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Original poster

Positive stories of mams expressing day 1

149 replies

Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 14:23

Posting on here for traffic and can't find where chat is on topics.

Feeling like 💩 lots of pain with my PGP so would like some positive breastfeeding stories of mamas who pumped from day 1. I did post in pregnancy but only got a few commenting which I appreciate but want to know more 😊

I know the risks and willing to still do it. Dad wants to do nights and will be pumping once between 2am and 4am as that's when you produce the most milk. I'll still be breastfeeding during the day and pump on the other boob.

Tia

OP posts:
Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 15:29

fedupandstuck · 21/10/2023 15:01

If Dad's help makes more work for you... is it really help??

I had to express with both mine due to medical issues. Trying to express colostrum is a total pain in the arse. Plus it's totally dispiriting the tiny amounts you get. I'd have directly fed if it was at all possible.

I switched to direct feeding as soon as I possibly could when I got home. The idea of expressing at 2am/4am was so depressing and upsetting. Much much easier to feed baby directly, once you get the hang of it you barely need to wake up. Dad can do his bit in so many other ways.

If it means getting some sleep then yes it is! I'm actually looking forward to it and going to give it a go 😊 I know its easier to put baba on the boob. But my partner really wants to try so going to let him. Once we get in a routine it'll be worth it

OP posts:
fedupandstuck · 21/10/2023 15:34

I can't see how it will help you get some sleep. You will need to be expressing when your DP is doing a feed, otherwise your supply will reduce. And/or you will feel uncomfortably full and risk mastitis or blocked ducts.

And, when your DP is back at work, will he really want to be doing all the night feeds?

Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 15:35

fedupandstuck · 21/10/2023 15:34

I can't see how it will help you get some sleep. You will need to be expressing when your DP is doing a feed, otherwise your supply will reduce. And/or you will feel uncomfortably full and risk mastitis or blocked ducts.

And, when your DP is back at work, will he really want to be doing all the night feeds?

I've just had someone message on the other one and their experience only pumping once through the night so everyone is different. My partner doesn't work atm so it's fine.

OP posts:
cdhmum · 21/10/2023 16:23

I don't know why you'd want to do this but that's by the by.

I did, my baby was in NICU and NBM for first four weeks so I expressed and continued to express until she came off life support, when I started to breastfeed and top up with expressed milk.

By the time I got her home (still feeding and expressing to increase supply) she was so confused by bottles and nipples. She eventually fully refused the bottle thank heavens so I was able to exclusively breastfeed. You can mess up your supply if you express and bottle feed from the beginning.

I would never choose to do this any other time.

Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 16:37

cdhmum · 21/10/2023 16:23

I don't know why you'd want to do this but that's by the by.

I did, my baby was in NICU and NBM for first four weeks so I expressed and continued to express until she came off life support, when I started to breastfeed and top up with expressed milk.

By the time I got her home (still feeding and expressing to increase supply) she was so confused by bottles and nipples. She eventually fully refused the bottle thank heavens so I was able to exclusively breastfeed. You can mess up your supply if you express and bottle feed from the beginning.

I would never choose to do this any other time.

Each to their own. I really want to give it a go and will give it my best. If i do it right they'll be no issues.

OP posts:
cdhmum · 21/10/2023 16:43

Ok, it just seems a bit like you are doing it so he can "help" (news flash: this is the opposite of helpful when you should be focused on getting your supply sorted).

You want to do it because you think you'll get more sleep (you more than likely won't) and randomly because you want the challenge of seeing how much milk you can extract from the breast, like a competition.

This all seems very much about what the two of you want and not what your baby will want.

You've made your mind up but you should know all sides to it before she is born.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 21/10/2023 16:47

SylvieLaufeydottir · 21/10/2023 14:25

...Why?

You're actively introducing hassle and making your life harder for no good reason. It's a lot easier just to put the baby on the breast in the night than fuck about with bottles, and there's a good chance you will struggle to establish supply and feeding anyway. One pumping session a night isn't enough; you need night feeds more than day feeds to establish supply.

IF said baby can physically latch on to the nipple. Not all babies can.

My ds couldn’t latch and I pumped every drop for him from day 1 and ended up pumping for over a year as it was so easy.

