DS is 6mo next week and ebf. I want to express some milk ready for weaning purposes e.g. to go in porridge etc but how do I do it? Do I pump the breast I've just fed with, or use the other one? Does a pumped breast count as a feed, therefore when I feed ds again I use the one I fed him on before iyswim? Bf counsellor said I can just hand express onto a tea spoon as won't need much but I'd like a bit in the freezer so dp can make some food too without me squeezing my boobs over his shoulder!!
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ElphabaTheGreen ·
16/11/2016 12:01
OK - well you can do it a couple of ways.
If you're coordinated enough, you could feed your DS on one side while pumping off the other at the same time. You'll be able to express a lot this way because you'll be able to capitalise on the let down you get while feeding him.
Alternatively, pump off one side. If you get as much as you want from there, feed your DS off the other side. If he still wants the second side, just put him on the original side you pumped from. Or, pump off both sides, then start him off on the first side you pumped from. He'll still get what he needs - breasts are warehouses, not factories. While they do have the capability of storing, you will make milk directly from your bloodstream during a feed if there isn't enough in reserve. Cool, huh? 
Other good pumping tips - you'll get the most by expressing first thing in the morning; try and rhythmically compress your breast while pumping, squeezing gently from armpit to nipple to make sure you're evacuating the milk ducts effectively but also allowing them to refill between compressions; express after a warm bath or shower - again you'll get more.
Also - remember you can use cow milk (if your DS doesn't have any CMPI or anything) in food like porridge, as it's used in such small quantities. It doesn't have to be EBM, although both of mine did seem to prefer the taste of EBM in food over cow, not surprisingly. Prepare yourself for the smell, though. My EBM rice pudding used to smell like puke! 
(Both my boys inhaled it though... 
)
GiraffeAHolic ·
16/11/2016 12:02
You could pump from one side while feeding from the other, would stop the need to swap and encourage your supply. I will say, though, most baby porridges you make up with cooled boiled water. Also it is absolutely fine to use some blue top milk in their meals from 6 months. Completely up to you obviously.
ElphabaTheGreen ·
16/11/2016 12:08
You don't need to use cooled boiled water to make porridge - normal water is fine as you bring porridge to a boil anyway which does the same job. Besides, at 6mo there's probably so much unhygienic crap being shoved in his gob, sterile anything is a bit pointless!
catsarenice ·
16/11/2016 12:11
Def true on the sterile front - doubt the cats' tails are the cleanest things!!! Thanks for your help - will give it a go in the morning but if it doesn't work it's good to know there are other options!
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catsarenice ·
16/11/2016 20:40
It's just that I drink oat milk, dd has semi skimmed and dp has skimmed so didn't really want to get full fat too! I figured I'm producing this stuff so may as well use it! I'll give it a go but no worries if it doesn't work
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