Expressing - pumps - do they hurt?

[Melanie3103]

About to start expressing today... Ive an Avent electric pump given to me by a friend... What does it feel like ?

Im nervous to try... :-$

Will pumping feel like baby feeding/latched on - or painful ?

I'm probably being a wuss....

X

 

[dingdongbaby]

Not painful at all. I express a few hundred mls off a day to let my oh help with night feeding and it's great.

 

[Natalilly1288]

I'm wondering this too does it hurt at first same as when baby first latches on? Xxxx

 

[Mummybexee]

I express for Oscar as he is less sick off a bottle than my boob ( my flow is too quick etc )

Expressing doesn't hurt- I mean intially you get abit if uncomfortable but by no means is it as uncomfortable as BF

It doesn't feel like a baby no - try it it's not bad honestly x

 

[T84]

It's not sore hon just don't be tempted like me to crank up the suction to get milk quicker cos I get tender boobs after if I do x x

 

[purpleslurple]

I used the Philips Avent electric pump too and it's great - doesn't hurt at all.

 

[Melanie3103]

Thanks ladies, I know I'm being a wuss... struggling to get my head round being attached to a pump... I am resisting the urge to make mooing noises! LOL...

Appreciate the feedback all... xxx

 

[Melanie3103]

Wow! Didnt hurt at all lol...

Thanks ladies x

 

[Natalilly1288]

I'm trying to find a min she's not camped on my boob to have a go! Lol xxxx

 

[Natalilly1288]

Yay it didn't hurt! Got about 1oz off but didnt express for too long did u just put ur pump with the bottle attached in the fridge as I'm going to have another go in a bit or do u put the lid on it? Xxx

 

[T84]

I do both depending. Don't know if it's for everyone but If hubby is still there with you, get him to hold pump to other boob whilst baby is feeding. It gave me a good result x x

 

[Natalilly1288]

Yes I have noticed one boon drips when I'm feeding off the other! Il get him to do a bit of work for a change lol xxx

 

[Natalilly1288]

Another q are u ok to add milk that u have just collected so at temp of body I presume to a bottle that's been in the fridge that I collected 3 hours ago? Xxxxxx

 

[purpleslurple]

For the past four months I have topped up the bottle from the fridge by expressing directly into it and not had any problems. I generally start a new bottle after pumping into it for a 12 hour period.

 

[Natalilly1288]

Thanks chick that's really helpful do u express alot if you don't mind me asking? I'm new to all this! When did you start? Do u do a mixture now? Would love to hear other bf mummies experiences I'm really struggling 9 days in ages just constantly camped on me! Xxxx

 

[purpleslurple]

I started to express when LO was 2 weeks old so daddy could do the 1am feed and I could get a few hours sleep. By 6 weeks he was needing about 6oz and it was a pressure to make sure I had expressed it so we started to give him formula for that feed. I carried on BFing the rest of the time and expressing for when we went out. I would express 3 times a day to get a 7oz bottle.

My LO would happily swap between breast, bottle and formula and we gradually increased the formula so he was 50% breast and 50% bottle. This gave me more flexibility and daddy could also take charge of feeding and I could have a drink without worrying about how much expressed milk we had.

However, by 15 weeks my LO was refusing the breast except at night as a bottle is easier to get milk from and he was becoming lazy. I carried on expressing until last week when I've had to go on meds for a trapped nerve in my shoulder. At 18 weeks he is now totally formula fed.

I have really enjoyed combination feeding and would do it again if I have another!