Expressing support thread

[pigletmania]

After a rocky start ds was unable to latch on and 3 months later I find myself expressing for him for a number of reasons. Sometimes I feel like giving up so have started this thread to support each other. I know the benefits outweigh the disadvantages of pumping.

Are there any other pumpers out there

Still at it - although have reduced to nine times a day - and still getting more milk every day... DD is exclusively on EBM and is gaining beautifully. However I think the rest of my family is falling apart... DD1 is constantly crying saying when are you going to stop pumping - DD2 either cries on me or sticks her thumb in and is comatosed! DH and I are arguing everyday..... I'm sure I'll look back and laugh one day but at the moment I am feeling up against it - My HV is suggesting I should stop and so is my GP....

Still feeling very proud of myself... How about you Gelsa?

Hi all

Just realised my post might be better here. I am 20+4 with my first and am thinking about feeding.

I want to bottle feed using expressed breast milk; my reasons are various but mainly to involve my husband and to prevent issues when I return to work after 4 months.

I appriciate it might not be the most usual of feeding options to be decided in advance!

I have read enough to know I am letting myself in for a tough time at first establishing my milk but am a bit unsure about how it will 'work' in the early days as obviously I won't be expressing in advance of baby making an entrance.

Can anyone advise?

Many thanks

GD

Hi ginger would you be' able to feed directly for the first 2 or 3 days until you milk comes in? You'll be exhausted after the delivery and to start pumping straight away day and night is a bit crazy IMO (unless you can't bf for some "technical" reason). Also your baby will want to be snuggled up to you and will stimulate your supply by feeding often in the early days.

Hi Olimpa - thanks - will likely give that a whirl.

Hi all just been reading this thread while expressing for the 4th time today!! It's a relief to finally see other mums exclusively bf, everyone looks at me like I have two heads when I say this is what I'm doing (why does everyone inc complete strangers ask hoe you are feeding your baby lol????)
Well done to everyone following this route it's so hard isn't it, my ds now 8wks & would never latch on, I'm desperately trying to get to 3 months before i give up as my doc said there's no real evidence of additional health benefits for baba after that time (?)
Question are people managing to feed exclusively on ebm? My lo needs at least one formula a day now too despite me getting off around 33oz per day it's upsetting but he's hungry so obv needs more
Happy pumping keep at it!!!

well done everyone, its 6 months on and im still expressing, as well as topping up with formula if thats not enough. i think i will wind down in the next few weeks as its the school holidays and there is noway i can keep expressing whilst having my autistic dd wanting me all the time

Hi all. I'm 25 weeks pregnant with my first and have started to think of feeding options (in an ideal world). I would like to breast feed but also express in order to involve baby's father more and any family members who muscle in from time to time (!).

My questions are - do you guys feel it's better to buy a single pump? I read above that some found double pumps didn't really produce the same quality milk as a single, though can be time saving. Also, is it worth buying brand new (that would defo rule out double for me) or are eBay purchases good bargains - ie do the pumps tend to last long in their quality of life. I'm watching eBay like a hawk at the mo but unsure as to what I want yet. I've heard loads of good reports on Medela swing..

Hi Peaky, congrats on being so organised, I hadn't even considered this until ds was here lol. I used a medeala electric pump in hosp which was great for helping my milk come in but it made me quite sore, after that I used the avent electric Isis which broke after a few weeks, then moved onto the avent manual, I found this got me more milk and was much less sore I've been using that for about a month now, its fast, quiet and easy. Haven't used a double so couldn't comment, good luck xxx

Thanks for the reply JM. I've just won a bid on eBay for the medela swing. If it doesn't work out for me then I'll simply sell it on!