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Tips for going home while baby stays in NICU

  1. Mrs Green Grass

    pomelo / 5628 posts

    @jhd: I totally remember the first few days of pumping. Waking up in the middle of the night without a baby crying is sooo hard! And washing pump parts, etc made it hard to get out of the house and to the NICU in the morning. But it just gets easier. My husband and I always went to dinner together before or after our evening NICU trip. It was a nice normal time and a chance for is to try to process our emotions.

  2. Mrs Green Grass

    pomelo / 5628 posts

    Oh yeah! Do you have a Medellin symphony? It has a preemie setting. It worked really well for me. I'd rent one if you can't get it for free.

  3. Mrs Green Grass

    pomelo / 5628 posts

    Oh yeah! Do you have a Medellin symphony? It has a preemie setting. It worked really well for me. I'd rent one if you can't get it for free. (Actually only the NICU version had the preemie setting, but still that pump is so much better than some others!)

  4. jhd

    coconut / 8079 posts

    @Mrs Green Grass: I got the symphony yesterday afternoon (hospital folks said Ameda would be fine...2 LCs that work with peds office disagree!) so hoping that helps

  5. Madison43

    persimmon / 1483 posts

    We rented the symphony and it was my best friend for a few weeks until everything got moving. I had the ameda in my hospital room and it definitely didn't work as well for me.

  6. jhd

    coconut / 8079 posts

    @T.H.O.U.: NO! That's the whole issue. It's like let's throw you in the deep end of the pool when you're already exhausted & then just tell you to keep swimming instead of throwing you a raft or getting in & pulling you out!! We have two wonderful LCs not affiliated with hospital & I got the symphony from one of them yesterday. She gave me a different size flange too & I think it's helping. Also the symphony you just have to turn it on & then it does all the changes etc

  7. jhd

    coconut / 8079 posts

    @Madison43: great to know. They kept insisting the Ameda was fine.

  8. littlek

    GOLD / squash / 13576 posts

    @jhd: Does your NICU have a special lactation consultant? We had 2 at our NICU. Schedule an appointment with them and make them show you in detail everything you need to know. It's their job to help you.

  9. T.H.O.U.

    wonderful clementine / 24134 posts

    @jhd: Aww I'm sorry. Pumping is not easy to just "get".

    A few quick tips:
    1) You can use lanolin on the nipple if you start rubbing too much
    2) Think about your baby, look at pictures, smell a blanket, listen to their cry from a video http://scienceofmom.com/2012/04/12/pump-up-the-music-improving-breast-milk-production-in-the-nicu/
    3) Use a warm washcloth to try to help loosen things up (lay it on the breast) and do gentle massages to try to pull the milk out).
    4) Remember an infants stomach is only the size of like a marble, so you really aren't looking for a ton to come pouring out! http://babiesfirstlactation.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/the-newborns-stomach/
    5) If you think you've stopped flowing (or just need a break because nothing is coming), unhook and get a drink of water, and then come back. Sometimes even just a 60 second break and restarting the session can stimulate a new let down.

  10. littlek

    GOLD / squash / 13576 posts

    @jhd: I rented a pump as well. I feel like the hospital grade was much better than the one we had at home.

  11. littlek

    GOLD / squash / 13576 posts

    @T.H.O.U.: Good suggestions! I found having a picture of LO really helped me.

  12. T.H.O.U.

    wonderful clementine / 24134 posts

    @littlek: Yes, pictures are great. I found watching a video to hear her cry REALLY helped. I think there are actually studies that show the change in a woman when she hears her baby cry.

  13. LovelyPlum

    eggplant / 11408 posts

    @T.H.O.U.: these are good suggestions for me, too! Pumping is way harder than I expected it would be.

  14. littlek

    GOLD / squash / 13576 posts

    @jhd: Also, is there a pumping room next to the NICU. I liked to pump right after holding him.

  15. jhd

    coconut / 8079 posts

    @littlek: there is a pumping room so i hope to make use of that as much as possible in the weeks to come.

    @T.H.O.U.: we have video of the one time i did get to hold him and i've been watching it every time. as soon as little man has that huge tube out he might be able to make some noise and i'll make sure to capture that on video.

  16. jhd

    coconut / 8079 posts

    @T.H.O.U.: these are great suggestions. thank you so so so much.

  17. jhd

    coconut / 8079 posts

    @littlek: no special nicu lc as far as i know. the hospital one stinks in my opinion. she is kind. but the only thing she says is "8 times a day" that's like her only advice. she didn't even check to make sure i had the right size flange!!! (and apparently she hates the LCs that work with my peds office so i have to be careful not to mention them. why do women have to be so catty and mean?---that's why i love HB so much. you ladies all just want to help. )

  18. Mrs Green Grass

    pomelo / 5628 posts

    I found the Exclusive Pumpers group on BBC very helpful. There was also a facts page on iVillage I think. I've written quite a few milk-centered blog posts too if you want to check them out.

    I think a lot of it won't make as much sense until your milk comes in. But length of pumping time is important. You should pump 5 minutes past the last milk (although for me it never fully stopped...I always had to pump for 30 minutes). I also found that LC's didn't help that well with pumping besides saying that I could never ever miss a pump or do it less than 8x a day. My sister was the biggest help.

    Any other hospital issues that we can help with?

  19. jhd

    coconut / 8079 posts

    @Mrs Green Grass: you are awesome! thank you I can't think of anything right now but thank you! The hospital stuff does get confusing!

    T is off the ventilator and sleeping peacefully. Breathing on his own and just getting a little oxygen from a cpap. We are leaving in just a few minutes to see him & I cannot wait!!! He will likely be in nicu for a while as there are some other issues to deal with but yay!!!

    And I started with drops this am and now I'm getting trickles! Not enough to get into those darn syringes but I'm going to go park myself by his bed and pump & see what they can do with it!!!

  20. Mrs Green Grass

    pomelo / 5628 posts

    @jhd: that's fantastic! Good luck : )

  21. LovelyPlum

    eggplant / 11408 posts

    @jhd: amazing news!!!

  22. Ms.Badger

    clementine / 918 posts

    @jhd: So, so happy your LO is off the vent (I am literally tearing up for you)! It's so amazing to see him without all that extra stuff. I hope T continues to improve. I don't have NICU experience, but boy do I have PICU experience, Ever need to vent about EVERYTHING, feel free to wall me.

  23. mfa_lady

    pomegranate / 3921 posts

    So happy to see your update. Thinking of you!

  24. littlek

    GOLD / squash / 13576 posts

    @jhd: yay!!!! Great update!

  25. Applesandbananas

    pomegranate / 3845 posts

    @jhd: hugs... I remember those days. I pumped by his bedside. There was a symphony right there and a sink to wash my parts. I pumped every two hours since I couldn't hold him much in the first couple of days. The nurses were really encouraging. Can you ask if they can help you set up to pump by his bed? I always got WAY more by his bed than in my room or a pumping room. Maybe they can pull some strings and make it work for you.

    I also ate a ton of oatmeal and carried a huge camelbak water bottle with me.

    Good luck, I know it's hard not to stress but try! I hope you get more baby snuggles soon!

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