Exclusively expressing help please!

[Sparklesandglitter]

I posted recently about breast feeding issues I have been having and think I have made a decision to (almost) exclusively express with the occasional formula when needed. This is due to latch issues I can't seem to beat, very sore nipples and how it's making me feel (it really upsets me when I fail to feed/she pushes away the breast etc)
I have been expressing over the last few days and have found it to be better does anybody express exclusively that can share experiences? How do you manage when away from the house all day re engorgement etc? How often do you express and which pump is best?considering the medela swing but is it heavy duty enough?
Many thanks

Hi. How old is your baby? I've been exclusively expressing for almost 6 months. It's not easy to begin with but it gets a lot easier.

I use the medela 'pump in style' double electric pump at home (which is great) and the avent hand pump away from home (also great). I had to pump every 3 hours during the day and twice overnight for the first 6 weeks to establish my supply. It's really important to pump at night initially. Once I had a good 'oversupply' (about 40oz a day) I started gradually increasing the time between pumping. You do see a small drop in production each time which is why its good to establish an oversupply to start with. By 4 months I stopped pumping at night and since 5 months I've cut down to 4 pumps a day (8am, 12pm, 5pm, 10pm).

I'd recommend buying at least 2 if not 3 sets of attachments/bottles (so less washing & sterilising) and try a hands free bra attachment so you can do other things while pumping.

It's been a pain in the bum and it is a bit restrictive but it does get easier.

Good luck!

Would the medela swing be heavy duty enough do you know?the one you mentioned is out of my price range! Than you

Also do you know how a bottle of formula would impact?thanks

Hiya - I did this for the first six weeks and then my supply started to dwindle and, if I'm being really honest, I was starting to find the pumping incredibly restrictive (I still feel guilty about stopping but I reassure myself that what he loses in breast milk, he gains in time with me). Squirrel has some excellent tips; I used the Lactaline which was a double pump from Boots for about £130. Worked really well. DS was being mainly fed BM with occasional top ups of formula which had no perceivable impact except that he was fuller for longer after a formula feed. Best of luck, hope you have more success than I did.

The reviews I read on the lactaline said it was not heavy duty enough for exclusive expressing? That's why I thought I'd look at the swing, although the single not duel due to cost. I have been using a manual pump the last 3days and have managed with just one top up feed a day

I exclusivley expressed for 6 weeks while DTs were in SCBU. I was loaned a Medela Swing (single) by the hospital and honestly, I think you will find it very hard. I supplemented pumping with the big heavy duty Medela t the hospital and it was so much more efficient. I def. Think you would need a double if you are planning on doing it long term. You can hire hospital grade pumps from the NCT but its not cheap if you'll be doing it for a while.

I gave up and switched to formula at six weeks - the pumping, feeding cycle was really restrictive (esp with twins!). I also had supply issues, I don't know if that was due to pumping or otherwise.

I had the medela swing initially and it was fine, it just takes a lot longer with a single pump. I appreciate the cost of a double pump is a bit prohibitive though, I was lucky and picked one up second hand from a friend. There's no problem topping up with formula, just don't mix breast milk and formula in the same bottle (as the formula can deactivate the antibodies in the breast milk). The fact you are going to this effort to give any breast milk is great so don't feel bad about supplementing. I read one study that said some of the immune benefits of breast milk can be gained from as little as 50ml a day.

Hello there

I exclusively expressed for 14 mths with my DD. It wasn't perfect but, we managed. I blogged a little about it here: yesexpress.org.uk/wp/ (can't really bring myself to read this anymore, 5 years on and pg with no2) - hopefully informative but probably a bit on the ranty side!

This woman was great when I need help - she replied to emails and was generally very, very supportive: www.exclusivelypumping.com/

Best things I bought were my everso-attractive 'hands free bra' and a double pump.

Good luck. It's not an easy route to travel.

Elasticsong, just looked at your blog.... I could have written all of those rants myself! Massive respect for expressing for 14 months. That's an amazing achievement. Id love to think ill make it that far too but I think I'll be hanging up my horns in the next month or two..... its getting too difficult to find time now the little man is getting mobile & going onto solids. That said, there was a time when I didn't think I'd make it through the first week so who knows!

Thank you, r3d... Respect to you too. I still think I was actually a bit nuts to do it for so long. But, hey, it proves ep'ing can be done I suppose. It was the total lack of support and understanding that got to me the most. And everyone telling me I should stop.

Oh, have just remembered another invaluable pumping accessory - an in-car power adapter for pumping on the move (or in quiet country lanes, car parks, on holiday in a rental car etc etc). Most liberating and I remember sitting in a public car park, just daring the passers-by to come and ask me what I was doing or tell me I was being indecent!

And, Sparkles, if you do go down this road, be prepared for every bit of baby video to have the whirr of the pump in the background! Makes me laugh now, but it didn't at the time.

I'm planning to bf my next child but, if push came to pump, I would do it again. Dammit.

Well done for exclusively expressing, I have been non exclusively expressing for 7.5 months now, and noway could I do that. It wuld restrict the time I spend with my sn dd and ds 7.5 months. I use a spectra breast pump as recommended on here and it's a fantastic bit of kit, strong suction nd very well made, all for £60 without it I would not have expressed for so long

The spectra you can double pump too

My friend did it for 4 months with just a hand pump! It can be done but like others have said it can be very restrictive.

Hi, bit of an update I have now got the medela swing, it's great! And I have persevered with the BF'ing too so we are going to try and mix for as long as we can then make a decision.
I'm feeling much better now I have options about how to feed and DD is happier because I am!!
Thank you all for the advice and guidance

I have been using the Ameda Lactaline for exclusive pumping for 6 months. It was worked very well. I pump from 5 - 8 times a day. Good luck!

Hi Sparklesandglitter - how have you been getting on? I am thinking of going to get the Medela today. Im having nipple issues too and don't want to give on BF but need to give one boob a rest! Be interested to hear your experience to date and how old is your baby?