if you breast feed do you still express milk??

[ceris]

very confused....
i am hoping to breast feed, and was going through the lists of things we need to buy and it had a milk expressing thing n it and bottles.
i know i probably sound really thick,, but if i breast feed, do i need an expressing machine and bottles and sterilisers etc???

 

[BabyNumber1]

id have thought you would only need the pump, bottles etc if you were planning on doing both... im planning on breast feeding but i want my partner to be able to feed to so we have looked up things about how long breast milk lasts in the fridge etc... prob helps if your out and your not comfortable breast feeding in public...

hope this helps.

 

[Maria1977]

You don't have to express you can solely breastfeed, but that is 100% commitment for you and only you feeding. If you want OH or others to be able to feed baby you will need bottles and a steriliser etc. If you want baby to have only breastmilk then yep you need a pump too, I like the medela swing, but I did have the tommee tippee electric too, I just get on better with the swing. Unfortunately electric pumps aren't that cheap and it is a case of trial and error before you find one that works best for you.

You might be happy for baby to have formula and breast milk so the pump might not be necessary.

I haven't used my pump for weeks n weeks, but I know it's something I can sell when my LO is off breastmilk and I'll be able to get a fair bit of the original cost back hopefully.

xxx

 

[Elfs Mummy]

i didnt buy a pump and things till bf was fully establisehed i didnt wanna bottle feed until i knew that she would be happy with the bottle and breast annd diddnt wanna cause confusion x

 

[inky]

I've never expressed I do have a manual pump, it was one of the things i bought thinking I had to when I was pregnant but never really used. My oh has never done a night feed and I'm not working so there's never been a reason to express, I'm sure if things were different then I would have done though. So, in my experience not essential, but it depends on what your plans are!

 

[Baby Bean]

I bf but do express on occasion, I would say its useful to do as if you want to pop out to get your hair done or something u aren't worried about lo being hungry. It's also useful if you get mastitis which I did multiple times I wouldnt rush to buy one, see how you feel but you will probably want one at some point. X

 

[rockabillybaby]

I BF but have to express one breast as my baba has a favourite lol. However he wont take a bottle (he sits with his mouth open thinking what on earth is this???) so Im solely breastfeeding but storing the milk in the freezer I express so he can benefit later on.

I hand express but paid for a tommee tippee pump and found it was rubbish, and apparently your milk flows freer with skin to skin contact. I bought all the sterilization things however on the chance that he wouldn't breastfeed.

It took him 24 hours to latch on in hospital and it can be distressing until they manage to latch on but keep your chin up and keep trying I fed him with cup feeding and a syringe in hospital until he figured things out xxxx

 

[JJ Mum]

I brought both manual and electric (elec one - look out for sales - often half price £40 during asda's baby events). The manual one will work but hard cup and so doesnt really mold to your boob and so most Ive got is 2 oz. The elec one is brilliant (have seen really mixed reviews, so must depend on you too). I get 5 oz from one side when expressing first thing in morning, (less in daytime).

I brought when pregnant as I was adamant that I was BF (last child, never managed before!). He wont take bottles, but its great to get milk to make up baby porridge , for foods drinks in beaker now older , etc too

Best to express at same time as feeding baby as you get the let down reflex and get get loads more milk then. (tricky to start with but ok once your oganized).

 

[littlemiss83]

It all depends if you will be feeding baby at every feed or not. If you dont express you will basically have to be with baby at all times, for a few months, no sleeps through the night, no days/nights out, and not able to let OH feed for you. Its quite a big commitment to make especially if you are planning to BF for 6 months or more.

I'd say you could get a pump anyway, and see how you get on. You can pick them up pretty cheap, and leave it in box so if you dont use it you could sell it on.

Nuby are giving away a free breast pump if you send them a 20wk scan pic, dont know when the closing date is though. It also comes with bottles.

 

[Cantstop]

I'm breastfeeding and express too - some to freeze for later (can save it for up to 6 months), and some so other people can feed her if necessary e.g. my Nana is mad keen to take her for a walk, or if I pop to the supermarket and leave the baby with hubby, and also so if we go out in public I can give her a bottle rather than getting my boob out as I haven't mastered the art of subtle feeding yet - so you don't need the stuff but it's handy to have!