Exclusively EBF?

[Threelittleducks]

Has anyone here, for any reason, CHOSEN to exclusively express from birth?

Did the hospital accommodate this? Did they allow storage of excess breast milk? Could you then get it heated up for a feed? What happened about sterilisation of bottles? Did you use your own pump/hospital's?
Own bottles?

Very curious to know as to what would happen if a woman chose to express exclusively from birth as opposed to breastfeed? I know that breastfeeding is obviously the most pushed solution, with ff being a quietly not-very-promoted alternative, but was wondering what would happen if you stated from the outset that you WANTED to express rather than breastfeed.

I can give a half answer!
DS had to have an operation, so missed b-feeds and then was unable to breastfeed for a while. An electric expressing machine was provided, bottles & teats provided, and a milton sterilising bucket.
I then warmed it myself in hot water.

OP: why are you considering this? I know 2 people who have done this both for medical reasons. Expressing is not any fun, and a hassle whereas breastfeeding is cuddly and nice. I think you'd have to have a very good reason for choosing to do this.

Yes, I have my reasons. They are good enough for me.
Last time it was the easier option for me - I spent many traumatic hours bf and my baby lost a lot of weight. After days of no sleep (had also had emcs so was recovering from that) I expressed and bottle fed of which ds guzzled the lot and fell fast asleep. We never looked back. I could express my milk and feed in 15 mins, whereas bf was taking hours and leaving both me and ds exhausted. Plus I built up a hefty freezer stock which meant I could go out and dh could spend bonding time with his son.
Spent a very pnd-inducing time trying my best to bf and ended up expressing for 4 months (which I was happy with) with a freezer stock for another 2, plus some for weaning.
I have done it before, so know the work involved. I KNOW that breast is best, breast is less work, breast is good bonding etc etc etc. I KNOW!!!

I have went through the confidence-knocking snide comments from midwives, health visitors etc about how I was 'making more work for myself'. I KNOW. It was just easier for us.

All I was wondering is....has anyone else done it? And what their experience was?

Am so terrified of feeling the way I did last time (such a failure), it would be nice to know that this could be a supported and viable option (as I am due another c-section) if I feel it is right at the time, nstead of the horrible stuff I went through ast time.

Please do not judge me - I am done with being judged!! I would just like to know IF....

It's an interesting question. While I don't find expressing fun, exactly, I do find it very easy, quick and hassle-free, and produce a lot in a short time. I may be lucky in this respect, but I shouldn't think I'm unique. And I do find breastfeeding cuddly and nice sometimes - but at others I don't, I find it hard going and oppressive. Sorry if that upsets anyone - it's how I feel.

Atm I'm easily expressing enough during the day around feeds (as guided by my MW) so that my DP can do 2 feeds with expressed milk during the night, and give me a VERY welcome break and some sleep. DS takes a bottle very happily from DP, and feeds a lot more efficiently and quickly than he does from the breast.

I have wondered about expressing more, and adding another bottle feed into the mix. DS would be getting the same nutritional benefit. I'm not sure if it would have a negative effect on my (currently abundant) supply, but I can't think why it would.

Anyhoo, I'll just be interested to see if anyone has EBF'd through preference. I get the feeling it would be frowned on for all sorts of reasons, even if DC's were getting the same nutritional benefit as being BF-d from the breast.

PS Sorry Threelittleducks, I missed your other post while I was typing -

Yes, I'm getting frustrated with people telling me how boring, difficult and 'hard work' expressing is compared to BF-ing from breast. That's just not my experience either - the opposite, in fact.

My friend did this for 9 months. It was incredibly hard work but like you, she had her reasons. Midwife, HV etc should be supportive provided you are confident in your decision. It is doable.

I don't think MumNW was judging you ThreeLittle Ducks, it's just that not many people do actually express full time so to speak.

I can see why you did it the first time round, but what if things are different with your next baby- ie. an easier birth, better circumstances for establishing breastfeeding?

Thank you barkfox for making me feel less lonely :)

I EBF'd for a good while and found it....just...better. For us.

I would love to cut out the hassle of desperately trying to bf this time whilst being supported in my choice by medical staff if possible. There are so many positives and surely it's a feasible choice if children are getting same nutritional benefits?
My ds settled so well last time and we had no problems with it.
And facing surgery this time is scary (I remember the pain of recovery) without the added scariness of 'will I be able to bf/exhaust myself trying to?'

bugger sorry, just read your thread properly and see that you are having another cs. blush]

i have heard of women doing this, i sort of did it myself for the first 6 weeks of dsès life

i used the hospital pump and they sterilised it for me. i didnèt plan to ebf, ds was prem and wouldnèt latch, so this was the only way he was going to have any bm

i would ask my midwife if i were you

once i was at home, compared to bf my dd which was at source as it were i found it a real faff, but i can see how some would find it more agreeable for a variety of reasons

i know you had a bad experience the first time, but from bf 2 babies i have learned that no two bf relationships are the same, bf dd was very different to bf ds

you may well find that bf your next child is easy and unproblematic

good luck, hth

I would just say that expressing before your milk comes in is rather miserable - I was put on one of the electric pumps at the hospital to try and cup feed DD when she had jaundice and it was ridiculous, there's so little there when it's just colostrum, maybe it might be easier to muddle through the first 2/3/4 days then start expressing once your milk comes in?

