baby in ICU, can anyone recommend a breast pump, any tips?

[alexpolismum]

Hello,

I gave birth in the early hours of Tuesday and my baby was whisked straight off to the ICU and put on oxygen in an incubator. Feeding did not start until Thursday, and it will have to be through a feeding tube for the time being, so I have been expressing. I've been using the hospital's breast pump, but now I've been discharged and I'm going to need to get one of my own at home.

The hospital one is a huge thing with two pumps attached, but obviously I just want an ordinary one for at home. Can anyone recommend anything?

Also, I was wondering if there are any tips to using a pump and expressing more efficiently, as I'm sure I have more milk than what I get out (I hope that makes sense).

I'm going back to the hospital in half an hour, (I have an appointment with the neonatal consultant, so I'm hoping to hear good news!) but if any one replies, thanks in advance and I will look at everything when I come back later on

ameda lactialine- hospital grade double pump- FAB! (also looking to sell mine if you are interested in second hand)

Hello, hope you are ok it must have been an awful shock. I believe you can hire a good pump from NCT, here

oh just had a quick look, it says this;

To find a breast pump agent for your area, please call the Enquiry Line on 0870 444 8707.

Will the hospital lend you one ? The hospital ones are much more effective and easier to use.

When 2 were in subu the unit lent me a pump, the NCT rent them too i think.

Hope your lo is doing well

have you tried asking the nicu
sometimes they have ones they'll lend out. That way you can try one and find out if its right for you
I tried three other pumps and still went back to my avent isis manual

x posts

this is the one i used

You do need a double pump to maintain supply. I hired one - you pay monthly.

alexpolismum congrats on your new dc! Hope you are ok, ICU can be a really tough ride.

I gave up with pumping because I tried a couple of really not very powerful pumps (compared to the hospital pump I tried when ds was in ICU). So while I can't recommend one, I would think the "hospital grade" description above sounds good. I think in the early days it's important to pump little and often to build supply, but there are some more knowledgeable posters than me here who can give you better advice than I.

Just wanted to say congrats, really, and that I hope things work out well for you.

Thanks to both of you.

Although I would have loved to buy second hand, reallywoundup, I live in Greece and it would be difficult to send it here (cot a lot in postage, etc) Thanks anyway, and I will look at ameda.

fishie - obviously living abroad, I can't hire from the NCT, but I hope someone else finds the info helpful.

It was indeed a terrible shock. I had a horrendous breech birth, loads of stitches and the doctor was still stitching me up when they rushed the baby off. This is my third baby and the other two births were relatively straightforward, so I was completely unprepared.

gosh, I must be a slow typist! thanks for all the replies.

I have already asked the hospital and they don't hire, but they will let me go in and use theirs in the hospital. It's just I can't sit there all day long!

I have seen the medela one (I think!) in a shop with baby stuff. I didn't realise until I saw the picture that I had already seen it.

Is it more difficult to get anything out with a manual?

Your post could have been written by me 3 years ago ! (except the living in Greece bit !)

I had a medula swing, lent from the hospital.

Have they given you a polaroid of your baby ? it sometimes helps to look at your baby to get the milk expressing. Dont forget its only early days so your milk might not have come through just yet... so dont expect ggallons !

Wishing you much love with this LO !

I had both a manual and a battery one. I personally preferred the battery but I know lots of others who dont.

I actually found expressing quite hard work for my first two so never really bothered, but when DC3 was born and it was a matter of necessity it came easily.

I never managed anything with a manual pump but I know they work well for some people.

You could probably use a manaul pump to keep the stimulation going untill you can put your baby to the breast proper. I dont think it really matters how much you get out as long as your pumping little and often to keep your suply going.

There are lots of things that can be done to help with expressing but it is a bit of a slog.

thanks Carrotfly. Did you have a breech birth too? It's awful, isn't it, and then not being able to cuddle your baby and seeing him lying there with all those tubes, I can't even describe how it makes me feel. Other mums who have been through this will know what I mean. At least I can express, it gives me the feeling that I am at least doing something.

they allowed dh to take a picture on the digital camera as long as he turned the flash off.

I really must go now, as I have to get back to the hospital, so it might be a while before I reply to any more messages, but I will come back later when I get back home and read everything.

Forgot to say congratulations

No, he wsasnt breech, but it was a shock to say the least. The other 2 had been easy deliveries, on time or late, and then DS decided to come a whole month early and very quickly.

Its awful to not be there with them, but if you've got other children then you have to keep a semblance of a normal Christmas .

The tubes and things dont last long, and very soon they will be back where they belong, in my case he;s here bouncing on the sofa and pressing the keypad, so my typing is awful !

I was lucky they let him out after about 8 days as he was such a big baby even for his prematurity (3.4Kg). I do hope things will go smoothly for you too.

Ameda lactaline personal - about £95 - is the best in my opinion. I had a son in the neonatal and I then expressed for him afterwards. But I would try and hire one or borrow from hospital if you can as theirs will be more effective. I strongly suggest you need a double pump as you can get a much better yield in half the time. Get a hands free bra if you can too - so you can mumsnet at the same time .

I used a Medela and I thought it was great although the hospital one was more efficient.
(DH wanted me to use the double one but I refused as I said it would make me feel like a cow being milked!)
It did make me sore expressing every 4 hours but I couldn't have done it without a battery/mains one.

Thanks to everyone. I was too shattered when I came back last night to turn on the PC, but here is a quick update. Baby has now been taken off the oxygen and the doctor says his breathing is beginning to regulate. He still has a feeding tube in, though, and probably will have for a while.

Have to wait for Monday for the shops to open to look for a breast pump now!

Ameda Lactaline is the BEST pump. Contact www.ardomums.co.uk and see if they can send out to you or if they know of a supplier close to you.
They are brilliant.

I used the medela swing for a good couple of months after my little mans premature arrival! It was really comfortable and you could either plug it into the mains or battery if you wanted to be more mobile. Would definately recommend it however buy it off the net rather than shops as I found it cheaper online. I also found I produced sooo much more mama juice in the comfort of my own home than at the hospital, the nurses used to laugh when I brought several bottles in in the morning!! :-) Good luck with your little one xx