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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

I am *really* rubbish at expressing - can I have some tips please?

36 replies

Miaou · 07/02/2006 21:17

Tbh I've only tried it a couple of times - I have nowhere private to do it and end up standing in our through kitchen/living room with the blinds down and the pump whining away like a moped - very offputting.

But I've just got a casual job that could entail working 10-2, and the vague possibility on the horizon of another one which would also be 10-2 (or 12-4) - great for me, not so good for ds (6 months). It occurred to me that I ought to get my finger out (perhaps my boob might be more appropriate - ah, that's where I'm going wrong then )and really give it a proper go otherwise I might end up having to give him formula which I really don't want to do.

Sorry, waffling now - can you give me some tips please? I never leak, if I pump then I get only a drop or two - if I continue to persevere, might this increase? Or am I dooooooooomed?

TIA

OP posts:
vkone · 07/02/2006 21:23

(thinks back into the mists of time...) I remember using hot flannels on breast before expressing, it seemed to help the let down and I seem to remember expressing in the morning worked better than the evening, it's the only time I've evern sat and read magazines - must be what they were invented for!

Sorry not much help, really

fisil · 07/02/2006 21:24

I don't know if this helps, but with ds1 I used the whirring electric pump, but with ds2 it just didn't work out, so I always hand pumped instead - often while I was feeding him (the ultimate in multi-tasking!). It was quite a juggling act. He was tiny so I'd tuck him away on one boob and then hold a bottle in one hand and squeeze with the other!

Sallystrawberry · 07/02/2006 21:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mazzystar · 07/02/2006 21:33

you won't get anywhere if you think the neighbours are watching. can you do it in bed, after baby's first feed?, somewhere warm, comfy, relaxed and private?

how old is you lo?

SauerKraut · 07/02/2006 21:36

I used to express straight after a feed from the one the baby either didn't feed from at all or fed from second- that worked really well. I also found it important to do it regularly- and at short intervals to really get it going. Not doomed- takes loads of patience and perseverance. Best of luck!

SauerKraut · 07/02/2006 21:37

The Avent pump was brilliant.

motherinferior · 07/02/2006 21:38

Miaou, CAT me, I did a piece on all this which put together LOADS of tips mostly from MN.

2pinkshoes · 07/02/2006 21:39

hi
the best start is to stop worrying about it! formula isnt the end of the world, give yourself credit for getting this far, lots of people don't/can't.
maybe try attaching ds to one boob and pump to the other and hope for the best.
it took me ages (months!) and lots of tears of frustration, but now manage to express about 7oz at a time. it is a nightmare but will happen, just takes awhile for your boobs to get used to the fact they have to produce a bit more milk.
i find first thing in the morning the best time.

i think the day i decided to give up was the day i finally cracked it.

hope some of my waffling helps.

good luck

Original poster
Miaou · 07/02/2006 21:40

Can't do it in our bedroom as ds sleeps in there too - the only room without people in it is the bathroom and obviously there are no plugs in there!!

MI - thank you for the offer! But I haven't paid for CAT and can't afford to just now

Ds is 6 months btw.

OP posts:
Original poster
Miaou · 07/02/2006 21:41

thanks 2pinkshoes, that helps - looks like I will have to grit my teeth and persevere.

OP posts:
motherinferior · 07/02/2006 21:44

I'll CAT you, don't worry.

Original poster
Miaou · 07/02/2006 21:48

Aw thanks MI! Will look out for your email

OP posts:
jabberwocky · 07/02/2006 21:52

It can be tricky. Since ds had nipple confusion and refused breast early on, I did get lots of practice. Probably the best advice I have is to use breast compression while pumping. We had quite a discussion about this and other tips on this thread.

Original poster
Miaou · 07/02/2006 21:54

aha! Thanks jabberwocky - I was looking for that thread but couldn't find it.

OP posts:
moondog · 07/02/2006 21:56

Miaou,chukling at your moped analogy.

I'm sure MI's article will hit the spot but being relaxed seemed to me to be very important. Morning was also the beast.Would wake with rock hard boobs,feed the babe off onre and express off the other while dh took a shower.

It is possible that the baby will manage without a feed for this time. At 7 mths,mine went 4 hours until i could get back to the nurseey to feed them in my lunch break. At 8 mths,they went all day without milk of any sort-just had water.

