Expressing breastmilk.

[Cakey]

I just wanted to know if anyone else was exclusively expressed breastmilk feeding? I also thought we could share any tips on expressing here if anyone has any. I just read that apparently the time that you produce the most milk is between 1am and 5am, that's pretty cruel if you ask me lol.

 

[buzz]

I did for the first month but found it wasn't sustainable (for me). I gradually pumped less and increased formula so he is currently having 3x formula bottles and 2x breast milk bottles per day. How long have you been doing it for? I wish you all the luck in the world - it's a tough gig. I certainly found early morning was productive. My very kind other half would feed baby in the night while I pumped. This made it more manageable and it was less lonely. I dropped the night pump when my baby started sleeping through as it was just miserable being up when everyone else was sleeping. I'm certainly less productive now and now I am only pumping twice a day I'm producing less each time. I think it will come to a natural end soon. Something I found helpful was keeping a whiteboard marker on top of the fridge and using it to label my bottles of expressed milk by writing directly on the bottle.

 

[Cakey]

I will admit it is pretty tough, I've been doing it for about 2 weeks now. I find the expressing so time consuming and always worrying if he has enough. I really wish he would breastfeed because I just so desperately want to give him breastmilk and I feel that breastfeeding would be easier than this but he just screams when I put him on boob. I am starting to wonder if Oscar will end up with a few formula feeds in between his breastmilk feeds xx

 

[sorpresa_bea]

Maybe check this thread where you'll find other mums that also exclusively express: http://www.pregnancyforum.co.uk/breastfeeding/471687-anyone-else-exclusively-pumping.html

 

[Hoping for no2]

I did for the first month when my lo wouldn't latch but struggled to keep up with demand once his intake picked up. Also got mastitis and lost my supply in one boob so it came to a natural end really. I did half and half for a time and then went to formula exclusively. I did my best but found it very time consuming as you are either pumping or feeding which i think is tough. Good luck xx

 

[T84]

I did it for 10 weeks from one breast (my other dried up in second week) and it's hard going. Might be controversial but I wished someone had told me to use the time to enjoy my Lo instead of shushing her to sleep quickly so I could jump back on pump.

Now to answer your question lol. First things first invest in a good electric pump, it'll be your BFF lol. It's true that expressing in the night gives you more milk quicker. Drink lots of fluids. I also found if I massaged breast in the shower then literally jumped straight onto pump I got more. The more you pump, the more you get, so aim for every 3-4 hours. Also don't set your expectations too high, aim for between 2-5 oz a go (I could sit for 45 mins sometimes for this!) and most important - a chocolate biscuit during always helps

 

[Cakey]

Thanks for all the help, I appreciate it I was worried I didn't have enough for him but I can get at least 4oz every few hours so I guess that's okay. I really hope I can carry on and I do worry about milk drying up/mastitis. Also I think I've mastered pump in one hand and baby asleep in other arm so no worries about getting him to asleep lol.
I just want what is best for Oscar and obviously will give him as much breastmilk as I can xxxx

 

[Jajis]

I expressed for the first two weeks because my son couldn't / wouldn't latch. I kept trying him at the breast at every feed, and one day he latched on just like that... I've heard of it happening later than that too, so it's worth persevering. Good luck