Expressing help

[Sherlock]

I did post this in the sticky thread but no one has replied as yet so thought I'd try again in its own thread, just in case people were missing it.

Any help/suggestions appreciated

LO is now 2 1/2 weeks old and feeding like I don't know what Big baby, big appetite and luckily for me I have lots of milk. Just it means for very little sleep (or down time during day) for me and while he feeds more often than not inside of half an hour now, sometimes it can go on as he comfort feeds, especially at night. I only had 2 hours sleep last night due to his waking and feeding etc (as yet not a chance of any routine for feeds etc so just going with the flow Seems to be in another growth spurt also atm so being even more demanding for feeds.

As he is so demanding for my boob, has no problems latching, feeding etc my HV suggested I start expressing a couple of feeds a day in the not too distant future. Starting asap. She feels there is no need to wait till he is 6 weeks as she is confident expressing for hubby to help with night time feeds will work fine. Plus of course as hubby isn't me he settles a lot better back in his crib. If I try I get a lot of noise and fussing.

I'm happy to do this but am trying to work out how much might be good to start him off on expressing. He is 10lb plus weight wise and really can guzzle. I hope to hand express but shall also invest in this electric breast pump next week. Anyone used this one? MW said to not spend £80 on one and that the £30 one would be fine. Shall freeze into icecube tray and also leave a bottle for OH fresh each day if I can.

I seem to have plenty of milk so was planning on just expressing at random times, probably when LO goes down for a sleep. Sound ok? My boobs often feel overfull and a bit sore so whenever I can releive the pressure seems to make sense to me. Also LO has no routine whatsoever atm so I can never predict when he'll feed or for how long etc.

I've also gotten the NUK bottles and teats for feeding. HV recommended them so thought I'd give them a whirl first. Anyone use these and if so how did you find them? We got the narrower ones to ensure LO still has to put some effort into sucking so he doesn't get too used to an easy bottle feed and then maybe get lazy on my boob.

 

[laracomps]

Haven't used that breast pump, but it looks relatively similar to mine. I have the medela mini pump.

In hindsight I wish I had bought the double pump, as I had to express after every feed to try and increase my milk supply (which didn't work, and obv won't be a problem for you...).

For what you want it for i'm sure the single pump would be great. If you did want a medela one, maybe try checking offers for Boots, quite often you can get up to £15 of points back, and even more if you also use Quidco. (Can you tell I like a bargain? haha).

I was always told to express after a feed, 10 mins on each side. Not sure if this is just because I was trying to increase my milk though? I'm sure someone else will be more help...

 

[purple13]

can't comment on the pump/bottles as i haven't used them, but i did combine boob and ebm from v early with connor as he was so slow to gain weight. i was expressing 3oz after each feed to top him up with - it was hard work! we never had any problems with laziness/nipple confusion.

i know what you mean about the night feeds... have you tried co-sleeping with him lying next to you? it was the only thing that kept me sane (and guaranteed me some sleep) when connor went through a 3 week phase of feeding almost constantly through the night. connor still doesn't have a routine now - every time it looks like we're coming close, something like jabs come along and upset things

re the amount you should give him - my suggestion would just be to express as much as you can and see how much he'll take... you can't overfeed with ebm. if he's polishing off a bottle in double quick time, see if you can up the amount you express and give him more until he seems happy.

 

[laracomps]

PS I forgot... if you have problems with the bottles, I highly recommend the Breastflow ones from Mothercare. They have a teat within a teat, so baby has to work harder, and has to suck the same way as they do on the breast.

 

[charlie84]

Hi Sherlock,
Even tho my little one still hasnt got the hang of EBM and taking it out of the bottle i am still expressing and have bought some breastmilk storage bags from boots which are pre sterilised. You can use them to store milk in the fridge or freezer.

I havent got that pump so cant say whether its any good, i have a tommee tippee hand pump which i have found easy and i can get off quite a fair amount of milk.
I usually take off 5oz at a time. Not that it currently matters for me as Calleigh is having trouble taking from the bottle so end up chucking most of the feed away.

I found it easier to express after Calleighs first feed of the day as this is when i am fullest. But you might find it easier a different time of the day.

As for how much you need to pump do as much as you can, and if he still requires more try pumping more for the next feed till you get to where he leaves a little in the bottle after a feed.

Good luck hun

 

[muppetmummy]

i haven't tried expressing properly yet but recommend co-sleeping if you're struggling with the nightfeeds.

i used to get up to breastfeed james and then try and put him back in his moses basket (which was a nightmare, id end up trying to rock him back to sleep at stupid o clock). i was exhausted to the point of feeling ill.

i feel so much better and get much more rest having logie in bed with me, feels like im working with nature rather than trying to fight against it.

