https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:52:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289728 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 13:06:22 +0000 Torchwood 2289728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I have a PISA, but I still rent a hospital pump. It's so much nicer. But I'm a SAHM, so portability isn't an issue. The PISA was very handy when we traveled recently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289718 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 12:55:21 +0000 MrsSRS 2289718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped every four hours at night so I could get more sleep and every 2 to 3 hours during the day. It was so important to have a cozy place for night pumping so it didn't feel wretched. I tried to think of pumping as me time and would plug headphones into my ipad and watch stupid shows on Netflix and eat chocolate. By the time my 30 weeker was nursing I had pumped myself into a bit of an oversupply! After the hospital pump I switched to a PISA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289655 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 11:23:09 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2289655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: firs the hospital pump that was free for me was the Lactina and I hated it! So I rented the Stmohony myself from a different hospital. Then used the Medela PISA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289643 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 11:11:04 +0000 blackbird 2289643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped but could never get a good supply going just off the pump (I still have issues when I pump...) and could never get E to BF after her nicu stay. A hospital near me has an OT based infant suck therapy program that would've been helpful in hindsight </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289641 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:58:11 +0000 BSB 2289641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MarieJ: yeah, I'm not sure how long my insurance will cover the rental for but I do want something lighter and more portable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289640 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:57:03 +0000 Ginabean3 2289640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My first was a 30 weeker and in the NICU for 57 days and I pumped every three hours around the clock. Sadly, I'm not super compatible with the pump and my supply never got established/I had low supply in general. I HATED pumping. I did it but I truly hated it. When she came home I tried to EBF but by that time I already couldn't keep up with her needs and had to start supplementing with formula (which was a relief quite frankly). </p> <p>Do what you need to do to be happy and healthy and feel good about yourself. It will be different for everyone! ❤️</p> <p>ETA I used the Medela Symphony (rental). Best pump ever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289631 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:44:55 +0000 MrsRcCar 2289631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I used my Medela pump in style after the Medela hospital pump. I could have kept the rental pump for a year through insurance but chose not to because it was too much to lug around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289629 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:42:42 +0000 BandDmommy 2289629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I used hospital pump for 6 months. That was as long as I pumped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289626 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:39:00 +0000 LAZB 2289626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I use the Medela PIS, but I do think the hospital one is better </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289625 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:38:54 +0000 MarieJ 2289625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: since LO was a preemie, my insurance covered the rental of the hospital grade pump for a year. They also sent me a PISA, since it was difficult to transport the hospital pump to and from work everyday. I didn't have any issues with supply once I switched to the PISA. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289621 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:32:40 +0000 BSB 2289621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Torchwood: @BandDmommy: @Mrs Green Grass: @MarieJ: @LAZB: @MrsRcCar: </p> <p>If you guys used a hospital breast pump, what did you end up buying/getting after you stopped renting the hospital pump? I need something more portable than the Medela Symphony. I can get the Medela PISA, Ameda Purely Yours Ultra, Spectra S2 or the Hygeia Q. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289613 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:14:59 +0000 ShootingStar 2289613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In a few days you should start to feel much less pain when you get up. I know it's hard to get up to pump, that's pretty much my idea of torture! But it's so important to do now if you have any hope of BF-ing later. It's ok if you can't or don't want to. But the only way you will be able to do it later us if you establish supply now. </p> <p>Either way I think you are such a rockstar with everything you've gone through. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289607 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:05:04 +0000 BSB 2289607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: @Torchwood: @Ash: thanks guys! I'm definitely going to work super hard at pumping every 3-4 hours. Doing well so far today.</p> <p>@mamabolt: pumping doesn't bother me. I think it was where my pump was located and since I'm still in pain from my c-section... It was easier for me to lay in bed and delay a pumping session because I was in pain. Now that my pump is bedside, I can still get up to pump and take pain meds and have them kick in while I pump. No more having to get up out of bed, take meds and wait 30 min for it to kick in so I can get out to the living room to pump. So I think I'm fully dedicated now. I have a hospital rental pump that isn't exactly portable so I'll need to order a more portable pump soon. Definitely need something I can use to pump if I can't get home in time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289565 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 07:05:07 +0000 Ash 2289565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Pumping can definitely be a pain in the butt but it has to be a priority if that's how you want to feed your babies - and nicu babies benefit greatly from mama's milk. I'd try to get more on a schedule while they're in the nicu so you're in a routine once they come home. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289564 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 06:56:26 +0000 mamabolt 2289564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you make pumping more enjoyable for you in some way? Like pick a show you want to watch on Netflix or a trashy novel and save it for pumping times? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289561 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 06:48:54 +0000 Torchwood 2289561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely pumped religiously early on. 8 times per day, no more than 4 hours at night, with shorter times during the day to make up for it. I have a very good supply now, even though we're still struggling with nursing. I still don't go more than 6 hours generally, but she's waking up every 3 or so, so I pump when I feed her. It's definitely easier now that she's home, but it's SO important early on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289556 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 05:45:51 +0000 BandDmommy 2289556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was in NICU 11 days, born at 34 weeks. I used hospital grade pump and pumped religiously every 3 hours. I felt it was the best thing I could do since I couldn't be with him all the time. The NICU had pumping room so I would carry all my parts and pump there when I was at the hospital. I also carried a water bottle to stay hydrated. Hang in there momma!