Expressing advice please...

[loopyloopster]

Just looking for some advice on pumping - DD (5 months) is BF and I'm thinking about introducing solids in next few weeks. My plan is to pump a bit of milk to add to porridge/cereal etc she'll still have her milk from me and water in cup so no bottles - my question is how and when do I need to sterilise the pump?! I think I'm going to get a manual pump and hopefully only pump once a day as I'll only need a bit to add to food so I was just going to boil the pump and storage cup things - would that be ok or do I need a special steriliser? Thanks!

But a tommi tippee (sp?) one that you can sterilise in the microwave. V easy, simple, small, takes 4 mins.

That should say buy not but

Loopy, buns is right, the tommy tip manual one comes in little plastic 'lunch box' size storage box/microwaveable steriliser so it's all inc! Just sterilise after every use.

I'd have a go at hand expressing before buying a pump! I can get an ounce or two a day pretty easily by hand, direct into a storage pot.

I will just throw this out there - you know that post 6 months you can make porridge/cereal with cow's milk if you prefer not to pump?

I only mention it because I have seen quite a few people think you have to use formula or BM, but that's only the case for drinks, not the small amount that goes into cooking. Similarly white sauces (e.g. lasagne) are fine.

Ignore me if you know that already

I used Milton, so much easier. Wash and dry the bits in hot soapy water then put them in a plastic box with water and Milton tablet. All the bits stay sterile in there and you just change the water once a day.

I only wash and sterilize my pump once every 24 hours (if i am using it that often - otherwise I do after each use if I am only using once in a day). In between goes I keep it in the fridge.

Yes what Youll says, unless your DD has a milk allergy. Far easier to just use cows milk, then you can fed them what you are eating excluding salt and honey.

Thanks ladies! I know you can use cows milk for cooking but wondered whether BM would help for the first few weeks so it tastes familiar then switching over - or is that just too anxious-first-time-mum?! In which case I think I may have just talked myself out of buying a pump and just going for hand-expressing (if I can do it!) as it's for such a short period of time..... or should I just go straight for cows milk?!

There really is no need for it to 'taste familiar'. Food is a totally new experience for BM and babies are well equipped to cope with, and enjoy, it. I doubt your BM tastes of shredded wheat or whatever, so your baby will likely accept it as simply a wholly new experience. I'd go straight to cow milk myself.

I'd hand express first if it's just for food. Tbh, and I might get told this is really bad, I used just express straight into the bowl! When you first start weaning, it's only a tiny bit of porridge etc and you only need a few ml. I always found hand expressing really easy and it was far easier just to squirt it directly into the clean bowl, then mix the food in. Couldn't do it out and about, granted, but dead easy at home. No mess or sterilising.
You could also use cows milk, but I did find ds liked it better with bm

You don't have to sterilise your pump at all - just washing it is fine.

I'm like you jakey - I just express straight into the bowl!

Thank god for that. Was beginning to think I was the only one!

Fresh from the udder