To think my health visitor is full of it?

[whatsthecraic91]

Posting here for traffic

I had the health visitor out today to weigh my 4 week old. I am EBF her and mentioned that I might introduce the odd bottle soon. Just so I know DD will be ok if I go out and leave her with my DH etc. I have been using collection shells on the opposite side every time I feed so I have quite the freezer stash, 100oz+ - HV said this milk can't be used for feeding as it is only fore milk & wont sustain her? Is this right? I've never heard of this before!

It’s absolutely fine, particularly for an occasional feed.

Even if you decide not to use it to feed, adding it to the bath is lovely for babies' skin. Neither of my two took milk from shells/pumped milk so it would get chucked in the bath

It's nothing to do with the freezing. The HV was commenting as the OP has only been collecting milk from the beginning of a feed (fore milk) & not from later on in a feed (hind milk) which is more calorific & filling for baby.

Even if fore and hind milk/calorific value is a thing (not an expert, don't know either way), it'll be fine to use what you've got frozen as an occasional top-up feed, assuming you're not going to be away for hours. If you're out for an hour - 90 minutes or so and DH has to give her a feed, it won't hurt. I wouldn't rely on it for longer though.

Also, as a pp said, check she'll take defrosted milk (and a bottle in general) before you leave her. Some babies won't. Mine never liked expressed milk much in general, but definitely not defrosted.

It's odd bottles, with full feeds given around them. If it lets you go out for an evening without worrying, then go for it!

It's like having the occasional snack lunch instead of a proper meal. No harm done over the course of the week!

Foremilk & hindmilk was debunked years ago.

Wow, I did not know this (9 years since I stopped BF).
I am going to look it up because I am a scientist I am curious, but there is definitely something going on with fore/hind milk as it looks so different.

I understood that foremilk is less rich - more a thirst quencher and that's why babies in hot climates nurse more frequently.

Off to the internet -> -> ->

But you'll be using it as well as your usual milk, very occasionally, not instead of - I don't think people are understanding you.

Don't bin it, and don't change your plan.

Exactly this.

Like PP have said it’s perfectly fine for the odd bottle (I did this) just don’t use it all over one day/weekend.

So I’d keep it and try baby on it later on, one of mine didn’t like the taste of frozen then thawed milk though so bear that in mind for if you ever wanted to pump and store etc.

Personally I would call tbe national breastfeeding helpline for evidence based and up to date information. They will know!! 03001000212

breastfeeding.support/forget-about-foremilk-and-hindmilk/

This is an excellent website recommended to me by someone with breastfeeding training. The HV is wrong and your milk is fine op.

This what I want to know 😳

I think it's still accepted that the milk at the start of a feed is less fatty than the milk at the end of a feed, because the fat globules are heavier (?).

What's been debunked is that there's a cut-off point at which milk suddenly switches from foremilk to hind milk, and that you can identify that point every feed. That kind of thinking leads to women trying to keep baby on one breast for a set amount of time each feed "to make sure they get the hind milk", but generally if a baby is feeding well it's best to follow their lead and feed responsively.

Like PP I'd also like to know if the suction on a haakaa is enough to collect any of the fattier milk.

I pumped and sustained my now 2 and a half month for 9 months on pumped milk. HV in our area knew very little about exclusive pumping. I would not be taking the advice of a HV. I would educate yourself. Look at le leche website. Very information. Or there’s Facebook groups, also very informative.

I’ve certainly had thinner and fatter milk when I’ve used a haakaa so I’d assume it’s fine. I only use it to cover if I leave baby with dad

I can't see a problem if you are just going to use it to see if baby will take a bottle

If you do need to leave baby with someone for whatever reason though you shouldn't use it

@Musicalfan , she's not talking about pumping, which is a completely different circumstance. The debate is over whether collecting the run off milk that is dripped out when not intentionally pumping (when feeding on the other breast) is the same nutrional value as expressed milk.

I put it in bottles in the fridge until all the same temp then pour into bags. I have to swirl it before I mix as the fat has settled on the top of it 🤷‍♀️

Anyway thank you all. I'll definitely not dump it, I'll use it up one bottle a day or in baths. If I'm going away for a whole day or longer I'll use properly pumped milk.

I had a MW make me keep putting an increasingly annoyed DD1 back on one breast 'to get the hindmilk', as milk from the other breast streamed through my clothes and down my front. It was rubbish advice. Eventually I realised that DD was just emptying me out fast and needed the other side. It really isn't about a set length of time, but about how fast your breasts let down and your baby feeds.

When you use it you will probably need to pump while your away to relieve the pressure. Freeze that when you get home and your stash will rotate out to include more pumped milk anyway.