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289549 Sun, 13 Sep 2015 04:27:17 +0000 BSB 2289549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: great blog post! Thank you! Very helpful!</p> <p>@ChelseaRose: Thank you for sharing your friend's experiences. I've turned over a new leaf and DH knows how it important it is to help me keep on track. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289525 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 22:36:23 +0000 ChelseaRose 2289525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: A good friend of my gave birth at 29w due to HELLP syndrome and had a cesarean. Her son was in the hospital for 10 weeks and she is now able to breastfeed him. I know she worked on it as much as possible in the hospital too, but it was slow going in the beginning. Another friend had a baby at 34.5 weeks and by the time she was discharged two weeks later she was mostly breastfed with one pumped bottle a day. I hope you can have the same success. I do think you need to be really diligent about pumping in the beginning if you want to have an adequate supply. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289520 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 22:28:43 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2289520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p><a href="http://babymakingmerrygoround.blogspot.com/2012/12/exclusive-pumping-supply.html?m=0" rel="nofollow">http://babymakingmerrygoround.blogspot.com/2012/12/exclusive-pumping-supply.html?m=0</a></p> <p>That's a link to the main pumping post by there are a few others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289516 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 22:23:30 +0000 BSB 2289516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: oh, yes, I have a hands free pumping bra. I should find something to keep me busy during my sessions. Sometimes it hard to keep my eyes open during day or night time sessions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289514 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 22:17:41 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2289514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I had a basket with lanolin (later olive oil), bra, etc. for night, I would have two clean sets in the basket and would just take it to the fridge when I was finished. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289512 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 22:14:59 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2289512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: also find something to do. And if you don't have a really good cover, get one! I cross-stitched a birth announcement while pumping. It made it to so much faster! And after awhile it gets so much easier. (You do have a pumping bra, right?) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289511 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 22:10:25 +0000 BSB 2289511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Truth Bombs: Thanks. Good advice. I'm also getting my DH involved. He said he'll ask me if I'm on top of taking my meds and staying hydrated. He said that he can get up to get my pump parts from the fridge if I'm in pain. If it doesn't work out, I'll definitely look into getting a mini fridge. </p> <p>@Mrs Green Grass: Thanks! I'll check out your blog post. As for sleeping through my alarm, yeah, I think I need to set up more alarms to get me up or to change the ring tone. Oh and yes, I can pump in their nicu room since its private. I did start doing that this week when my pump time was in the middle of when they do rounds and change diapers and feed. I think it will help to hold their hand while I pump. </p> <p>@MrsRcCar: yeah, my pumping station in the living room has my nursing chair, foot stool, space to layout all of my pumping supplies. It's a nice station during the day but harder for night time pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289510 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 22:08:55 +0000 gingerbebe 2289510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not have a premie (he was born at 39 weeks) but he was in the NICU for a few days with jaundice and I had extremely low supply that didn't even start coming in for a week. I nursed for 30 mins then pumped after every 2.5 hours around the clock when he was a newborn for the first month or so and it was so, so exhausting. We started supplementing with a little formula once a day and by 12 weeks I was EPing and only nursing for comfort. We combo fed with about 80-90% BM and 10-20% formula until 9.5 months when I ditched the pump.</p> <p>I will say my supply really established at around 11-12 weeks, so if you want to give them BM keep at it until then. But if you are okay with combo feeding, I would say try to pump as much as you can comfortably do without wearing yourself out too much bc once they are home it will be chaos and you will be so tired. And eat and drink as much as you can now to heal as fast as you can.</p> <p>For pumping, have multiple sets of parts and lots of storage bottles and keep them in a gallon ziploc bag. Keep the pump and all your supplies next to your bed. When it's time to pump, grab a clean set, pump, then put the pump parts and milk into a mini fridge (get a mini fridge and use it as a nightstand) and go back to sleep. In the morning have your husband take the parts and wash them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289507 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 21:55:07 +0000 MarieJ 2289507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I had a C-section and my first daughter was in the NICU for 10 days b/c she came 5 weeks early. Her only issue was that she didn't have the sucking reflex down, so I pumped every 2-3 hours. I stayed 5 days in the hospital after she was born b/c thankfully my insurance covered it, so I often pumped in her NICU room. I froze my milk in the NICU fridge and they would mix half breast milk/half formula and feed her through a feeding tube. A couple of days later, DH and I were bottle feeding her. I breastfed her on day 7 and she latched like a pro. They gave me instructions to continue bottle feeding her when they released us to go home to keep her weight up, and while I did try for 2 days, I stopped and just exclusively breastfed. She did great and she gained weight perfectly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289502 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 21:30:26 +0000 MrsRcCar 2289502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are still nursing every 3-4 hours at 19 months, but he does sleep over night now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289501 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 21:26:25 +0000 MrsRcCar 2289501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: I was fortunate enough to not have a c-section. I found that staying properly hydrated and keeping my food up really helped my supply. I made a pump nest each time I was pumping. It was nice to just relax. I chose to make my nest in bed. That way I was super comfy. I would also recommend getting a hands free bra, they are life savers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289499 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 21:21:35 +0000 LAZB 2289499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was religious about pumping when my son was in the nicu. I think it's important in order to keep your supply up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pumping-with-a-preemie-or-nicu-baby#post-2289496 Sat, 12 Sep 2015 21:19:07 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2289496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Check out my blog around October 2012. I Ep'd for 11 not he because Dylan was never really able to bf. I was really strict about the 3 hours from start to start because I knew how hard supply issues could be later since my sister had just gone through it. But it was really hard to wake up in the middle of the night. I forced myself as much as possible but I did sleep through my alarm a few times. It's definitely different not having the baby(ies) with you, but you can do it! (If you want to...)</p> <p>Can you pump in their room? Daytime I pumped in D's room and then I had a set up at home where I just brought my basket to bed with me at bedtime, otherwise it was next to the couch. </p>