Milk Production

[matty]

Has anyone have problems with milk production because of severe preelcamspia and the baby born too early?

My son was born at 28 4/7 weeks and I've been pumping but my milk production is very low that I had to be put on Reglan. My milk production improved but just a little. I'm only able to produce 8-10 ounce of milk in a 24 hour period. Has any one else has this problem?

[maddiekinsmom]

Hi Matty -

I too had the same exact problem. My daughter was born at 29 weeks and I kept pumping for 16 weeks, but gave up because my production was so low. I don't think I even pumped more than 6 - 8 ounces in a day. Unfortunately, the reglan didn't work for me. I hope that maybe it will help you.

Some women swear by a tea - Mother's Milk tea - I think?? Or some ladies have had luck drinking tons of fluids. Sorry I'm not much help, but I wish you luck! It's great that you're pumping - any amount of breastmilk your little one gets is terrific! Take care.
Rachel

Rachel
Madeleine 4/8/01 (29 weeker: 1 lb,14oz; severe PE, IUGR)

[laura]

The neat thing about mother's milk tea is that it has the herb fenugreek in it, something that you can take in capsule form if the tea doesn't do it for ya (tastewise, I mean)

I had a bit of luck with gatorade (I know, I'm like a broken record about it) and I didn't feel so dehydrated all the time with it. I had more luck with the fenugreek capsules downed with gatorade than the reglan, to tell the truth. I don't think I ever produced more than 4 oz per day, tops, either child though. Good luck- and keep up the good work. 8-10 oz may not be enough to fill a freezer, but every bit helps.

Laura
Moderator/AK Coordinator

Mom to Alicia (severe PE) 5/98 and Camille (htn, oligo) 4/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/c/camilleandallie/

[tahoe4]

I didn't have problems with milk production after deliving my 34 weeker. But some things the hospital lactation consultant suggested since I wasn't able to pump until about 4 days after delivery were these things:

1. Pump every 2 hours, even throughout the night. The more often you pump, the better your production will get.

2. Put a warm wet towel (or baby diaper, unused of course[;)]over your chest for a few minutes before pumping.

3. Use a hospital grade pump at least to begin with.

Hope that helps...

[hutced]

When I had my daughter at 41weeks I had a heck of a time producing enough and I was doing everything possible, mothers milk tea, pumping after she nursed and I was also told to try brewers yeast tablets, it makes your breast milk and sweet smell like maple syrup. But I would definitaly check with a lactation nurse or your dr before trying this, my daughter was a healthy baby and almost 8 lbs at birth.

I didn't have much trouble with my son 35wks, although I was expecting to, so I did start battling it early. I pumped with a hospital grade pump and I started drinking the mothers milk tea right off the bat. oh and I pumped every 2 hours all day and night and drank tons of water and no caffine!!!

Good luck.




Denise
Emily 3-6-02 41 1/2wks, 7lbs15oz
Evan 10-21-03 35wks, 5lbs6oz, PIH/PE (placental abruption)http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/h/hutced/

[amyk]

The fenugreek caused all sorts of intestinal problems with me, if you catch my drift. I got to the point that just smelling that stuff would make me cramp up.
My doctor then prescribed Domperidone and it worked really well for me. Unlike Reglan, it doesn't have the possible side effect of depression. It is a bit expensive though, and I have to go to a pharmacy that compounds drugs to get it. Still, if I hadn't gotten it, I feel certain that I would have abandoned BF'ing (or actually I should say pumping) altogether.

Amy

Chloe (8/6/01) 35 weeks, p/e, hellp
Tristan (9/3/03), 32 weeks, p/e and hellp AGAIN

[matts_mom]

it's been exactly 8 weeks since my son was born. i pumped every 4 hours in the hospital for 4 weeks, right after bf'ing. i was pumping a grand total of 60cc in 24 hours after 2 weeks. at 4 weeks i was at 100cc in 24 hours. now i pump around 180cc in 24 hours. i tried fenugreek tea while in hospital but it gave me hives. i have two prescriptions, one for domperidone which i used and it helped with letdown. the other i have not tried yet - its for maxoran, which i believe is another name for reglan. i have heard of other things which are supposed to help - drink lots of water and rest often, beer, brewers yeast, root beer, blessed thistle, fenugreek and my personal fav, having dh play with your nipples whenever he can[:D]although not sure about that. when i was pumping in the hospital, talking to dh helped me. i seemed to express more milk when i was talking to him on the fone or in the same room with him. the best for me is just to bf when matthew is hungry, top him up with a bottle, then pump.

matt's mom
matthew-born Feb 6, 2004, at 34 weeks due to hellp syndrome

[angelkat]

One thing that hasn't been brought up yet... Try drinking root beer (it really does help!!!) any type of root beer as long as it is root beer. My LC (also one of my best friends) always said to sleep during the night because having a child in the NICU was stress enough and in the morning you will have a nice supply....

Good luck to you...

Hugs
~T

Mommy to
Drew(13)
Ky (11)
~i~ Katlyne(12/9/02-04/02/03) and little bud (Due 09/11/04)http://www.forevernetwork.com/Archive/lifestory.cfm?Archive_ID=10971&Directory=%2FArchives%2FMountHope&CFID=1089289&CFTOKEN=79068509

[catherine]

Hi Matt's mom... laugh all you like [:I] the nipple stimulation thing works tremendously well!!! The letdown that will result will shower DH so for milk enrichment purposes... better off taking care of it yourself!

Catherine
Mom to Finn, Lucy (preeclampsia and HELLP) and Chloe.
Moderator HELLP Syndrome Survivors

[emmybree]

I had the same problem

Mommy to:

Breanna (1-25-02)
Emilie (2-19-03)