Told to pump when babe is 1 days old?

[MamaLump]

So, I was visiting a friend in the hospital who's son was born yesterday morning. She was induced at 37 weeks due to preeclampsia and her son was 5 lbs 7 oz. yesterday down to 5 lbs 1 oz. the pediatrician stopped by while I was there and mentioned (somewhat in passing) that she should be pumping to help her milk come in. I told my friend this seemed strange. Was it because of either the preeclampsia or induction? Would that make it harder for her milk to come in? Or because her little guy is so small they don't want him to lose much? Have you heard of this?

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[CurtsBabyMama]

Both my little ones were preemies, DS 32weeker weighing 2lbs and DD 35 weeker weighing 4lbs and I was never told to pump to make my milk come in. It just took frequent nursings and it everything was fine. They lost the normal amount of weight like most babies do. I couldn't imagine trying to pump that soon, I would think it would be extremely painful.

[mysticmomma1879]

If he's not nursing every 2 hours she needs to be pumping every 2 hours or her supply will not establish.

[MamaLump]

I'm not sure how often he is nursing, we didn't discuss the details. But I know he has had multiple wet diapers and 3 meconium poops. I think she is fine not pumping. The hospital LC was coming to see her as I left, so hopefully she'll get good advice from her. She didn't seem worried about his weight, so that probably goes along way.

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[alaskamum]

Originally Posted by mysticmomma1879 If he's not nursing every 2 hours she needs to be pumping every 2 hours or her supply will not establish.

I would agree with this in general. Is the baby in the NICU or separated from the mom?

However, in my experience, pumping is sort of a catch all recommendation for any breastfeeding problems. When I had dd2, the hospital told me that I couldn't go home without a pump b/c with my 1st baby, I had a hemmorage (sp?) 48 hours later, and they were saying it was b/c my uterus wasn't stimulated enough from nursing. Ironically, my hemmorage STARTED while I was nursing; I was nursing plenty. It most like was due to needing more aggressive fundal massage after the birth, which I did receive with my 2nd baby and all was well. (I did not take their pump home, and managed to bf dd for 16 months.)

With my first two, they had a lot of trouble latching on for their second feeding--they both did like 30 minutes right when they were born, but I had a lot of trouble getting them to do it a second time. For both of them, I had to stand up and hold them upright against me for them to "get it" and after that they figured it out and I could hold them in regular positions. I have no idea why that is; but of course if they never latched on my milk would have been in trouble.

ALSO--when babies are smaller/born earlier (like before 38weeks), someone told me that their suck reflex might not be as mature, so they might have more trouble latching on (ds was 37 weeks). The doc could be assuming this.

BUT, despite all that I mentioned above, the most important thing is to get the baby nursing, unless she wants to EP. Pumping wont' help the baby learn how to nurse. There is a learning curve to nursing, for both mom and baby. In the beginning I also remember having to strip the babies down to their diaper to keep them awake enough to nurse.

I also don't even think most people have any milk that soon...just colostrum. That freaks people out when they try to pump that soon and can't get anything.

[Jsweetheart1019]

When DS was born I was also told to pump to bring my milk in.

[momma_dna]

There is no reason to pump this early unless her baby is in nicu and she's unable to bf. NB tummies are the size of a gum ball. Colostrum is what her baby needs. Her milk will come.

[momma_dna]

Also having her baby nurse as frequently as it wants will also ensure her milk comes. Pumping is not as good as baby.

[lilmomma83]

If breastfeeding is going well she shouldn't need to pump.

[colin-mylilguy]

My LO was born a month early and was 5 lbs 7 oz. We were only in the hospital for 24 hours but he only lost 1 oz before discharge. I didn't pump, I just nursed him and he was good about nursing frequently. He had a very tight tongue tie and high palate so we had his tongue clipped at the Pedi's on day 2.

I say all this to point out that being a month early, doesn't necessarily mean she needs to pump for him. If he is nursing well, her milk should come in just fine.

My concern would be with the Pre-E. High blood pressure, inductions, a lot of IV fluids, epidurals and c/s can all be factors in delayed milk production. That may have been why the Pedi made that suggestion. Or, like most Pediatricians, he may just have been handing out the only breastfeeding advice he knew.

Hopefully the LC will follow up with her closely and if there is an issue, they can figure out a solution. Otherwise, just nursing should be the way to go.