To get so upset about wasted expressed milk

[TheChineseChicken]

I have spent quite a bit of time building a stash of expressed milk in our freezer. We don't have a lot of success getting DD to take a bottle but try every now and then.

On several occasions recently I have returned from a brief outing from the house to find DH has used yet another of the bags of milk to try to feed DD 'because she seemed a bit hungry' only for DD to reject it and the entire lot of milk to be poured away. Even though I was a maximum of 15 minutes away from being able to feed myself.

We now need only have 2 bags of milk left and the thought of having to express it all again is just too much. It's made me feel utterly fed up and tired of all of it. I find motherhood and mat leave hard and things like this just tip me over the edge.

Am I overreacting?

I still find expressing irritating and uncomfortable but I have to do it because I currently have a not great feeder and he has top ups I think I would cry if any got wasted in fact I know I would because I did when I dropped a bottle due to tiredness

I threw away the stupid hateful pump and milked myself by hand, it was easier. I froze it in ice cube trays.
I dont think you're overreacting, but I do think you need to tell your partner what it takes to make end express milk. They cant possible understand unless they have sat there while you do it.

Thanks for all the messages everyone and I'm sorry to hear your sad tales of lost milk! Expressing straight onto your bed sheets made me smile a bit Eggbert

My DD doesn't seem to see the connection between drinking milk from a bottle and breastfeeding so I don't think it will ever work as a substitute. She doesn't get the same cuddle and intimacy from a bottle. I shouldn't really mind about this as it's a lovely thing that I can provide her (I have to say that as I feed at 1.45am!).

Another one who feels your pain OP.

My DD1 was a bottle refuser. We tried so many things (and wasted a lot of expressed milk in our attempts). I found expressing knowing it would most likely be rejected pretty soul destroying. I was in despair as due to return to work at 7 months and didn't know how this could happen. When we started weaning at 6 months we introduced a sippy cup with water which to our amazement after a few goes she was very happy to have. She then took milk from it after I went back to work. I have heard lots of times of bottle refusers who will then accept a sippy or doidy cup. The advantage of this is you don't then have to wean them off bottles at a later date.

Have just had DD2 and have decided to forget expressing this time (am having longer off work). Less convenient in terms of getting time away but frankly better for my mental health.

I know how frustrating it is with people suggesting different bottles and cups all my friends and family had an opinion and had never tried to get bf baby on to bottle but if you do want a recommendation someone suggested the little newborn squashy teats ( the ones that come with the little glass bottles to take to hospital) they were a miracle for me- but sounds like you doing great job don't beat yourself up about thinks that don't work 😃

I sob if my daughter doesn't finish every drop of expressed milk. Last night she left 20ml and I'm still upset.