My dd also happily went between breast and bottle of expressed milk from a few days old without any issues. It was my community midwife who suggested introducing a bottle early and it worked very well for us

Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 16:50

cdhmum · 21/10/2023 16:43

Ok, it just seems a bit like you are doing it so he can "help" (news flash: this is the opposite of helpful when you should be focused on getting your supply sorted).

You want to do it because you think you'll get more sleep (you more than likely won't) and randomly because you want the challenge of seeing how much milk you can extract from the breast, like a competition.

This all seems very much about what the two of you want and not what your baby will want.

You've made your mind up but you should know all sides to it before she is born.

I really didn't ask for dickish message. He wants to help. You know some dad's do. And I'm going to let him. And there's nothing wrong trying to get more sleep. Means a well rested mama. Hardly a competition. Of course I'm going to be happy how much I pump. What a stupid thing to say. I've read it working for some parents.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 16:52

Heyhoherewegoagain · 21/10/2023 16:47

IF said baby can physically latch on to the nipple. Not all babies can.

My ds couldn’t latch and I pumped every drop for him from day 1 and ended up pumping for over a year as it was so easy.

My dd also happily went between breast and bottle of expressed milk from a few days old without any issues. It was my community midwife who suggested introducing a bottle early and it worked very well for us

Edited
Show quote history

Thank you so much for this. This is what I'm after. Not negative nancies. Yep it's always best to introduce bottle in the beginning. Baby will reject it if leave it too late.

So glad it worked for you and found it easy 😊❤

OP posts:
Heyhoherewegoagain · 21/10/2023 16:53

Bubbleshoespop · 21/10/2023 14:38

You can't pump until your milk comes in, so not day one necessarily, mine came in day 3 and I pumped from them, no reason you can't do it as soon as your milk is in

I pumped colostrum from day 1 as otherwise ds would have starved.

I really wish that posters wouldn’t share their personal experience as hard fact, it’s your experience alone

Ejismyf · 21/10/2023 16:53

I done it because my dd was early and wouldn't latch. It was a pain in the arse with the colostrum tbh, the midwifes would literally sit with a syringe and suck up the drops and she did need to be topped up with cup feeds. Better really to wait till your milk comes in which us much easier. I found fully expressing exhausting. You need to feed the baby out the bottle then after that you need to sit expressing day and night otherwise if you don't express in the night your milk supply will drop. I managed for about 20 weeks.

Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 16:54

Heyhoherewegoagain · 21/10/2023 16:53

I pumped colostrum from day 1 as otherwise ds would have starved.

I really wish that posters wouldn’t share their personal experience as hard fact, it’s your experience alone

Show quote history

They seem to think because it didn't work for them it's not going to work for you. And apparently I'm not thinking of my daughter by wanting to do this 🙄

OP posts:
Ejismyf · 21/10/2023 16:59

Also my experience was almost 18 years ago and there's lots of those new pumps now you can litetally put in your bra and attach to your nipple so you can get on with things or even sleep so it is much easier nowadays, so can't see why it shouldn't work successfully.

Ejismyf · 21/10/2023 17:00

*19 years ago

Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 17:01

Ejismyf · 21/10/2023 16:59

Also my experience was almost 18 years ago and there's lots of those new pumps now you can litetally put in your bra and attach to your nipple so you can get on with things or even sleep so it is much easier nowadays, so can't see why it shouldn't work successfully.

I've been told the Hakka one is good. The pump I've got now is great but thinking of using the Hakka to catch the let down when babas on the other boob. Might aswell get it all and in the freezer so there's no waste.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 17:03

Ejismyf · 21/10/2023 16:53

I done it because my dd was early and wouldn't latch. It was a pain in the arse with the colostrum tbh, the midwifes would literally sit with a syringe and suck up the drops and she did need to be topped up with cup feeds. Better really to wait till your milk comes in which us much easier. I found fully expressing exhausting. You need to feed the baby out the bottle then after that you need to sit expressing day and night otherwise if you don't express in the night your milk supply will drop. I managed for about 20 weeks.

Yeah thinking of waiting till then. I've had one comment where she only needed to pump once in the night but we shall see. I'm ready for the challenge and to get in a routine. It will help with my partner helping tho.