 

[Ellied]

Unfortunately breastfeeding all went totally wrong for me. But i did get to play with different expressing equipment. In Hospital I was using their electric industrial pump. When I got home I used my the tommee tippee hand pump i had bought.

I got more milk using the hand pump for 10 minutes each breast then spending 30 minutes plus using the machine in the hospital. I would do 5 on each then swap.

You quickly get used to the pumping action with your hand which initially i found difficult.

 

[clarey]

I combined breast and EBM from a bottle at 4 weeks so OH could give her one feed and give me a rest and we never had any probs with teat confusion either I use TT hand pump which I find OK, usually get between 3 and 5 oz but need a good 5oz for a whole feed (Eva is around 11lb8oz now)
I was told to express after a feed starting with the boob she was feeding from then draining the other too, and i def get the best flow at these times especially earlier in the day. I store some in freezer bags when I can for 'emergencies' and the rest in the bottle in the fridge for the evening.

Oh and another thing, the breast feeding advisor here told me not to leave it too late to introduce a bottle as its a skill to be learnt as any other and some babies refuse it if not 'taught' early enough

Good luck with the expressing

 

[monster_munch]

The only way I could express anymore than a few drops was to do it when green bean was feeding as the let down reflex made the other boob leak like hell so I could take advantage.

Green Bean struggles with feeding (we have the afore-mentinoned Breastflow ones from mother care) and I have the Lansinoh manual pump an duse the Lansinoh milk storage bags which I would recommend.

I would also recommend co-sleeping, please don't listen to scare stories. As long as you do certain things to keep LO safe you will be fine (and once you're confident you'll no doubt completely disobey them ) Green Bean has now mastered the art of snuggling up to me and latching on in the middle of thenight without me knowing problem is I wake up with one huge boob and one completely flat boob - it's not that attractve!!

 

[Squiglet]

I have to admit if I didn't co sleep with lil miss I'd never sleep at all... As monster munch said the horror stories of co sleeping... yes they can happen, they can happen if you don't co sleep... but then if you look at the statistics they aren't very reliable and as long as you take precautions Apparently it is much safer to bf'd and co sleep than bottle feed and either co sleep or put the baby in a cot... they believe that SIDs is caused by the baby entering a deep sleep and a co sleeping/bf'd baby has trouble doing that because they are hungry more frequently and the smell of the mother/food keeps them more concious.

I don't get much from expressing but I do try I find expressing after the night boob emptying session is a good time, as I feel more confident in having enough milk for the next feed but thats only since lil miss has gotten into a routine... I know I would have struggled at 2 weeks though... I used to use a hand pump... but my hand would get tired after a while... so now I use an electric one and its much more effective.

 

[Sherlock]

Thank you ladies Am digesting everything suggested.

I have tried co-sleeping on 3 occasions since LO arrived. TBH I find having him there fine, but the problem then is his feeding. Neither he nor I seem to be able to get on with feeding while lying down, maybe because I have big boobs and he finds it harder to latch while lying down. Also I find it uncomfy also.

I shall try again tonight and if not shall sit up and feed him then lie back down once done.

Anyone got any tips for bf'ing lying down if got larger boobs?

Also LO is in a sleeping bag, and I tend to have him slightly down the bed away from my pillow and his head more in line with my boobs. Is this a good position? Or would you suggest something else? I of course have him a bit further away and not under our duvet. But any tips for co-sleeping happily taken

I'll go check the forum and see what else has been posted about co-sleeping but all advice welcome.

 

[monster_munch]

Can't help on the boobage, mine are ickle baby boobies
But I had Green Bean in the same position in bed with me that you said, although now he is under the duvet as it hurt my back lying half on, half off the duvet feeding him.

 

[drea b]

ooh I would be really interested in hearing about people that co-sleep with larger boobies as well.

I think it's harder for me as well as she does't really latch on very well without some help. When feeding I have to hold my boob with one hand and her head with another and pretty much stay like that until she's fed properly other wise she ends up just comfort sucking

 

[Nicky_Jones]

I was shown how to feed Ellie lieing down at the breast feeding support group at Royal Berkshire Hospital. Do you have a support group near you? They are really worth going along to.

 

[Sherlock]

I was shown how to feed Ellie lieing down at the breast feeding support group at Royal Berkshire Hospital. Do you have a support group near you? They are really worth going along to.

No idea, shall look into it. My main hospital is 30 plus minutes away If its any further than a few miles by car I am stuffed atm and won't be able to attend. I can't use public transport and live rural so long distance is hard also.