Expressing milk Q

[1588]

I really want to give BF a go but have a few questions to overcome first, so here goes......

I want to express milk too, which is the best way to go about it, manual or electric pump???

Can you combine a formula milk with BFing, I need to go back to work for a week after 4mnths before a 3 week holiday (teacher) after which time I intended to move LO onto formula until she's on solids.


However, I really have no idea what I'm on about so this plan could sound absolutely crackers..... please help

Thanks

 

[Urchin]

I want to express milk too, which is the best way to go about it, manual or electric pump???

I think its more to do with personal preference... I have used both and found electric quicker and got more milk, however, the noise can be a little irritating.

Can you combine a formula milk with BFing, I need to go back to work for a week after 4mnths before a 3 week holiday (teacher) after which time I intended to move LO onto formula until she's on solids.

Yes you can do both, however, its recommended if you would like to breastfeed that you do it exclusively for around 6-8 weeks, not even expressing, this helps your body regulate the correct amount of milk for your baby. If, for example you expressed or gave formula during this time it can confuse your body into making more/less milk. People have done it, obviously, but its not recommended.
If you are only going back to work for 1 week, I would perhaps used expressed milk and formula (I'm saying formula too as you want to move to formula after this time.) If you wanted to stay exclusive BFing all you would need to do is express a little every day in the weeks leading up to the week and stick it in the freezer.

You would also need to consider that introducing a bottle can take a while, as some babies get used to the breast and then can't get the hang of a bottle. You can buy special bottles that are supposed to make the transition easier though, amnd as long as you have enough time to practice before relying on a bottle you'd be fine.

 

[ASD123456]

^^^^^^
As above really, I prefer a manual pump, I have a manual Avent Isis one which I find good and also a Medela Mini Electric which doesn't seem to work for me at all. However if you wish to express whn you go back to work a hardcore electric one would probably be a good investment.

For that week back you could build up a supply of expressed breast milk over a couple of weeks beforehand and freeze it, then you can just defrost i the fridge what you need the night before. That way your supply won't be affected once the week back at work is over- this would mean you would have to express at work during that week otherwise your supply would be affected. IIRC the law says your employer needs to supply you with a comfortable place for you to express in whilst back at work.

Hope that help, BF is not easy but a really lovely and enjoyable thing to do- good luck with it

Alex xxx

 

[lfc_sarah]

The advice about formula/expressing is basically the same as above..

I found an electric pump SO much better
I had the manual and it just took ages...and my hands were getting bored...
I have an Avent one 8)

 

[kirstyxxx]

i used an avent electric one too, i had a manual one but it was so boring and hurt my hand.

i breastfed exclusively for 8 weeks and started introducing 1 bottle of formula so i could have a break and was going back to uni after 3 months.

i did start to express after a week though and she would interchange between the bottle and breast really well with no problems. however, they do advise you to wait.

hope that helps

x

 

[Squiglet]

I bf'd exclusively till 4.5 months, then introduced one solid meal a day till 5.5 months when I introduced another when I went back to work and at 6 months I introduced a third...

Lil miss has only ever had formula when she was in the SCBU after birth and about a week after... I work 30 hours a week, 5 days a week and she still only has bm... I express in the morning before work and after am feed... And when I get home from work after a welcome home feed. I have an electric breast pump because I express so much so often that it just works out easier and less tiring to do it that way.

My hours are due to increase in a couple of weeks to 40+ hours and I may introduce some formula then during the day at meal times, but I am going to try and just get by with boob milk and expressing by introducing another expression period in the evening when lil miss has gone to bed and the afternoon one will be done when I come home for lunch.

Its hard I admit... but I wouldn't have it any other way