EXPRESSING & NICU
Giving birth to a premature baby can be incredibly stressful, but you as a mom have the power to help them through the NICU
Having a baby in the NICU usually means you can’t nurse right away.
You will have to start expressing your colostrum as soon as possible after the birth of your baby. Using your hand or a silicone pump you can softly start expressing your liquid
gold for your baby.
Ask to see a lactation consultant as soon as possible after the birth of your baby.
Hospital grade electric breast pumps are recommended for mothers with premature babies in he NICU. Speak to your lactation consultant about what will suit you best.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I EXPRESS?
- Every 2 hours during the day
- Every 3 hours at night
To mimic a newborn nursing in order to create a supply for
your baby.
HOW LONG DOES EXPRESSING TAKE?
It takes about 20 – 25 min.With a double pump 15 min.
Express one breast until the flow slows to drips and then switch to the other breast and repeat.
HOW MUCH MILK SHOULD I GET?
In the first few days after the birth, between a few drops and a few mls of colostrum may be expressed each time.
As colostrum changes to more mature milk, the amount
increases to around 50 to 70 mls at each expression by about day four or five. Milk volumes vary from mother to mother and from expression to expression. By about two weeks, you may produce around 600 to 800mls (2.5 to 3.5 cups) and about 1000mls (4 cups) for women with twins,
over a 24-hour period.
STORING AND TRANSPORTING BREASTMILK
Expressed breast milk needs to be placed in sterile containers or syringes – write the amount and date on the container. If the milk is being taken into a neonatal intensive care unit, they will have their own requirements about how the container is marked.
- If you are transporting expressed breast milk, it must be kept chilled in a cooler bag container with ice or freezer blocks .
To give your supply a boost I would highly recommend skin to skin, power pumping and MILK
LACTATION BARS
for more info or help on expressing for your baby please feel free to join our Support group by sending me a DM ♡♡ 0728065892