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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

How practical/doable will it be to feed my baby on expressed milk only?

18 replies

PeahenTailFeathers · 15/04/2012 17:20

Is it possible to do this or should I just make a decision to either formula feed or breast feed only?
My baby's not due for another 4 weeks so I have time to choose between these feeding methods, but any advice would be so welcome.

OP posts:

HJMP · 15/04/2012 17:22

Exclusiveky expressing seems to be the worst of both worlds ( sterilising/getting up in the night to warm bottles etc), without the freedom ( regular pumping).

bananarama05 · 15/04/2012 17:33

I did it for 4 weeks and was physically and emotionally exhausted by it, hence stopping without a trace of guilt. I couldn't of carried on with it longer if I'd wanted to.

May I ask why are you considering it as an option over straight bf or ff?

I ended up doing it as dd never latched correctly, stopped feeding and we were re-admitted to hospital due to her weight loss. We were told to try expressing and cup feeding to start with or else she would need to be tube fed. She still refused to latch a week later so I stuck with expressing to bottle feed for as long as I could.

I struggled the most when dp went back to work. Dd was feeding 3 hourly night and day, it could take 30 mins to get her to finish 2oz, I'd then struggle to settle her so have to spend 20-30 minutes trying to express for the next feed, sometimes having to leave her to cry as there was no other option, usually ending with me in tears too! Then get everything cleaned up and sterilised....and start again just over an hour later. Plus I had a constant nagging doubt that I wouldn't be able to express enough and there would come a time I'd not be able to feed her.

You may find it easier but just wanted to give you an idea of how I found it - I wouldn't do it again in a hurry!

londonmackem · 15/04/2012 17:36

I would imagine it will be a nightmare - it takes much longer to express than just breastfeed. So you enter a cycle of pumping/feeding constantly. Why wouldn't you just breastfeed (or formula feed)?

I would just wait and see how things go. Whatever you decide don't feel guilty!

scrumdiddlydoo · 15/04/2012 17:40

I went through a stage of contemplating this when my DS was struggling with a really fast flow of milk and forceful letdown. I persevered and am so glad I did as once established, feeding directly from the boob is so easy, convenient and generally lovely. Also, bear in mind that no pump will ever be as effective at drawing milk from the breast as a baby so if you start out with exclusively expressing, you may have issues with establishing a decent supply. Baby will also want to feed so frequently in the first few weeks as well, so literally all of your time will be spent expressing and then giving what you have just expressed - IMO this just doesn't make sense if you are able to feed directly. Do you mind me asking why you are considering this option?

Engelsmeisje · 15/04/2012 17:42

One of my colleagues did (and is still doing) this. By her own admission she is a control freak and "wants to know how much LO is drinking". Her DS is now 4 1/2 months old.

HJMP makes a very good point.

pigletmania · 15/04/2012 18:03

I am regularly pumping (ds months), it's not that bad once you get into a routine. I am unable to feed direct from source due to problems during the initial stage of establishing bf, I am so glad to be able to give ds my BM, and how he is thriving off it. I think now feeding from the breast is hard. Both breast and pumping has it's advantages and disadvantages. I have a fantastic a breast pump which has excellent results.

pigletmania · 15/04/2012 18:03

Meant ds is 3 months

DonInKillerHeels · 15/04/2012 18:06

Americans seem to do it all the time because ML provision is so limited there. It's possible, and if you are very, VERY routinised in your home and work life I would imagine you'd soon get into a swing. But don't do it if you are a more "let-it-be" kind of person.

BertieBotts · 15/04/2012 18:13

It is possible, but it's likely it will be much more stressful, and a lot more work than you are expecting.

I think, like anything, if you go into it knowing what it will be like and what is involved and you make an informed choice, it's just as valid an option as any other, but you will need to be prepared.

This article has extremely good information and links - the whole website (kellymom) is a wealth of excellent, up to date breastfeeding information (including expressing - referred to as "pumping" "exclusive pumping" or "EPing" as it is a US-based site.)

The key fact to get your head around is that you will need to be pumping at least every 3 hours for 20 minutes, day and night, for the first few weeks.

shesparkles · 15/04/2012 18:17

I fed my ds exclusively expressed breast milk for a year and once I was in the routine, it really wasn't any more of a palaver than making up bottles with formula. However I think I may be blessed in finding it really easy to express and not everyone can do that. I know the pump I used will likely have been superseded by now, but it was an Avent Isis, and a few people I know found them really good.
If you're really seriously thinking about going down this road, let me know and I'll dredge my memory for exactly how I did it-I was able to have about 1.5 days worth of milk in the fridge at any one time, and I also did a daily 9oz bottle for my niece who's the same age as my ds!

lottiegb · 15/04/2012 18:17

Can't think why you'd choose to do it, BF would be much easier, especially at night and more flexible, as you can do it when out, rather than be at home every three hours.

