Talk to me about expressing

[Mammanat222]

I always said I wouldn't go down this route again (I expressed for 6 weeks with DS and it was horrific)

However here I am with week old DD, nipples so sore and cracked she is ingesting my blood [and vomiting it back up !!] and I am pumping again.

Currently pumping 12oz a day.

Wondering if this is a long term solution?

I actually don't mind not going back to boob, I have a very lively 2 and a bit year old and find it easier to pump for half an hour than cluster feed a fussy baby. Baby takes bottle fine!

Any tips? Words of wisdom?

[Pumpkinette]

I expressed for 3 months as dd wouldn't take to the breast at all. It's hard going because you need to do it frequently to keep up milk supply and then you have still got to do the feed from a bottle as well as all the cleaning and sterilising.

It is possible, you just need to get into a routine for expressing at certain times of the day. You might also find you need to top up with formula if you aren't producing enough milk. I managed 3 months before it became too much for me and we gradually switched over to formula. I'm glad I have done the 3 months expressing for DD but I was a bit relieved in the end when I stopped as it gave me more time with DD.

[toddlewaddleflipflop]

Hire a double electric pump if you want to exclusively express. I had a single electric medela swing, but it is so slow compared to the medela symphony double pump that I hired.

[sophie150]

Also get a pumping bra (search on Amazon) and you can pump hands free!

[Helicoptopus]

I found eating chocolate increased supply (genuinely). Think it's the mix of fat and sugar. I put on weight, yes, but didn't have a production problem. Second time around I was determined not to put on weight, kept to a reasonable diet and didn't produce nearly as much.

[BigTroubleinSmallBoots]

I expressed for 10 months - DD was very prem. once she was home after her hospital stay I found it worked quite well expressing with combined with needs of my older DS. Pump regularly, eat well and wake yourself up in the night to pump between 12-5, it ups your milk production hormones therefore your ongoing milk supply and your milk will be the most nutritious of the day (all wonderful advice given to me by the v experienced NICU team). Also second the advice to hire a double electric pump. Medula hire hospital grade ones for about £30/month and are v helpful on the phone IME.

[anothernumberone]

Gah my post just disappeared. Have you tried good fitting nipple shields? They can be really fiddly but if you get the right size and use a bit of lansinoh to hold them on the can be a life saver. I had 17 weeks of cracked nipples on DS he had a posterior tongue tie which destroyed my nipples and I found I could still feed with nipple shields. I pumped on DD2 for a month and it was a real pain in the arse. All the hassle and still a child to be fed after pumping. Kellymom has great advice see below

kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/what-to-expect-when-pumping/

[BigTroubleinSmallBoots]

Just read post back - I don't mean pump for 5 hrs! Just to wake up and do one session btw 12-5 am.