Yep, I'm talking about my milk. I really have come to realize that I consider my milk to be liquid gold. If I only had one baby, I wouldn't be worried about my supply at all. I would be cruising along just fine. Actually if I only had 1 baby, I would probably be breast feeding rather than exclusively pumping and I wouldn't even know how much milk I was producing. With two babies I know that keeping my supply up is very important. So far, I am doing just fine as the girls are only eating 45-48ml per feeding and I am producing at least 60 if not 90 ml out of each breast per pumping session. So I am ahead of the game at this point, but I would like to have more on hand as the girls start eating more.
I try to get out as much milk as I can per pumping and I treat the milk as if it is liquid gold. If I ever spill some, I get very upset knowing how important my milk is to my girls. I also get really excited when I happen to produce more than normal on any given pumping session. Then same is true if I don't at least get 2 ounces out, I am somewhat upset. I'm pumping every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the day and then I take a 5 hour stretch at night to sleep where I get 4 to 5 ounces out of each breast and then I go back to the same 2 1/2 to 3 hour schedule.
Some women can get 40 ounces a day after pumping only 4 times a day and others like me struggle if I don't consistently pump. I'm very scared to lose my supply and I get very upset if I am out when I should be pumping. Basically I live my life in 3 hour stretches of time. Now my life would still be like that if the girls were home since they eat every 3 hours, but with the pumping, I have to either be at the hospital or at my house to pump with the hospital grade pumps. Lactation has recommended I start taking the herb Fenugreek to increase my supply. I bought the bottle today and I hope it helps increase my production a little bit so I can relax about the whole milk production thing. It has also been rumored that oatmeal helps in milk production also so me and the oatmeal cookies have become good friends. I have lost all of my pregnancy weight plus a few pounds, but I have stopped losing weight now that I am eating all the cookies. At least they taste good. :)
On to better news, Addison is 5 pounds 8 ounces and Riley is 5 pounds 3 ounces. Riley got her feeding tube taken out of her nose today because she was nippling most of her feeds. They will keep it out as long as she continues to finish most of her 45ml on each feeding. When I fed her today she did 25ml and then fell asleep. The nurse said she had one more chance to finish the full feed at her next feeding time, otherwise she would have to get her tube put back in. I really hope she can continue to do well so she can keep the tube out and come home soon. Addison is getting really close to finishing her feeds and she did 30 ml with me today. I'm proud of my girls and I hope they are starting to figure things out so they can come home real soon. They are almost 37 weeks gestation and getting close to a full term baby.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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Hi Amy
ReplyDeleteI have loved reading your updates. I am also nursing my newborn son and wanted to recommend something to you that is helping me make more milk. It's an all natural pill called More Milk Plus (you can get it at natural food stores) and I take it 4 times a day and it has really increased my milk. Also, google lactation cookies, too. I really admire all the pumping of milk you are doing for your daughters and you are right...breastmilk IS liquid gold. Such a bonding experience nursing is for our babies. You are such an amazing mom and I just wanted to tell you that :)
Sounds like great progress! I know how you feel about the liquid gold. You are already producing a bit more/about the same as me NOW. I think your supply is actually great - I could NEVER get that much out and I always felt like I was way behind the curve. I still worry about keeping up with Micah, and I don't think I can if I switch to exclusively pumping. I'm lucky to get 4 ounces total every 3 hrs when I pump.
ReplyDeleteWith time (and once the girls start nursing directly), your supply will increase with them. When Micah needs more, we go through periods of 2-3 days when he nurses every 1-2 hours, and then my supply increases. He still is only taking about 4 ounces a feed at 5 months (he takes more in the first feed of the day). The Fenugreek helped me, but I couldn't keep taking it because of my asthma. It sounds like the girls may just be home before you know it!! - Tess