Torn about whether I should start expressing

[moss]

I was hoping to avoid the bottle completely, and can almost do that, but once a week I have three hour practicals, meaning I have to be away for almost five hours (around 9 until 2). Jacob goes about six hours at night without a feed, but I feel cruel making him go without for that long while I am in my labs because he normally only goes four hours at the most during the day. He has gone five, but that was unusual and we had him in the carrier (basically forcing him to sleep for most of the time). I would be feeding him at 8 and I could get Shaun to meet me with him at 1 and feed him again just after that. I only realised this would be a problem last night, and now I don't know what to do!

I don't know which pump to choose and to be honest I am still not thrilled about bottle feeding, but I prefer that over making him wait, even if it is once a week. I guess it is usually quite difficult at first to get a good amount, also. Jacob normally feeds for about an hour lately. Can anyone tell me about how much milk is enough to leave my husband with to get him through the time I will be away?

I'm scared Jacob will prefer the bottle, even if it is only once a week, especially when he catches on that he gets it from Daddy. He seems to prefer Shaun in general. Can this be avoided somehow?

Also, I am really scared about leaving him. I haven't been apart from Jacob at all yet. I take him to lectures and Shaun sits outside my orchestra rehearsal with him. I trust Shaun... I can't explain the reason. Am I normal? Will I be a wreck the first time I leave him home?

 

[DebbieM]

I honestly think you will be fine giving him the odd bottle of EBM. One bottle here and there, even one bottle a day won't do him any harm and I don't think he will get at all confused.

I recommend the Medela Mini Electric pump as it is fast BUT it's expensive and may not be something you want to spend so much on if you will only use it occasionally xxx

 

[jills10uk]

i reccomend the medela mini electric, i also find that the best time for me to express is first thing in the morning while im feeding LO, i get the most milk out then. i give him the milk (or rather DH does as he wont take it off me) from the TT closer to nature as he has to work to get the milk out and the teats are supposed to be good for warding off nipple confusion. he has been fine with the odd bottle and latched onto me again with no problem

 

[kelsey]

Before you buy any pumps how about trying hand expressing - it wont cost a penny. It only takes a little practice too.

 

[Sherlock]

Ditto what Debbie said. Don't worry about the odd bottle of EBM being given. Better than than making him wait and be hungry and upset. Expressing the odd bottle now you are this far along is fine.

You can buy a cheaper electric pump (£30) and it is also battery powered. Its what I bought as I didn't plan on expressing regularly enough to warrent forking out masses. Its been brilliant. I hardly used it though. Saw a few uses around 3-4 weeks and then around 12 weeks and once last week. And thats been it. But it wasn't much more than a manual one and it got the milk out with less effort.

I'd try hand expressing fwiw. If your supply is good and you have a better boob (one that has more flow out of it) then give it a massage in the shower in the morning and get milking

And really, I do think its better to let your baby have a bottle of EBM than keep him hungry. Especially as he is a big baby and will need lots of milk. Also don't forget times like growth spurts where he'll want even more. I never kept Galen waiting for feeds in his first few months. I demand fed as he needed. He eventually settled into a pattern himself but still has a HUGE appetite and I still demand feed.

 

[purplebluered]

I can't add anything to what others have aid but you said you were scared he'd prefer the bottle and just wanted tp reassure you...we use bottle of EBM for the night feed only, and myself and DH share that responsibility. I think preferring the bottle only comes if you start using it more...and more...and then more. We only use it once a day and when I give it he still roots for me I think the key is to be consistent.

 

[kalia]

I wanted to say hello I just said to someone the other day I hadn't seen you for ages. I hope you're doing well! Jacob is a lovely name

You might not be aware that some people don't get anything when expressing. Trying to hand express to make sure you can might be a good idea. Assuming your economic situation as a student is still pretty tight why not post a wanted add on freecycle and try a manual pump? Or post on the wanted board in this forum and maybe someone can sell a manual pump to you very cheaply (or even an electric, you never know your luck!) If you are only expressing one bottle a week it is not worth the expense getting an electric one unless you have a lot of spare cash. My first manual pump cost £10 new from Tescos when they had them half price. I've seen Tommee Tippee manual breast pumps for as low as £5 in TKMaxx

 

[andreag]

I expressed alot to build up a supply when I went back to work, and she had odd bottles of EBM from around 6 weeks, and a nightly bottle of EBM from about 12 weeks. I found used an Isis Avent manual pump and found that was fine. I got it on ebay - there are loads.

The best time to pump was in the morning when LO was having a morning feed, I would pump the other side, or in the evening after a bath. You need to be quite relaxed to get the best out of it.

I wouldn't worry about confusion/preference as it is only occasional - I would get the slowest flowing teet though so LO still has to work a bit for it. We just used the boots own newborn teets, although Tommee tippee do ones which are supposed to be more nipple like. My LO only prefered the bottle after I had been back at work 3 days a week for about 6 weeks.

Re quantities, we used to do between 5 and 8oz (depended on how much I had expressed) and that seemed to be enought for a feed.

It is definatly normal to be terrified of leaving them for the first time, even with your OH - it will get easier!

 

[Steelgoddess]

Hi hon!

Just wanted to wave and say hi as i miss our tije together in 3rd tri...

 

[moss]

Hi everyone! Thanks, it's good to be back! I was so sad to be leaving at the most crucial time but now that I'm back this place is as nice and helpful as always! I'm going to try everything that was suggested. Thanks again!