Exclusively expressing.....happy experiences?

[urgentadviceneeded]

I have been exclusively expressing now for 3 months. I am happy with my decision to feed this way, made after consultation with a breastfeeding drop in centre etc and so I am not looking for advice on how to feed differently. However pumping every 3/4 hours is draining and I could do with some inspiring examples to keep me going!

I would really like to make it to 6 months if I can - does anyone have any experience of exclusively expressing for that long or longer! And are there any top tips for how to keep supply up? Is it possible to pump less frequently at night when the baby starts to sleep through?

I was exclusively expressing for a few weeks and found this and the links very encouraging. Hope you find something useful there and good luck!

Hi, I exclusively expressed for about 3 months, I know how hard it can be!

Have you seen this website or come across Stephanie Casemore's book? There are quite a few positive stories on the website, as well as tips.

Hi there, hopefully I can help. My DS is 17 weeks old and I have exclusively expressed since day one as direct BF was not working out for us.

I used to do it every three/four hours but when my (enormous!) DS started sleeping through the night at about ten weeks I figured I would drop the 3am session. Your supply will be established by now so it should be ok to do this. But I wouldn't have any other gaps in the day longer than four hours still.

I used to pump at 12,3,6,9 o'clock (so eight times a day).

Now I do 12midnight, 6am, roughly 9-9.30am, roughly 12.30-1.00pm, roughly 4-5pm and then 8.30pm (six times). This was totally and fabulously sanity preserving and I now sleep two hours before midnight and five and a half after until it's time to get up for the next pumping session. If DS decides to wake in the night it's my DH's problem. Even though he works if I am getting up twice already we agreed it's not fair if I have to get up a third time and do the whole day with the baby too. Plus if I don't get much sleep that can mess up supply the next day.

I did however ease myself into this routine rather than just suddenly leaving a six hour gap at night - I moved it back and back gradually.

Top tips then (haven't read the link from mumnerves yet but I will do, thanks!) -

1. drink loads of water.
2. Eat loads of chocolate and biscuits. I'm not kidding, if I have a day where I eat an entire chocolate orange I make a lot more milk the next day ( a good 3oz!)
3. Get as much sleep as you can.
4. For the evening session, try and have a bath or shower beforehand. You'll be tired so may naturally get less, but the bath really helps to draw it out I find.
5. Be as strict as you can with the time you pump, and your body will learn when milk is needed and when it isn't. I have a friend who BFs and pumps only once a day at 3pm. If she tries at 2-no milk. At 4 - no milk. Only at 3pm. Weird.

6.If your periods have started up again your supply may naturally drop, but keep up the pumping and maybe sneak in some extra sessions until volumes pick up again, then go back to the normal routine.

1. Never skip a session.
2. Pump until there isn't anything coming out but don't keep going and going or you may get engorged (happened to me a couple of times).
3. Avoid stress and try to stay relaxed.

10. Pump in front of the TV or computer so at least you feel you're doing something else. Have written half of this while pumping.

I love expressing. So many benefits. I've posted lots about this before - search for posts under my username if you're interested, and feel free to PM if you want any more info/support

Can I ask if the information on this page is accurate?

I've been expressing as baby wasn't gaining enough weight so the hospital wanted me to measure how much milk baby is getting at each feed for a few days. They've asked me to feed a minimum of 50ml every 3 hours, either breast milk or formula. DD is now taking 60-70ml every feed but I've only been expressing when breasts have felt full, maybe 3 times a day. I'm dismayed to see that I should be pumping 8 times or more! Not sure my nipples will stand that

I want to get baby back onto exclusive BF (slightly complicated by a diagnosis of thrush today) bit now I'm worried supply will be low.

Gallicgirl: It's a little more hardcore than I do, but yes, sounds pretty much right.

We are TTC and if successful am hoping to pump instead of formula if bf doesn't work.

Can I ask which pump you use?

awwww crap

I've got an Avent manual pump OADCB I tried the electric one in hospital and didn't get on with it.

This is really interesting and inspiring - thank you so much for all the tips.

I use a medela swing single - bought when I wasn't expecting to be exclusively expressing. I think I would have invested in a double pump if I'd known.

I have found that massaging the breasts makes a huge difference to output (or at least speed of output).

Lasagne the night before also seems to create a lot more milk! I've tried to shift some baby weight this week (I weigh the same as I did when she was born) by controlling calories (with doctor permission). Have found that supply seems down but that could be a mental block I guess....

Hi,

I did this - twice - with DS and then DD. Both I kept going for 6 months, but I know that lots of people have managed it for much longer.

DD was actually able to latch on but didn't feed effectively enough, but DS didn't ever manage it. My best tips are

1. In the early days, best routine is feed baby and then express once they are settled, then get everything ready for next time (bottle made up).

1. Look at Kellymom for advice on milk handling and how long it lasts (you might be surprised) e.g, Unlike formula, breastmilk keeps for at least 6 hours in room temperature, and (although best used within a coulple of days) can last up to 8 days. It is ok as long as it doesn't smell or taste bad.

1. The fridge trick will save your sanity! Since milk keeps for 48 hours or more in the fridge, it is ok to take your pump parts and put into an airtight container in the fridge to use until next time. I used to clean thoroughly and put in the dishwasher/steriliser twice a day. Saved a lot of washing!

PS. I used to take a small tommee tippee hand pump out with DS and I shopping and express with that if I was getting a bit full. I used to just express in a breastfeeding room. With DD I didn't bother much with that but managed to keep my supply going ok but that was maybe because she would feed for comfort (but not effectively enough to live on iyswim?).

