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Author Topic: Engorged and DS in NICU  (Read 1940 times)

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Offline 1stimer

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Engorged and DS in NICU
« on: June 11, 2014, 19:48:31 pm »
Hey yall real quick....I've been pumping every 2 hrs but still seem engorged. I've just pumped for 30 min (usually I do 15-20) to try and drain them. HELP!! I don't know if its my pump or what but it hasn't done much. I was only34 weeks gestation but I'm already pumping several oz per breast.
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Offline MasynSpencerElliotte

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2014, 20:14:57 pm »
Hmm I have never been that successful at pumping, but I am guessing that like bf, the more you pump, the more they will make and they are never truly empty so pumping for even longer than usual will just trigger your body to make even more milk!  Can you pump off just enough to be comfortable? Congrats btw!
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Offline TB9

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2014, 20:47:17 pm »
What kind of pump are you using?  I needed a hospital grade medela to actually feel drained!
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Offline 1stimer

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2014, 22:17:20 pm »
At home I have the Amenda but up here its the hospital grade medela...I might slip it in my purse and walk out lol!!  I had a clogged milk duct with DD and I don't want that again. I may try switching to the bigger breast.piece...my boobs get pretty large so I wonder ifthe pump needs more surface to pump??
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Offline TB9

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2014, 22:21:24 pm »
Thats possible, I think I had to buy the larger funnel attachement thing to go with the pump when I rented it
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Offline Martini~

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2014, 07:37:33 am »
Ok, the question is how much do you pump not only how long. But I generally agree with Heidi, the more you pump, the more milk will be produced...
« Last Edit: June 12, 2014, 13:08:42 pm by Martii85 »
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Offline Erin M

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2014, 12:31:29 pm »
Moving you to breast feeding...
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Offline eva026

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #7 on: June 15, 2014, 06:49:58 am »
Yup, agree with the others, the more you pump the more you produce. Pump just how much you'd be feeding LO and bit more if you want a freezer stash, then stop. Draining your breast every time is telling them that they are not making enough milk.
I have no expreience with blocked ducts but when I was engorged, cabbaged leaves were a life saver!
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Offline *jazzberry*

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #8 on: June 15, 2014, 10:24:52 am »
Just wanted to say congratulations! Hope all is well x
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Offline *Ali*

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #9 on: June 15, 2014, 22:09:10 pm »
Congratulations.

I don't know exactly how old your DS is but I'm guessing very young still. A typical 1wo only drinks about 1.5-2oz per feed so I would probably try to limit what you pump to what you would expect to be feeding based on your LOs age.
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/

Do you have access to a LC or other breastfeeding specialist who can advise you?

I know when I went away and had to pump for two nights I found it just impossible to drain my breast with a pump and always felt engorged. That only cleared when I fed my baby for the first time upon my return. It may be down to the pump or technique though. I'd definitely look into borrowing/renting a hospital grade pump if you expect to be pumping for a while.

Could had expressing be better at clearing it do you think?

Have you tried heat to stimulate the flow at all?
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Offline TB9

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #10 on: June 16, 2014, 11:34:41 am »
If you are worried about leaving plugged ducts, and want to pump until empty, you could always drain each breast but increase the time between pumping sessions.  I had plugged ducts as well, with both LOs, and I never could have left milk in I had to empty completely, so I just started gradually increasing time between pumping sessions instead of leaving milk in :)

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Offline weaver

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #11 on: June 16, 2014, 12:07:24 pm »
Hoping all is well and you're able to start feeding LO directly soon.

Totally agree with pps, try to think about what 'signals' you're sending to your breasts.  You don't want a massive oversupply.
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*Anne*, loving mama to a honeybee (2010) and a sweetpea (2012).  BF for 4 proud years.

Offline 1stimer

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #12 on: June 18, 2014, 21:57:50 pm »
Hey ladies thanks for the help. Luckily ds is home after 6 days in the nicu and nursing has been going pretty well. Occasionally ill have to use a bottle bc he wont stay latched and they don't want him to burn too many calories just trying to eat but its once a day(if that). I am worried however that my nipples will end up like  they did with DD...cracked and bleeding. On one breast, when he first starts, its a sharp pain that goes away. Is this normal? I only nursed dd for 3 weeks bc it was so unbearable but with ds I'd like to nurse as long as possible.
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Offline eva026

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #13 on: June 19, 2014, 06:59:07 am »
Yup, hurts the first weeks:(
You can try come lanolin cream or just put some BM on your nipples and leave them to air dry.
Finally you can always put on nipple shields. You can either wean them later or just continue with them. We managed 1y BFing with shields, although less convenient but totally doable.
Congrats of getting LO home:))
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Offline Shdef

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Re: Engorged and DS in NICU
« Reply #14 on: June 19, 2014, 07:04:54 am »
How does the nipple look afterwards? Is it normal or does it appear flattened?
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