Can someone tell me the basics about expressing and related paraphernalia?

[Tabs]

Baby due in 3 weeks. Plan on breastfeeding but figure it'd be a good idea to be able to express too, so want to get all the necessary kit. Unfortunately have little idea what's involved!

Have read some threads advising best pumps etc, and the medela mini electric one scores highly. So if I get it, what else do I need?

Presumably I need bottles to collect the milk? Will any bottle work with the pump, or do I have to get specific ones designed for the pump in question?

Presumably I need to sterilise the bottles before I use them? If so, I understand that you can get electric or microwave sterilisers - thoughts on which is best? And do all bottles fit in all sterilisers, or again, do you have to stick with a single brand?

Sorry for so many questions at once, but grateful for answers to any or all parts!

Message withdrawn

I have the same-ish steriliser from Mothercare, just like a big tub, you can shove anything into it!

Now if you just plan on expressing a bit, not the whole time like me (ugh..) then a medela will probably be ok, TBH though I prefer the cheaper Avent Isis, they last longer, they're much much quieter and they may give you a sore wrist after a while but I think that out-weighs the feeling of being some kind of cow!

I actually ordered bottles by the 200 from the same company as hospitals be a bit careful with freezer bags as they can split sometimes, but they are probably the best things to store a little milk in -I also know of people storing milk in ice cube trays, obviously you can't out and out sterilise those though so not an option if you're a purist!

The Medela will come with a collection bottle and top, you can order bigger/more bottles from the web.. and the Isis fits all Avent bottles/cups/beakers... another reason why I like it!

Thanks for answers so far ladies.
I think I'll only be expressing a bit, so guess the mini should be ok. DH works abroad 4 days a week so seems a bit pointless to express for him to do night feeds initially, as he won't be able to continue with it.
I guess I'm thinking that it will just be handy to have some ready if I should actually want a night out, or if I'm out and about and a bit too self-conscious to breast feed in public.

So with the medela I collect the milk in the bottle that comes with it, but then I can tip it into either freezer bags or other bottles, so that I still have the orginal for collection - sounds logical so far!

The Avent bottles didn't seem to be rated v highly on the 'best bottles' thread, so thought maybe this was an occasion not to go with the perceived market leader! Do Avent do an electric pump as well though - the Isis is the manual one isn't it?

Yes the Isis is manual, and the bottles do leak a bit you're right! But I haven't found one much better so far...

Just make sure you are very confident in feeding your baby and that he/she is feeding well before introcuding anything new to her mouth... I know some people don't believe in nipple confusion but I'm sat here expressing for 9 months +, six times a day for 40 minutes a time because of it! As long as s/he's a good feeder though, you'll be fine

Ooh and make sure you have the Medela set to minimum before you turn it on

Can't type today!

Avent isis pump is okay but the number of parts is a bit annoying for washing up etc
I found a microwave steriliser good as you can leave it in the microwave when not in use

oh meant to add lansinoh milk bags are much less fiddly than the boots own brand ones

Main thing IME - don't rush to try expressing. It really does take 6ish weeks to get just BF sorted. If you do try earlier don't get depressed if you only get a bit out - your baby is getting more than the machine can manage.

And the mini-medela? That noise is heartbreakingly depressing. Have a hand ISIS for emergencies but basically put back work return 3 months to feed longer. Expressing, as you may now tell, is not my fave cup of tea.

Top tip from UCH ITU nurses 9courtesy of their microbiologist): if you have a dishwasher just do your bottles in there. There isn't really anything in our lives that won't be killed off by a nice hot dishwasher cycle. You can get special dishwasher containers to hold teats, bottle tops etc etc.

Yes avent do aelectric ones. The double pump is 250 quid and for serious back to work expressers only IMHO. Their new single one is under 90 quid but haven't tried it.

Unless you're a very blushing violet also don't worry about feeding in public. You will go through a little series of watersheds when you get over that - first time in front of anyone not there at birt. First time at a mum-baby group. First time in John Lewis mum and baby room. First time at a friends. First time in a restaurant. On a plane, a boat a helicopter (i kid you not). First time in queue, standing, at passport office. On a bus. Needs must when the baby cries Good luck with BFing have fun!

sorry in the 2nd paragraph i mean >I< put back work three months - i'm not instructing you! less speed and less BFing baby at keyboard needed laugh

LOL - thanks Merryberry! Work not really an issue as self employed, and haven't decided if/when I might look for a new contract anyway.

Whilst money thankfully isn't tight, £250 seems a waste for the amount I'd actually expect to use it, so think I can rule that Avent one out!

Thanks for tip re dishwasher, but we have water problems here (loooong story) so would prefer not to have to rely on that.
BIL - any particular microwave steriliser that you would recommend?

fastasleep - mental note made to ensure on minimum!

Hi Tabs

My DS is 11 weeks and my choice of pump/steriliser etc was dictated by what tesco stocked when I went for an emergency purchase when i had an infection in my breast....

So, I ended up with the avent Isis and the Avent microwave steriliser. I'm happy with both of them. The steriliser takes 8 mins in micro plus 2 mins standing time. I've now got freezer bags which can be used with the pump. You use a special holder for the bag which means that you pump straight into the bag ready for the freezer.

I found that the thing that made expressing easier for me was understanding and recognising the let down reflex.

HTH and good luck. Enjoy your baby!