I have a mams manual and was thinking double pump medula if need arises. Looks Like it's a case of each has individual preferences.

I use a Philips Avent single electric. Maybe a double one would have made more sense, but it's small and handheld and I can pump and post on mumsnet at the same time!

Interesting tip on the lasagne, no harm in trying eh? And I never thought about putting the pump in the fridge in a sealed container. StrikeUpTheBand. I've been rinsing thoroughly and putting in the steam steriliser (with fresh water each time) EVERY time I express. It might not take long to do and I'm used to it, but I may well start following your tip!!

I excluusively pumped for 8 months for ds2. Was pretty hard going to start with, but quickly got into a routine and pumped every 3 hours. Although after about 4 months I did only pump once curing the night - I used to have a glass of milk & 2 hob nobs whilst reading Harry Potter at 3am! Bit of a pain once he started sleeping through but by then was used to it. Did occasionally have a night off - was engorged in the morning but would then sometimes get 2 9oz bottles full in one go but it was so nice to have a night off now and again. I used the Medela Swing all the way through and found it great. The whole experience for me worked well and I would do it again - wish I could now as b/f ds3 and having a nightmare. Hate the feeding but now cant express any! Very bizarre and cant get her to take a bottle so not very happy at the minuted. So I say good on you and glad to hear its going well for you x

I am exclusively pumping although trying sometimes on the breast too. I am at 12 weeks now and I pump 5 times every 24 hours only pumping in the night when DD wakes - anywhere from 2-7am.
Was pumping every 2 hours to establish supply when it was clear DD was not feeding well enough and my supply had dropped, but since buying my Medela freestyle pump (the best one I have ever used - even better then the hospital grade that I used in the hospital or hired from the chemist) I am pumping far more than my DD eats in 5 sessions.
I do worry that the advice seem to be a minimum of 6 times but I am building up a good freezer stash as it is, so will only increase if supply seems to diminish...........

I do think that it is really interesting how many people seem to exclusively express and how little information there is about it compared to other forms of feeding - exclusive expressing that is, not just expressing sometimes to go out.

I was at a baby group the other day and the woman to my left, and two women to my right had all exclusively expressed for a period of months.

When I asked the NCT leader whether she knew of any info about it, she sent a link to a site which started with the familiar refrain "why don't you try hand expressing" I would be very surprised if anyone has managed 6 months of exclusive HAND expressing!!!!!!

I have also been exclusively pumping for just over 6 months.
I did take domperidone and fenugreek for the first 4 months as DS was prem and I didn't have a great supply at first.
I dropped night-time pumps when DS started sleeping through the night at around 14 weeks on the advice of my HV who told me I was mad to be up pumping whilst he was sleeping through! I found it didn't affect my supply much and I continued to produce around a litre per day.
I have gradually been dropping pumps as I only ever intended to pump until 6 months. Currently I pump 3 times a day and get around 800ml. We're weaning onto solids and he also has a big bottle of formula now as his dreamfeed.
I found hiring a hospital grade double pump (Ameda Elite from Ardo) helped. Also buying a hands-free pumping bra so I can do other stuff like browse MN whilst pumping.
This is the American website which I found most useful for tips, especially in the early days whilst I was still getting the hang of things: forums.ivillage.com/ivillage/?category.id=iv-ppexcluspump

I did for all 3 after failing to bf. With the third I did so for 4-5 months & could have continued for longer but chose to reduce gradually & then stop. Initially I'd express every 3 hours but then could get enough from 6 pumps a day with the option of always upping it if dc needed more. No idea of the 'hidden' figures on this because the mw listed me a breast feeding for charting purposes.

You can make it to 6 months. I did it for 18 months with DS1 and whilst it was hard work, it did get easier. Especially after I dropped the night time express, which I did at 5 months IIRC.

You will be much more likely to be able to continue if you buy a good double electric pump, because not only does it make the job so much easier and less time consuming for you, double pumping increases milk making hormones so your output will probably increase. You can also buy an expressing bra, which holds the hooters in place so you can MN do things with your hands. I used an ameda lactaline pump from expressyourselfmums

I often used to say to myself "I will express TODAY" to get me through difficult times. It can be so lonely and boring to exclusively express, but you are doing a fantastic thing and I am sure you will be glad you did when you look back on it. I feel very proud. The first 3 months are definitely the hardest - if your goal is 6m then you are well on your way

Wow shitmagnet 1600ml per day with a hand pump! I got RSI after using a hand pump for about 3 weeks when I was only making about 750 ml. My thumb went totally numb and I had to go around wearing a big wrist splint. That's when I realised I had to hire a double electric one!

I'd second the Ameda Lactaline recommendation and the link above for ExpressYourselfMums. Great value and a fantastic pump, and takes AA batteries if you want to express in the car.

Oh that's another one...I used to express on long car journeys to see parents/grandparents as then I would arrive with a fresh feed or two and no need to express while there (expressed again on way home).

Without wishing to sound stupid - how do you express in a car? That would be revolutionary if I could manage it....can't other cars see you in the passenger seat?

Have assumed you weren't driving!

I pump every 3-4 hours but am guilty of skipping a night pump occasionally. DS is only 9 weeks and doesn't sleep through (DH gives a bottle while I snore on and ignore the pumping slot). It hasn't seemed to mess with my supply, I just have enough for two sessions' worth when I do rouse myself in the morning.

Out of curiosity... why would you need to pump when your DS sleeps through... you wouldn't be breastfeeding them so why is it different it you're pumping?

I use a medela mini electric, but I've had to take it back to the shop for replacing once after just a month's use, and this one's looking like biting the dust too, so I wouldn't recommend it for such frequent pumping.