How can I start breast feeding if I have no breastmilk?

Question

I had my twins on Friday, they were born at 35 weeks by c-section. They are currently at the NICU at the hospital and I would like to take them some breast milk to start feeding them, but I have no breast milk. I have a manual pump that my mom brought me and I tried it but nothing happens. After pumping for a couple of minutes, theres only like 2-3 drops of colostrum. Am I supposed to keep trying until something comes out? Or is there anything I can do to make it start flowing?

Answer 1

Congratulations on your twins!

I completely understand what you are going through. I needed to pump my breastmilk while my 35week gestation son was in the NICU for 3 weeks. However for the first 4 days I would only get 1-2 drops of colostrum after 20 minutes of pumping! It may not seem like a lot, but give that colostrum that you are getting to the nurses; even a little bit will help. My milk took about 5 days before it came in. And it was a week before I felt like I was actually getting a respectable amount.

You really need a more powerful pump than a manual one. Especially as you are getting your milk supply started. With as much as you will be pumping you need a powerful one. A manual one will take you about an hour to get out of one breast what you can in 10 minutes with a hospital grade one. Plus you can pump both breasts at the same time. Ask the NICU nurses or the hospital's lactation consultant where you can rent one today! Also sometimes your insurance will pay for the pump rental while your twins are in the hospital if you get a prescription for it from their pediatrician or neonatalogist.

To bring in your milk by pumping, you have to pump at least 8-12 times a day for 10-20 minutes (this means waking up in the middle of the night.) I know it seems like a lot, but it can be harder to stimulate the milk supply when pumping and not breastfeeding. It is important to drink a ton of water. Also I found that taking fenugreek capsules and blessed thistle (not milk thistle) from health food stores helped to increase my supply once the milk started flowing.

Please don't get discouraged. It is difficult enough to breastfeed and then when you add having your dear babies in the NICU it is even more frustrating. Just know that even if you aren't able to produce what you think is a lot of milk that even little amounts will help your little babies. Good luck!

Answer 2

Congratulations! You need a hospital grade pump. Your baby's nurses can get this set up for you. Do you have any lactating friends who can bring over some milk? Are there donors in your community? Your colostrum is best for your babies, but milk from another woman is a close second.

I'm not sure why your babies are in the NICU, but they can probably nurse directly at the breast. Does anyone have a good link to the studies about premature infants breastfeeding? They found higher blood oxygen levels, slower respiration and slower heartbeats (slower in a healthy way). I'm sorry, I can't remember where I read it, but you may want to try them on the breast. Even very premature babies can breastfeed.

You really need the support of a lactation consultant. You may need a whole team of LCs!

Someone suggested asking if the nurses will allow you to breastfeed. Don't bother asking. The nurses will say no. You can either just do it, or you can bug the neonatologist. Don't give up until your babies are nursing happily! You have to be pushy because the formula industry is always hanging out in the hospital pushing their product. Do you think that doctors will see La Leche League leaders? No, so we breastfeeding moms need to bother those stubborn doctors who think they know everything. I wish I had never even asked to nurse my sickly baby--I should have picked her up and latched her on, oxygen tent and all! Don't be timid! You can do it, mama!

Answer 3

Keep pumping! The more you stimulate, the more milk will come in. It's great that you are getting the colostrum already. It takes 2 or 3 days for most moms' milk to come in after giving birth, even with the baby nursing (and not really getting much), so hang in there.

See if the hospital will let you nurse the babies there. You can still supplement with formula, but the babies sucking stimulates better than a pump, and it's a good opportunity for bonding, and it will get them used to your breasts.

Be sure to drink lots of water and get lots of protein in your diet. Be careful about eating or drinking too much dairy, acidic foods, spicy foods or citrus. It might irritate your babies' stomachs. All babies are different though, so see how they do. Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 4

I'm not sure how the deal works with twins as they are usually born earlier than a singleton, but it does take a few days for milk to come in, and when it does let me tell you, you'll know, and when that happens, pump like crazy!!!!! It will keep your milk supply up if your babies aren't nursing yet, and because you had twins you'll definitely need to keep the supply up!! If you're really concerned, talk to your doctor, they're the only person that can really answer your question to make you feel the most at ease because they know you and your pregnancy and such!!! You can also use herbs to help with milk production, fenugreek is one of the popular ones, but I would ask your doctor before starting these, just in case!!! Good luck and congrats!!!

Answer 5

The hospital can set you up with a rental pump. Medela (SP) is what I used to pump for my son when he was in NICU (He was 11 weeks early on a feeding tube). You just have to keep it up. Because my son was so early he had to be given sugar water for the first week and so I just froze what I was able to pump until they were ready to give it to him. The lactation consultant can also give you a list of herbs that can help with milk production. I lost the list that I had, but there are a lot that can be used.

Answer 6

I agree with Shera:
The nurses are sabotaging your milk supply. Get a hospital grade pump and start nursing your babies.

My first was 36 weeks and was able to nurse, your babies should be able to as well. The hospital has a lactation consultant on staff (ask if she's board certified, it makes a difference.) Ask her to come visit you and the twins to get them latched on. It's going to take some work, but it's totally doable.

Expect your milk to come in any time in the next 6 days--it takes 7+ days for some women.

Answer 7

well it does take a few days for the milk to come in. I would ask the nurses at the NICU and they will probably let you try breastfeeding them there. Definitely keep trying with the pump in the meantime because the milk works on a demand basis.

Answer 8

i don't understand why labor and delivery hasn't helped you pump with their hospital grade pump??

a manual pump at this point will NOT do the job.....and your full milk should be in by tommorrow or the next day....but once again get back to the hospital and ask to the put the babies to your breast

at 35 weeks gestation they are mature enough to spend time with you in your arms and learn to breastfeed.....and when they are not in your arms you need to be stimulating your breasts with the good pump

your hospital should have a lactation consultant to help you with this ......did she visit you after delivery?

so keep your spirits up and make is very clear you want to breastfeed your babies to the nurses....very clear i repeat and that you want to latch them and pump also

if you do not assert yourself then before you know what even happened the nurses will continue with formula feeding your babies and they will have sabataged your breastfeeding

good luck

Answer 9

I know it is frustrating but keep pumping even those few drops are full of nutrients. My milk didn't come until about 3 or 4 days after my twins were born. Best Wishes and God Bless you and your little ones.

Answer 10

keep pumping,it will take a couple of days for ur milk to come , u should ring the NICU ,they might like to give the babies the colostrum