MB

would really echo advice about not expressing too soon. In order not to send your milk supply do lally, I think it is important to establish a really good BF relationship with your baby before you start otherwise engorgement and other nasties may lurk. A BF counsellor told me to do at least 6 weeks before getting the pump out. I used a medela mini electric which is very loud but efficient and left me 1 hand free for phone, remote control, keyboard etc

Good news is that once you#ve cracked BF it is so much easier than bottles and really enjoyable. I often look at my DD (now 9 months) and feel so proud that my body made her and fed her exclusively for so long.

Good luch with the birth and remember the nork squad is here on MN with lashings of advice / opinion etc once he/she is here and you are underway.

X

teacups - that's interesting that your BF counsellor said not to express for first 6 weeks. I had heard before that you shouldn't for first 3 weeks, but when I asked about this at NCT class I was told that there was no reason not to express early.
Was reading baby whisperer section on BF today, and she says that it's much easier to get baby to take from a bottle if tried within the first 3 weeks.
No wonder it's such a confusing topic that promotes so much discussion!!

So, just how noisy is this medela thing - are we talking louder than a vacuum cleaner or a food processor for example?

Mawbroon - am wondering whether I should reconsider the Isis as I don't expect to need to express a lot. Lots of people do seem to be happy with it despite the few bad comments about Avent's bottles.

The baby whisperer also suggests variflow teats on the bottles, particularly if expressing early on, as then baby has to suck as if on the breast rather than milk just pouring in. Anyone using these?

i expressed for the 1st 4 months, as dd just wasn't interested in the breast (!)... I used the medela electric to start with (the noise IS depressing! Plus I used to do it in front of the telly and the volume would have to go right up!), but then went to the avent hand pump which I found more effective actually and the slightly sore hand was well worth not having to be near a power point and the silence... ah! I thought the avent bottles themselves were useless, went for the usual narrow necked bottles in the end, and used variable flow teats for the 1st 3-4 months, then went on to medium flow. DD was exclusively bottle fed, though with a fair bit of expressed breat milk in there too. Definitely worth getting a baby used to the odd bottle in the early weeks months.... good luck!

yes it's like sitting on top of a small asthmatic vacuum cleaner. the problem there is the sitting on top of it. for up to 30 minutes in the early days. while your other bits ache and you haven't slept properly for ages and you're adjusting to your new life and your dp and you would like to talk but can't and the sun is shining but you can't reach outside and...oh, fond memories. not.

I must admit I never did it in front of my dh - I felt too much like a moo cow and esp with the noise I thought that he had probably seen enough of me in undignified positions for the time being ...I felt the desire to preserve a little of my feminine mystique

I read somewhere that if you wanted to BF mainly with a bit of expressing on the side, you should let the baby get used to the nork exclusively before you try a bottle to avoid nipple confusion. I also read that you should use newborn teats as the baby has to work harder to get the milk out much like he does on the breast. Apparently, if you use a variflow or no 2 teat, the baby either gets flooded or he goes off the idea of the boob as it's so much harder work!

FWIW, I still use newborn teats on DD who is 9 months. My mum first gave her a bottle of EBM when she was about 6 weeks old and she made a fuss for a bit and then settled when she realised there was nothing better on offer. She would then let my DH do it with me in the room and after about age 3 1/2 months she would take a bottle from me [when I had had a few too many glasses to want to bf]

Agree how confusing it is! I read a really good book called "best feeding" which my BF counsellor recommended. It's full of good info from 3 wonderful experts and definitely worth a look.

Keep us informed about how you are getting on, Tabs? When are you due? good luck for the birth.

All best wishes

XXXXX

don't go by Baby Whisperer as a guide to breast feeding/expressing. do as someone else said and get a proper breast feeding book and use that as a guide.

nipple confusion does exist. more than one poster is on MN who have experienced it much to their heartache. I read that it is better to wait to introduce a bottle at 6 - 8 wks. I did before that time period then stopped until 12 wks as baby began acting very wierd at the breast and was advised to take bottle away completely and go on a 'nursing holiday'. My dd still took a bottle at 10 wks but at 15 wks went on bottle strike! There was hell on at 19 wks to get her back on it.

That is just my experience. It just shows that babies won't follow books as they don't read.

i have used the avent pump, the medela mini electric and now use an ameda lactaline double pump. The medela is 1/2 the price of a lactaline but the noise(!) and not as effective as double pumping. The avent is v. good hand pump. You can just dispense the milk into a different feeding bottle as avent bottles are rubbish IMO. The lactaline is fantastic, quiet too, and very resaleable on Ebay. You get back at least half your money which would be the same as buying an medela mini electric.

If you decide to get a microwave steriliser check it will fit in your microwave - I think the Boots or Mothercare baby catalogue gives the dimensions of them

I have the medela mini electric and the tommee tippee freedom one. I prefer electric to manual as I'm lazy and also don't express well. The medela isn't bad but is really noisy - so not discreet at all. Mind you, the noise is good for sending DS to sleep! I got the TT one because I fancied a manual one and it was half price (£11) at Tesco. It's not too bad. pretty basic, sometimes pulls my nipple in too far but all in all good for £11. The handle did break recently but I called TT and they posted a replacement out straight away.

I'd love to try the new medela electric one and the avent electric. Just can't convince DH that I need 2 new pumps

meant to add... I think the medela only fits medela bottles - not sure though. I bought an extra 3 pack of bottles for it. I tend to freeze extra in Boots bags. The TT fits any bottle.

Wow - lots more responses last night - thank you everyone. Will go through them all in detail over the weekend, and then go and have a look at some of the kit in Boots/Mothercare I think, and see if I can get a demo of how noisy this medela really is!

make sure you test it while its creating a vacuum - that's when it gets really grim...