Preemie MoM here

[serejane]

My girls Charlotte and Daphne were born 2 months ago at 33w 2d weighing 4 lbs 3 oz and 4 lbs 10 oz. They spent 3 weeks in the nicu eating and growing. After difficulties nursing/supplementing I decided to exclusively pump for them. They are my first children and I think they're awesome! Having twins/preemies has been a joy and challenge which is why I'm here!

[marajadeskywalker]

Congratulations on the twins! I exclusively pumped for my DS also. How are you finding it?

[serejane]

You know, I hated it at first but now it's not so bad. I'm in a routine now which helps. Plus it's 15-20 min each time that I use to read aimlessly or eat so it's kind of 'me' time now. A little harder if I'm home alone, I need to make sure the girls are napping. I really love being able to hand a bottle and baby to someone else!

[marajadeskywalker]

Same here. DH loved feeding our little guy. And I hear you on using it as me time! I bought a hands free bra off of Amazon and it made things easier also!

[peaceofkia]

I too am EPing my preemie twins (36 weeks GA today). I wanted to nurse but think pumping might be the better route as far as for preparing them for daycare and so I can receive help from DH and family.

[edenaurora]

It looks like I'll be exclusively pumping too. Ds was nursing when we were still in the NICU but I stopped pumping (no one told me not to stop pumping until after his due date) and my supply tanked. I have started pumping again to bring back my supply. We've been giving him a combination of fresh pumped milk and what was frozen while in the NICU. I don't know if he'll accept the breast again. I've been offering when I can but he's pretty frustrated at the slow flow and lack of supply. I imagine it will get better as my supply returns.

What pumps are you all using? My insurance company sent me a Medela Pump in Style but I had been using the Medela Symphony in the NICU. I have found that the PIS isn't as efficient and effective as the symphony plus it's loud. I ended up renting a Symphony from the hospital. Once my supply returns I'll try the PIS again.

This is really frustrating because I was pumping 5-6 ounces total in 10-15 minutes when we were still in the NICU. Now I'm lucky if I get a full 2 ounces in 15-20 minutes. I don't know why they didn't tell me to continue pumping.

[serejane]

I didn't think the nicu set me up very well to pump either. They just handed me the supplies and said 'use them!' It was so painful at first because I was using wayyyy too small of a breast shield! Once that was fixed it got better. I used a symphony at the nicu and loved it and I have a pisa from insurance. I don't mind it other than being loud.
It wasn't until a couple weeks into the nicu stay that I really learned more about pumping-mostly self taught from online research.

[marajadeskywalker]

I used the medela freestyle and loved it! It's really quiet, i could pump right beside dh while he was asleep and he never noticed. The battery life on it was also amazing - i could go a couple of days without charging it if i had to.

It's also small and light, with memory, so it remembers your suction settings and how long you like to 'prime' for

[mymorningcoffee]

Congratulations!

My twins were 33 weekers too. They are 3.5 now. I pumped for them too. L never got the hang of nursing, so pumping seemed to be the best option for us. It was also nice that DH could feed one girl while I fed the other. 

[serejane]

It is so nice to be able to have other people help feed the girls. I'm just getting discouraged because I pump 8 or more times a day and still only produce half of what they need.

[serejane]

Oh yeah. I eat oatmeal every morning, have taken fenugreek, are lactation cookies, flaxseed, mothers milk tea, drank more water... Etc.

The only rec I haven't followed is getting more sleep and I'm not sure how possible that is at this point!

[meladorie]

Congrats on your girls! I'm sorry you're struggling with supply. I'm new to this so no advice but u hope you're able to find something that works (more sleep sounds awesome lol but I imagine it's not too realistic).

[aurora1181]

little late to this post, but congrats! I have a Daphne too! I'm also EP for my twins, born at 32 weeks. Congratulation on your babies.

[aurora1181]

Jan 23, 2015 12:01:56 GMT -5 serejane said:

It is so nice to be able to have other people help feed the girls. I'm just getting discouraged because I pump 8 or more times a day and still only produce half of what they need.

I'm in the same boat- I pump about 35-40oz and they eat, combined, about 60. I supplement as needed. I was bummed about it for awhile, but then I realized that if I had only one baby, I'd be making more than enough and many women would love to make what I'm able to pump. So if I have to supplement with formula, so be it. Good luck to you! I find that rest helps and eating a TON. seriously, I eat all the time.

[serejane]

Jan 24, 2015 10:43:50 GMT -5 aurora1181 said:

little late to this post, but congrats! I have a Daphne too! I'm also EP for my twins, born at 32 weeks. Congratulation on your babies.

Good taste in names!

You have a good perspective. I am making enough for one baby and a tad more. It is a good amount, I just wish I could make even more! Oh well, such is life