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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Possible to express during early days post birth?

17 replies

smk84 · 11/02/2011 23:06

Has anyone managed to express milk in the early days post-partum? I am sure it's not a great idea as you are so tired and don't need the extra stress. The reason I ask is that with DS, we really needed to top with formula as he hadn't regained birth weight by 3 weeks, and my sanity was leaving me ! My MW told me to express after a feed, even if I didn't get anything it would help boost my supply (DS was v sleepy, we think because of antobiotics). My supply responded, and we did give expressed ounzes here and there, but had to resort to formula, then I became very poorly with PND and he was formula fed by 4 weeks :( :(
We are TTC DC2 (DS is 21 months) and I would just really like to have a plan ready, as I would love to EBF for as long as possible next time. I know the situation will be different, but in the back of my mind I would like to think that I could build up a little supply early on that we could resort to (by syringe). Talk about putting the cart before the horse, but I like to have a plan !

OP posts:
japhrimel · 11/02/2011 23:48

I expressed from day 1 as DD was in scbu tube-fed then needed top-ups for a few weeks. We gave some formula when home and she had it in scbu but she's now ebf, so it is possible to express and to go from formula top-ups to ebf.

I don't think it's sensible or feasible to think about expressiing from the start just in case though. If you did manage to get extra on top of successfully feeding a newborn, it would probably lead to a big over-supply problem. I had issues getting my supply adjusted and most of the time I was just trying to pump enough to meet DD's needs.

If your LO has issues, then express would be my advice.

pinkyp · 12/02/2011 00:34

My mw said I could express when pregnant but I could only get 0?5 oz a time so I didn't bother. Perhaps you could express when your milk comes in after a few days as often your breast get engorged etc. I often found in the early days if I fed on one side milk would leak out of the other so I caught it with breast shells maybe this would b a good option to begin with?

Katey1010 · 12/02/2011 02:09

I second breast shells (I got lots of milk in the early days with them). Also, maybe get some support organised upfront. Talk to BF counsellors now. And don't put too much pressure on yourself. Better a less stressed Mummy and a FF baby than you feeling bad if you can't BF. Good luck!

madwomanintheattic · 12/02/2011 02:24

i expressed from about 4 hours after birth as dd2 was in scbu and born without a suck/ swallow. i built up my supply and she was ng fed. when we left hospital after 5 weeks i had about 80 frozen feeds to take with me Blush i may have been over-compensating...

i'm not at all sure that expressing very early with a healthy fully bf baby is a great idea - i can see the rationale behind trying to build up your supply though.

fwiw, dd1 and ds1 were both bf, and they were very different feeders. dd1 fed from the get-go and we had no problems, and i was expecting ds1 to be a breeze - but it took several days for him/ us to get the hang of latching etc. (he did then successfully bf for 10 mos) each baby and feeding experience is different, so you might not have any issues next time around. Smile

good luck x

foxytocin · 12/02/2011 07:03

smk, you had very bad support with your son. I am so sorry to read.

It is possible to express colostrum while still pregnant and freeze it in syringes or express straight after birth if you need it. On day one, 5ml of colostrum is a lot and it can kick start your baby's alertness if this is necessary.

This can be your insurance policy, so to speak.

I'd say that a good place to start would be have a debrief to find out why exactly your baby was so sleepy after birth, what should have been done to support you and him, and what you can do differently this time to raise the chances of a better outcome from pregnancy to birth and beyond.

For example, if you can find a birth choices support group near where you live they can
put you in contact with people locally who will be willing to talk to you about options for to prepare you for birth and breastfeeding as well as help talk you through what went wrong and what can be done differently this time.

tere are also a wealth of information in yahoo groups and blogs besides mumsnet.

foxytocin · 12/02/2011 07:04

is a lot for one feed

Marthapants01 · 12/02/2011 07:04

I expressed on one side following serious nipple trauma that developed in week one. I kept being told it was ok and would go but I couldn't stand the pain so I expressed for one week to let it heal. It did and when I went back to bf it was fine.

I was frowned at by mw's tho and was told it would mess with my production and that baby would loose ability to latch etc etc. Tosh! It was fine and importantly I was no longer in agony!

Original poster
smk84 · 12/02/2011 15:18

Thank you so much everyone. Will definitely look on yahoo etc and seek out local groups. Not sure there are many local services here.
Do you know from when you can express colostrum?
I hadn't thought that over-supply could be a problem (as you could pump it out), but I guess it can make it difficult for baby to latch?

OP posts:
pinkyp · 12/02/2011 15:37

I got colostrum from 36 weeks but expressing made my nipples sore and took ages to get any out - expressing once baby is here is so much easier. I've always expressed once a day on a morning and now i HAVE to express because my bodys use to making more milk than it needs

foxytocin · 12/02/2011 19:46

how to hand express colostrum

One place online you can start reading is the AIMS website There is a lot of journals on there which may contain articles with issues which touch on your experience.

Another helpful one for me was the homebirth website which again contains issues about health in pregnancy and birth. It is a useful read even if you are not planning a home birth as is joining the homebirth yahoo group. Again even if you are not planning a home birth, the information on there can be very insightful in determining what you may want for yourself in a range of issues. You could just join up and lurk and read the information for the time being.

Where I live there is a support group about Birth Choices whose aim is to inform parents of their choices and support them in their birth plan. The home birth group is a useful place to ask for this sort of information in your area.

I could keep rattling on but now I have to put 2 littlies to bed. Message me if you'd like to continue to pick my brains.

MummyGil · 12/02/2011 19:59

If I hadn't expressed in the early days, I don't think would have managed to breastfeed at all. Baby couldn't latch on because I was so full. Expressing gave a softness that allowed baby to gain purchase.

With baby number two I had to express at the start as baby was in SCBU and being fed through a tube.

Original poster
smk84 · 13/02/2011 15:40

Thanks again all. Foxytocin thank you so much for your detailed reply - I will check out the links and would really like to stay in touch. Not sure how to send a message but will figure it out !!

OP posts:
Original poster
smk84 · 13/02/2011 15:47

Have just read the info on How to handexpress colostrum. (NHS Ayrshire info). Makes it sound like expressing colostrum in late pregnancy is a good and easy idea. Does anyone know if it's recommended for normal pregnancies? I am thinking it's great to have a store as back up (just in case you are knocked out by anaesthetic or poorly etc). Would it be given by syringe in normal circumstances? (this would be alongside frequent latching on I am sure !)

OP posts:
Katey1010 · 13/02/2011 16:52

I couldn't get any colostrum out during late pregnancy. May be something to do with the fact that DD was REALLY late in the end and her pregnancy was 42+ weeks 'naturally' IYSWIM. I felt Sad but the MW said not to worry. I think the stimulation can bring on labour (that's why you shouldn't do it before a certain number of weeks.

foxytocin · 13/02/2011 23:49

It is safe to express colostrum in late pregnancy as the supposed nipple twiddling which may set off labour, afaik, would have to be done for hours. And the cervix probably so ripe that it would be nearly time anyway.

disclaimer, not a medical professional.

smk, you message a poster with the little icon sitting on the far right of the information band with the twitter and facebook logos etc. it says 'message poster'

Original poster
smk84 · 17/02/2011 09:46

Just bumping to see if anyone else out there with early expressing experience. Thanks.

OP posts:
aob1013 · 17/02/2011 13:48

My son was 6 weeks premature so yes, i expressed exclusively for 7 days. Totally possible, but needs lots of committment.

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