OP posts:
Nevermind31 · 21/10/2023 17:04

I really don’t understand how you get more sleep if you need to be up and pumping anyway???
sounds like both of you would be up then. Plus you’d be very homebound if you need to pump several times a day…

CaptainBarnaclesandthevegemals · 21/10/2023 17:05

Won’t you just have to pump anyway when the baby wakes up crying for milk if your partner gives a bottle at night?
My DH tried to ´help’ a couple of times by feeding the baby expressed milk instead of bringing him to me to feed. It just pissed me off because I had to then get the pump out because the crying triggered my let down reflex and I’d have to pump or else deal with painful engorgement.
I did pump so that I could go out without the baby sometimes (especially after going back to work part time). At 12months or so I occasionally had a full nights sleep at my mum’s while my DH looked after our baby allnight at home. Which was great. But would have been impossible/utterly pointless at 4 weeks

Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 17:07

Nevermind31 · 21/10/2023 17:04

I really don’t understand how you get more sleep if you need to be up and pumping anyway???
sounds like both of you would be up then. Plus you’d be very homebound if you need to pump several times a day…

Because when my partner feeds baba ill nap. I'll not be pumping every time I feed baba during the day. And again it'll depend on how long she sleeps. My son fed every 3/4 hours in the beginning. And that doesn't bother me. Will be able to leave the house sometimes and can use a Hakka pump when out and about if need to.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 17:10

CaptainBarnaclesandthevegemals · 21/10/2023 17:05

Won’t you just have to pump anyway when the baby wakes up crying for milk if your partner gives a bottle at night?
My DH tried to ´help’ a couple of times by feeding the baby expressed milk instead of bringing him to me to feed. It just pissed me off because I had to then get the pump out because the crying triggered my let down reflex and I’d have to pump or else deal with painful engorgement.
I did pump so that I could go out without the baby sometimes (especially after going back to work part time). At 12months or so I occasionally had a full nights sleep at my mum’s while my DH looked after our baby allnight at home. Which was great. But would have been impossible/utterly pointless at 4 weeks

I can just stick the Hakka pump in my bra. But will see what happens. I'm sure it'll work out fine. 😊

OP posts:
cdhmum · 21/10/2023 17:11

@Cowlover89 I didn't say it didn't work for me. It had to work for me as she was not allowed formula, her body couldn't take it. I managed and it kept her alive or we would have had to find donor milk.

All I was trying to say is that it is hard and unless there is a medical need or a problem with latching, I don't know why you would do that.

SylvieLaufeydottir · 21/10/2023 17:12

The Haaka isn't a pump. It's good for catching anything that lets down from the other breast while the baby is feeding from the first, but it's generally a very small amount.

I think this plan is going to do the opposite of what you want and add work while reducing sleep, but knock yourself out.

Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 17:16

SylvieLaufeydottir · 21/10/2023 17:12

The Haaka isn't a pump. It's good for catching anything that lets down from the other breast while the baby is feeding from the first, but it's generally a very small amount.

I think this plan is going to do the opposite of what you want and add work while reducing sleep, but knock yourself out.

I do know what it's for. It'll catch the let down 😊 and I've got another pump. If you say so. It has worked for some. You really aren't going to discourage me. We shall see won't we. Because if she decides to sleep like her brother won't be an issue. But again I'm prepared she might not.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cowlover89 · 21/10/2023 17:17

cdhmum · 21/10/2023 17:11

@Cowlover89 I didn't say it didn't work for me. It had to work for me as she was not allowed formula, her body couldn't take it. I managed and it kept her alive or we would have had to find donor milk.

All I was trying to say is that it is hard and unless there is a medical need or a problem with latching, I don't know why you would do that.

Glad it worked our for you.

I've already said why and not going to repeat myself. And because I want to

OP posts:
K4tM · 21/10/2023 17:21

I expressed from day 1 (might have been day 2) because I had to have a CT scan the day after he was born by c section and the dye they use had to clear my system before I was allowed to feed him. So we gave him bottles and I did pumping for 24hours using the electric pump on the Labour ward … I remember it was quite traumatic at the time, but I was later able to establish feeding and all was well with bf for the next 6 months. Carried on doing expressing after that so his dad could give a late night feed about 11. I would go to bed around 9 and by the next time baby woke around 1am I’d already had 4 hours sleep. It worked very well for us.

I have to say though, I don’t think it would have made the slightest bit of difference if that late night bottle had been formula!

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