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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Long term feeding of expressed milk questions.

21 replies

Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 12:07

Hi,
I've got the twins settled into feeding on ebm during the day and formula at night. This seems to suit us all for the time being and I'm hoping to continue while we're all happy, hopefully long term.
I was just wanted to know how to continue this, as there isn't a lot of advice about for mums feeding ebm.
I'm wondering how often I need to keep expressing to keep my milk going for them. At the moment I express about every two or three hours, including twice at night. If I leave it longer between expressing I get more out, but will it reduce over time?
I'm actually producing more than I need at the moment, and freezing some for reserves, after a recent bout of mastitis where it really dropped, I'm worried about messing about and it drying up again.
Any experiences/advice would be much appreciated.

OP posts:

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throckenholt · 28/04/2005 12:10

remind me how old your twins are ?

Do you breastfeed directly at all ?

I epxressed for 9 months for my twins - you can cat me if you would like to talk directly.

Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 12:14

They are 5 weeks old now. I can feed directly but I find I easier to give ebm as dp can help, they space out their feeds better, and I empty the breast fully and don't get blockages.
I only feed them on the breast if I'm out for the day and I'm filling up and need to get the milk off. i do miss actually feeding but I found it impratcial with two.

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Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 12:18

have cat u too, thanks.

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Nik72 · 28/04/2005 12:19

Am expressing for dd after nightmare with bf. |express every 4-6 hours and if supply seems less will express more frequently for a couple of days. only been doing it for a week and a half so far but have enough surplas to freeze 5oz or so a day. My HV said she has had mums who have expressed for months. I reckon the key is to get a good pump and keep up your fluid intake. If your babies suddenly want to feed more then express more as they'll be having a growth spurt & it'll stimulte the boobs to produce more per expressing. Good luck, it has worked well for me so far but am not dealing with 2 hungry little mouths!

Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 12:21

how old is ur dd, Nik?

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throckenholt · 28/04/2005 12:22

I am at work at the moment - but will answer you from home this evening.

Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 12:24

Ok, thanks for that.

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Nik72 · 28/04/2005 12:26

she's 8 weeks. how about your twins?

Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 12:31

They are 5 weeks. I did try feeding them at first, but they wanted feeding constantly and never seemed satisfied. I tried them on the bottle, but then went back to the breast only to get mastitis. Things have settled down now, and I'm hoping to keep it going.
Didn't your dd like feeding on the breast?

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Nik72 · 28/04/2005 12:50

Neither of us liked it . She never latched well and was a very "faffy" feeder, I got nipple pain then cracked nipples then thrush....it was one thing after another. Ended up hating BF and feeling negative towards poor dd and decided to quit before I got PND as was heading that way. Felt guilty but expressing suits us both so much better & at least she gets the breast milk.

throckenholt · 28/04/2005 13:05

just a quick thought - this group might help - it really is useful to know you are not the only one out there !

health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pumpmoms/

Nik72 · 28/04/2005 13:05

Neither of us liked it . She never latched well and was a very "faffy" feeder, I got nipple pain then cracked nipples then thrush....it was one thing after another. Ended up hating BF and feeling negative towards poor dd and decided to quit before I got PND as was heading that way. Felt guilty but expressing suits us both so much better & at least she gets the breast milk.

Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 13:07

I wouldn't feel guilty about expressign, especially as you both prefer it that way. One of mine is very figety like that, can make me quite sore, he def prefers the bottle. The other loves the breast, which is a bit sad.

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Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 13:07

I wouldn't feel guilty about expressign, especially as you both prefer it that way. One of mine is very figety like that, can make me quite sore, he def prefers the bottle. The other loves the breast, which is a bit sad.

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Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 13:08

I wouldn't feel guilty about expressign, especially as you both prefer it that way. One of mine is very figety like that, can make me quite sore, he def prefers the bottle. The other loves the breast, which is a bit sad.

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Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 13:11

There is somethign wrong with this site
Thanks for that throckenholt - have emailed that group.

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MissChief · 28/04/2005 13:17

IKYWYM - expressed for 1 yr with ds - it was such as relief after agonies of b/f - only at end did i start to dry up. interesting to see quite a few do the same as i remember at the time being told it will never work by hv/NCT helpline etc. think I must be bloody minded but at least ds got my milk! just worried whether can do it again now as 6 mths preg

Kelly1978 · 28/04/2005 13:24

I don't see why you shouldn't misschief, though you might even find bfing a lot easier second time round. I had a lot of probs with my first, but with my second it was really straightforward. I think I would have been ok this time if there wasn't two of them.

We need an expressed feeding support thread!!

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IlanaK · 28/04/2005 16:40

There is a very good site www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk

The woman who set it up long termed pumped for both her boys due to cleft lips. Very inspiring story.

Nik72 · 28/04/2005 17:04

That is a good site. Interesting stuff about thrush treatment, they suggest a much highter dose of fluconazole than I was on. I was originally going to try & get her back on the breast but expressing is proving much easier and I feel almost phobic at the thought of her latching on again so will just keep going as I am.

MissChief · 28/04/2005 17:07

great link, feeling so much better now about expressing from start if i have to this time.
I too am extremely phobic about thought of b/f - that's what put me off ever going back to it during ds's 1st yr when expressing worked so well!

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