Breastfeeding problem. Any suggestions?

Question

I had a baby on July 4th. She had some respiratory problems and is now in the NICU. I have been staying with her at the hospital in order to feed her, but I have recently been having problems expressing milk. My breasts are HUGE and full but when I try to pump little to nothing comes out.

I'm at home right now getting some rest. My blood pressure went through the roof last night, so the Dr has me on bed rest. Maybe the stress of the past week is not letting me "let down." IDK. My husband and I are just worried that I will stop producing milk if this keeps going the way it's going.

Oh, I also have a hospital-grade pump at home and that isn't even working! Please help!

Answer 1

Oh, I know you must be really worried, both about your little baby and about your difficulty pumping.

Stress, especially the amount you have right now, can adversely effect your let-down reflex. Then you stress about that, and it becomes a vicious cycle.

Good news: Let-down is partly a conditioned reflex and you can create a series of cues for your body to help stimulate let-down. The link below describes it like Pavlovian psychology.

In addition to the things listed on the page linked below, try the warm compress or warm shower to get milk flowing and looking at a picture of the baby while pumping.

Good luck! You can do it!!

Answer 2

Honestly, it is the stress of it all. I know it's hard with everything that is going on, but you have to breath through it and relax, or your milk won't let down. Don't forget that right now, you might not pump a lot, baby is always more efficient at removing milk than a pump.

In order to pump successfully, you should visualize your baby, think about how she smells, how she looks, and how much you love her. Breathe deeply. That will help the milk to let down.

Is there a good reason they won't let you just nurse her? Even if you scrub up before holding her? It really is the best thing for the baby, not just nutrition-wise, but for HER relaxation and healing.

If they aren't just letting you nurse her, I'd ask for a second opinion and demand to talk to the lactation consultants. Don't take no for an answer, you're the mom and you know best. Don't allow them to feed her formula from a bottle, that could really hurt your supply and cause problems like nipple confusion.

Take charge of the situation and demand to nurse her. At least, that's what I'd do, because I learned after experiences with my first baby that I'm in charge and the nurses should do as I desire pending some gross medical issue.

Answer 3

My daughter spent the first two weeks in the NICU and I managed to pump for her.

Try massaging them, and placing warm washcloths on them. I know a warm shower always seemed to get things flowing. Looking at a picture of your baby, hearing a baby cry or a towel with your baby's smell can help. Taking some relaxing breaths can help. I know it's a stressful time, but the let down process is very sensitive.

Also, pump every 2 hours for 15-20 minutes, whether anything comes out or not. Also, try playing with the suction strength on the pump.

If you need to talk, please feel free to email me.

Keep up the good work!

Answer 4

Great advice already - the warm shower and massage, the thoughts of your baby while pumping, the attempts at relaxation, the pumping every couple of hours…

Something overlooked so far is the pump you’re using… I was terrified by the machinery I was provided from the hospital – it was enormous, buzzing, right out intimidating and terribly painful – I could not get it at a right pressure or rhythm to squeeze a drop put of my engorged breasts, nor find a comfortable position to use it. So, risking to sound like a sales rep, I highly recommend the Avent *manual* breast pump, I think it’s $40 or $50 at Baby’s R Us. That thing did miracles for me, I was able to express amounts of milk I never thought possible to be stored inside my breasts! It's reasonably fast and you have full control over it. I used it for a year with no issues whatsoever. Good luck with your little one, she’s chosen a very special birthday for herself!

Answer 5

To help let down a hot shower can do the trick or....weird as this sounds....a baby diaper with very warm water applied to your breasts. The lactation consultant had recommended this. See if you can pump after these measures.

If the hospital has a lactation consultant available I would place a call and see her. You want to keep the milk flowing if possible and not let too much time lapse in between pumping or nursing.

Good luck; breastfeeding is never as easy as everyone thinks it would be.

Answer 6

CONGRATULATIONS on your new little baby girl !!! Now, you must relax more and get more rest. Honey, if you can't nurse your little girl it is not the worst thing that could happen. I know this is what you want to do for her health but sometimes it just does not work out. I also would check with your Dr and see if you have a breast infection. Sooner or later your breasts will become so hard that you won't be able to stand it and you will have to go to the Dr. In the meantime, look in your phone book for the nearest La Leache Club and see if they can assist you. Good Luck !!!!

Answer 7

Take a warm shower and try massaging your breast until milk comes out.... Then pump.. If you are having pain.. put some ice pack or frozen veggies on them.. Just continue to try and breastfeed/pump..

Answer 8

First off, you are stressing which is bad on you and your milk supply. Second, your breasts are engorged (which is normal). Keep breastfeeding as often as you can or pumping when you can't and relax. Everything is going to be just fine.

Answer 9

try pumping at the hospital while you are looking at your baby smelling her hearing her. that'll help with let down. crying helps too! If you are holding in your emotions about your babies situation let it out and pump while you do it