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Infant feeding

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8 replies

Kate3150 · 25/12/2019 18:44

My little boy is just over 2 weeks, I am breastfeeding him and seems to be going well.
I am planning on using an electric pump at 6 weeks so my hubby can do a feed.
I wasn’t aware of this 6 week rule until midwife told me about it. This may sound a stupid question but if I hand expressed some before this time so my husband did a feed could it still affect milk supply? TIA X

OP posts:

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Selfsettling3 · 26/12/2019 18:21

As long as you feed regularly over night it should be ok. Haaka pump is much better for me.

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Hollyhead · 26/12/2019 18:25

I think if it’s going well then give it a go. This early though I wouldn’t get your DH to do middle of the night feeds - they are very important for supply building. Get him to do one in the evening and go to bed early or the 5-6am on so you can sleep in. Good luck!

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ginandgingers92 · 26/12/2019 18:35

Sorry, how you don't mind my jumping in.. what is the 6 week rule? I'm due my second soon and determined to BF after issues stopped my BF'ing journey all too soon last time. I was encouraged to pump by MW/HV after 2 weeks because of weightloss (baby's) and this massively affected my supply... wondering if the pumping was ultimately my downfall 🤔

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Selfsettling3 · 26/12/2019 19:18

I was told last night to formula feed and then pump to increase my supply. I know now that with normal weight loss the best thing is to keep putting the baby in the boob. Babies are much more effective than pumps.

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Hollyhead · 26/12/2019 21:14

I think @ginandgingers92 it’s just an informal thing to prevent ‘nipple confusion’, and to avoid pumping milk your baby should just be having from you, plus as I said in my previous post a feed between 12 and 3 am is very helpful for supply so ditching this for expressed in the early days may hinder building a good supply.

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coffeeandgin26 · 27/12/2019 07:07

Pumping until 6 weeks is not advised because until that point, your body is still trying to establish your supply. By pumping as well as feeding, your body thinks it needs to
Make
More milk , which can lead to an oversupply, which can lead to engorgement and an increased risk of blocked ducts and mastitis

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ginandgingers92 · 27/12/2019 17:40

Ah @coffeeandgin26 that may explain my boot of mastitis too! Thanks 👌🏼