DS in NICU, I pumped every three hours(ish) and I think I got roughly the same as you. I want to say about 40ml, but not every time. He eventually latched on at 4 days old and so I'm afraid I'm not sure of how much/quickly it increased.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along shortly, just wanted to say keep going mummy, and congratulations on your lovely little ones.

Interestingly I have just expressed 90mls, by going back to each breast after first round of expressing, and using my medela swing rather than the hospital loaned medela Latina electric plus. Would have thought the Hosp one would be more powerful but has no milk letdown phase of pumping and I suppose that could make a difference? Hmmm

Bump?

go with whatever pumps helps you produce the most!

i would express every 2 hours to maximise output, as it were. it should increase gradually.

well done you! :-)

Analytical Armadillo wrote a blog about it recently. You could also ask on her Facebook page if you need further support and I think you would hear from people who have fed triplets as there was a question a while back about it.

Were you pumping on your own pump at home? Rather than at the hospital I mean as this could make a difference to your level of comfort as pumping does have an emotional factor to it too.

It might also be that your milk is just slow to come in, which is common with a c/s as your body has not gone into labour spontaneously and produced all the hormones it would normally have.

Finally, make sure you are eating enough and resting, there are lots of foods good for milk production, especially oats. you can try fenugreek supplements if you feel you need an extra boost.

Sounds like you are doing an amazing job, well done all of you!!

Congratulations on your triplets

This and this have been shown to actually increase the yield so well worth trying - you could combine the two if you like or use separately.

Also, making sure you express both sides at least 8 times a day (the more you express the better though so if you can express 12+ times all the better). You can try cluster pumping which is pumping for 10 mins (regardless of what volume you get) then rest/read a book/have a snack/go for a walk/what ever you fancy for 10 mins then pump again for 10, rest/what ever for 10 then pump for 10. This might not get an increase of milk out straight away but can help to increase supply over a few days.

Have you got access to a double pump? That would be especially useful as you will be tandem feeding the babies when they get to bfing directly so if you can mimic that with the pumping you do. Double pumping also seems to be more effective then pumping one side and then the other. You can hire pumps from the NCT, Express Yourself Mums, or manufacturer direct depending on what pump you want.

If you do decide to go down the herbal supplement route, please look into what supplement you take very carefully - e.g. fenugreek isn't suitable for diabetics/those with blood sugar issues, asthmatics, and those taking medication as it can interfere with the way the medication is absorbed from the gut - they may be 'natural' but so is anthrax and ricin..... Also, as your babies are prem, they may be on their own meds/have their own health concerns so do check with the hospital before starting anything just in case it means you wouldn't be able to give your milk to one or more of the babies.

Thanks so much for those links, have now tried hands on massage and it definitely helps, esp nearing the end of expressing. I am now getting on average 80mls a go, but it does take 45mins. Will try the loan pump again, as this can be used for tandem pumping, I may get a better yield with the massage technique first.
Good news is that 2 of the triplets are starting to feed well, for approx 15 mins and the smallest gives it a go for 5-20mins. Now just need to work out how to phase out the top up tube feeds without SCBU stressing re weight loss

Congrats on your triplets, I have been expressing for 12 weeks for my little one who was born at 30wks and in NICU and SCBU for a total of 6 weeks.

It's amazing what you're doing, my advice would be to remember that their tummies are tiny, so what may seem like a small amount to you isn't really, and also wrote down how much you get each time so you can actually see it increasing

Everything else you are doing is great, good luck for your babies. I hope they are home with you soon. I know how tough it is when they're in hospital xx