My reasons for doing this are similar to bananarama's, attempted BF was a nightmare with DD not latching well, getting very frustrated and angry and not getting fed enough. Compared to that experience, expressing is wonderfully simple and stress free and I know my baby is getting enough food.

I've been doing it for three weeks now, bought an expensive machine I can double-express with, so about 15 mins every three hours, then I go 5 or 6 hours at night - DP being able to do a night feed is an advantage but you can express for one feed when BF anyway. We do need to top up with formula sometimes as DD feeds more often sometimes during the day, so I can get out of sync or not have enough. While mostly at home it's not a big problem but going out for a day will take some planning.

pigletmania · 15/04/2012 18:17

Why are people so negative a out pumping, there seems to be a divide between the breast feeders and those who express. Solidarity ladies. We are told how superior BM is to formula, so if pumping helps a woman to give her baby BM so be it!

Teladi · 15/04/2012 18:17

I exclusively expressed for almost five months with my DD and I would never recommend it as a feeding method to CHOOSE. My DD never latched and I wanted to provide her with my bm so I went with it. It is really not much fun. In order to establish supply I had to pump during the night, in the beginning I had to do it multiple times a night. So I would be up with DD feeding her, settling her, and then I had to go and run the pump for 15-20 minutes, then wash the pump and put it in the steriliser for the next session. I did this for months before deciding that I was much too exhausted! So I stopped the night pumps and my supply took a nose dive, leading to mixed feeding and then eventually exclusive ff. I didn't feel like I could really go anywhere with my DD, as I had to pump at least every 4 hours in order to make enough milk for her. If I did want to go out somewhere and not take the pump I had to make sure I had enough milk and bottles to take with me that I could feed her with, and then I would also have to be organised enough that I could pump the minute I got in the door, as my chest would be ready to explode.

I don't regret my decision to express as I feel like I gave my baby the best start for as long as I could, it meant a lot to me. I had really, really wanted to bf and was devastated that it hadn't worked out. I had started pumping as a stop-gap until DD learned to latch, and when she didn't... I just kind of kept going. Looking back now though I can't believe I kept going as long as I did. It was getting ridiculous though by the time I stopped and DD was starting to become extremely impatient with me being stuck to the pump and not being able to sort out whatever she wanted/needed at the time. So I also don't regret my decision to move to ff at I think 18 weeks.

If you are going to do it, get the best pump you can afford (I used the Ameda Lactaline and really liked it), and gather all your willpower together. But my advice would be.... don't do it if you can avoid it!

lottiegb · 15/04/2012 18:23

also, I sterilise the stuff once a day, wash or rinse quickly after each use, as per instructions on my machine, so don't see that part as much of a faff.

I use the Medela freestyle, idea is we can sell it afterwards, alternative was renting their symphony, which I'd used in hospital and was fab, more powerful, not at all mobile.

EauRouge · 15/04/2012 18:47

I have nothing but admiration for mothers that have to pump exclusively- I've only expressed a few times and it would be bloody hard work to do it all the time!

OP, I think it is absolutely do-able but I think it would help you a lot to talk it over with a breastfeeding counsellor because you'll need a lot of support if you do go down the exclusive expressing route. If there is an LLL group local to you then they'll be able to help, or look up your local NCT (their site is down at the mo but should be back soon!)

CuppaTeaJanice · 15/04/2012 18:59

OP, do you realise you don't have to stick to just one method of feeding?

You can BF, give bottles of FF, and give expressed milk to your baby in whatever proportions works best for you. You do need to make sure you BF or express regularly to maintain your supply, but it isn't a 'one or t'other' decision as you seem to suggest. For example, DD is mainly BF but has about 4oz of FF each day, and I would express if I had to be away from her for more than a couple of hours.

Original poster

PeahenTailFeathers · 15/04/2012 19:42

Thanks for all your comments. I was hoping to start my new part time job as soon as possible after giving birth so didn't want the poor baby to get attached to breastfeeding, although I would like her to have the benefit of breast milk. Combining all 3 methods sounds like a great idea .

OP posts:

MigGril · 16/04/2012 07:54

How soon after where you planning on starting work? You don't need to worry about baby becomeing to attached to breastfeeding. Many mum's do manage to combine a bottle and breastfeed at the same time.

Although it is really not a good idea to introduce a bottle before 4week's to make sure your baby is well established on breastfeeding first.

Remeber you need time to recover from the birth to starting work to soon may not allow you to do this if you have a difficult birth.

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