Thanks all :)

Ah yes RobynLou, you make a very good point. Maybe I could take my hand pump in to hospital and have it as a fall back after first 2/3 days if I feel I need to.

Gosh no not judging at all, it read that way, just I find expressing really hard, uncomfortable, slow and couldn't really imagine why anyone would want to take this route.

But if it works for you then why not?

As others have said, every baby is different and maybe this baby will BF easily, if not you know you can maintain a good milk supply through expressing.

I expressed about 80% of my DTs milk intake for three months.

The hospital had a really good pump that i used and then I hired a hospital grade pump at home. You quickly get the knack of stuffing the pump in your bra so that your hands are free to do other stuff (eg mumsnet!). I could get about 500ml in my morning session alone

In the hospital they stored milk in the fridge for me and sterilised everything. But it did take a few days for me to actually produce anything (DTs were very small and 5 weeks premature so they give them formula at first).

It worked for me - I just could not face the prospect of bf two - though I know that many others have succeeded, it just was not for me. And I have always been surprised at how few people take this option - it gives you so much more freedom as others can help you feed them.

I hired the pump from Amber Medical on 01823336364.

I can totally understand you doing this. Not the same but I did almost all expressing for ds from around five months onwards, as it was so much easier than trying to keep him on the breast - he used to wriggle and get really frustrated and distracted and never get a full feed and we'd both get upset, but with a bottle of ebf he would be really settled and guzzle it with such enjoyment. Best of luck!

til milk came in i hand expressed + used a syringe to hoover up the colostrum - there is so little that it would just get lost in the works of a handpump or electric pump imo.

Hi,

I did this with both my dc for 6 months each - the first because he was prem and never latched on, the 2nd because after the first few days she was just never sleeping and had weightloss issues etc, so I just kept falling back on the pump.

You might find some weird reactions in the hospital. They will almost definitely be ok with you syringe expressing in the first few days but might put you off using a pump.

If I were you I would go in armed with the right info and hopefully that will leave you confident to deal with any barriers to doing what you want.

Good luck!

The thing is, breastfeeding only takes ages if there's something up with the feeding - most of the time, the problem is that the baby isn't latched on properly.

So although it's good to have EBF as a backup option this time, it might be worth trying to fix the breastfeeding directly, first.

Breastfeeding is about more than the milk, it's about the closeness and contact, too.

threelittleducks three cheers to you for being an amazing mum and being committed enough to giving your baby breast milk that you were prepared to do all that expressing.

I would say though that every situation and baby is different and you may find that BF takes off more easily with your new baby.

Maybe there is a balance to find here - try very gently to get your baby latched on, stay calm and relaxed in the knowledge you can still express if needed.

Don't let the hospital staff bully you into carrying on trying if it is distressing you like it did last time. Be firm, and tell them from the outset what you plan to do.

Nobody can criticise you, I am in awe of what you achieved and your babies are very lucky!

Best of luck :)

Thank you :)

Must say, this is the first time that I have felt justified in expressing as much as I did. Everyone was so down on it last time (apart from my family), it really did cause a lot of upset.

And I am very soryy MumNW - I really did face so much judgement last time that I have become rather sensitive I'm afraid. My bad.

I believe that it is much more common the US to express because they have rubbish maternity leave.

You could try a US Parenting board for more practical advice.

Threelittleducks If that's what you WANT to do, for whatever reason, then go for it and be confident in the fact that it will still be BM, no matter HOW you give it.

It's good to read your DP & DC are bonding well and your DP is helping out with feeding, whereas he wouldn't be able to do that if you were EBF.

Take care.

I know lots of people find thier children totally different at bf iyswim. I know a mum who struggled through nearly 6 months of bf, barely leaving the house cause it was so difficult with dc1 and I saw her when her dc2 was a few weeks old and she said it was soooo amazing - this one feeds really quickly rather than the hours dc1 used to take. She can walk about with him latched on and not have to be glued to the sofa with pillows.

I would suggest giving it a go, with no pressure to carry if it's the same as with dc1, but you just never know.

Good luck