Original poster
Miaou · 07/02/2006 22:05

You're right moondog, morning is a beast

Re the missing it out - I did wonder whether that was a viable alternative. Not only do I have to master expressing, but I then have to get him to take milk from a bottle or cup from another person. It all seems rather insurmountable atm! He will happily drink water from a cup and I think it is possible that he will do without for that length of time - it's just the timing that is an issue as he usually has a feed at around 1-2pm.

OP posts:
moondog · 07/02/2006 22:32

I was surprised at howmy baby got used to it.
The nursery manager (ex m/w) could see how frazzled I was getting and suggested it.
THe fact that she was with other people broke the urge for the boob at that time I think.
Best of luck anyway!

Laura032004 · 08/02/2006 09:06

I always used to express just before ds woke up. I think looking at him sleeping, & wanting to pick him up was enough to let the milk down

I'd normally express off of one side, and then feed him from the other (he was a one side per feed baby). Sometimes I'd swap him across to the side I'd expressed from too, just to make sure that it was getting some baby stimulation too.

If you got an Avent pump, could you express in the bedroom? No real noise involved. I took my pump to bed with me, so I'd just wake up, reach for it, and then do the business! DS and sometimes DH would still be sleeping whilst I did it. I never successfully expressed much at other times of the day.

throckenholt · 08/02/2006 09:18

massage the boobs before pumping, don't worry about how much you are getting. If you can - do something else to distract you and pass the time - eg reading mumsnet !

If you are pumping one side at a time - then alternate - 5 mins on one, 5 mins on other, then 3 mins on first side, 3 on other, 2 on first, 2 on second, 1 on first, 1 on second.

or just don't bother as others have suggested - give him water when you are not there and then feed before and after.

My 6 month old would never take milk from a bottle so everything I expressed was made into rice pudding and semolina for him !

fastasleep · 08/02/2006 09:48

Not sure if everyone's already said this but decided to post before I rush off anyway!

1, be comfortable!

2, massage your breast(s) before and during, think milking a cow action, more of a squeezing than a massaging, works for me!

3,start your pump off on minimum then gradually turn it up (as long as it doesn't hurt) and then turn it down again towards the end (kind of obvious!)...

4, you need to try for at least 10-15 minutes on each breast

5, the best way to express is to do both breasts and swap them over as soon as the milk stops again and again until you reach a half hour/ 40 minute mark... Although if you can actually breastfeed, lucky woman, I can see why you might not want to do that in case your little un gets hungry!

You could try an Avent Isis, I've had a Medela and an Avent and expressed for 9.5 months exclusively and 4 months so far this time - the Avent is my favourite, even though it's manual (I can just depress the handle and let the first let-down just squuuuuuuuuiiiiiiirt in for ages and then go pump pump pump super fast, you can set up your own rhythm)

Ok there you go, I have an unhealthy interest in this don't I!

fastasleep · 08/02/2006 09:49

If you really want to express rather than give water you could invest in a breast shaped bottle all right I'm off breakfast needs doing!

ceebs · 08/02/2006 10:47

Advent isis pump is the best i know some of the others have said this already but it's fantastic!!!!!!.

Just find the right time for you everybody is different for me it's first thing in the morning when the feeds have been less over night .Having him on the floor playing was a help too.

All the best ,esp with going back to work

motherfunkerhunkermunker · 08/02/2006 19:20

In addition to FA's tips, try leaning forward and shaking your boobs before you express.

And good luck with it all - he will be eating a bit more and whoever's looking after him will be able to distract him with a banana or similar while you're at work, I'm sure.

It's always easier than it seems before you've done it. You'll make it work for you and DS, I promise.

Expressing while feeding off other boob is also good, I found.

Original poster
Miaou · 08/02/2006 22:20

Thanks hunker (and others!) I'm all fired up with enthusiasm now.

I'm busting with milk just now (scuse the pun) - if I have a quick pump before I feed ds (he will prob wake sometime soon) then will that mean he won't have enough milk?

I need a [dim] emoticon here

OP posts:
PandaG · 08/02/2006 22:44

I found Avent Isis good - I introduced an extra 'feed' time to express every day at the same time - boobs soon got used to producing extra! Found that looking fondly at sleeping baby and warm flannels helped the let down reflex. Could only pump in private with ds, but with dh ds was 2 and kept wanting to help and tried pumping for me!!! He was a bit enthusiastic and painful once or twice but think he enjoyed being part of providing for his baby sister - and the novelty soon wore off!! Hope you have more success, and don't beat yourself up if you have problems.

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