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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

I need some quick breast pump/expressing help/advice.........

21 replies

zephyrcat · 09/04/2006 12:08

I'm bottle feeding but have a medela mini pump and want to express now that the milk has kicked in... problem is I bought the pump from ebay and I'm not convinced it's working (or it's just that I'm doing it wrong!!) so I need some advice on using it or whether to go and get a cheap hand one quickly before the supply goes away.....

OP posts:
ItalianJob · 09/04/2006 12:11

I'ld sterilise a bowl, and hand express into that for the moment, then pour it into a bottle once you're done. Don't know much about how to work a medela, sorry!

TheBlonde · 09/04/2006 12:11

It takes a while to get the hang of expressing
Are you getting a vacuum?

SenoraPostrophe · 09/04/2006 12:11

are you not getting any milk at all or not very much? I presume you're not bfing then?

hunkermunker · 09/04/2006 12:13

Do you want to breastfeed, or express milk to give EBM or are you just expressing to relieve discomfort now you're milk's in?

Original poster
zephyrcat · 09/04/2006 12:20

Not getting a vacuum - although at first I did get a little bit of one when i turned the dial right up.
I am bottle feeding (very very long story) but I wanted to try and express as well this time so that she does still get some good milk and also the fact that they are agony...which is why I want to get going before the milk goes away again.

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 09/04/2006 12:24

I use an Avent Isis to express - they're about £20-25 at Mothercare, I think (mine was £40 but that's because it was part of the out and about kit with the coolbag and gel packs) - I find it brilliant.

You can hand express, as IJ says - will see if I can find some links to show you how to do that (Mears is the woman you need to talk to about hand expressing).

Good on you for expressing though - can I just ask and please feel free to say bog off Hunker - if you had someone to support you to breastfeed, would you? You say a long story - but it might be very different this time? Please feel free to tell me where to go though - I realise this is emotive and I also realise you've probably considered this rather a lot!

(PS - congratulations! Must go and seek out your birth announcement!)

SenoraPostrophe · 09/04/2006 12:25

well, ime those pumps are v easy to use so it sounds like it's broken. think you should do some \link{http://www.lactationinstitute.org/MANUALEX.html\hand expressing}. It's takes a bit of getting used to, but is just as effective as the medela. good luck.

hunkermunker · 09/04/2006 12:27

Brilliant, SP - that's just what I was looking for and now I don't have to! Smile

Original poster
zephyrcat · 09/04/2006 12:30

I tried breast feeding with dd, it all went very wrong and I then tried to express for her, which also went very wrong and led to allsorts of depression and being made to feel bad and guilty by a lot of other people etc. I Solely bottle fed ds and it was brilliant because I had made my decision and stuck to it and was quite adamant to everyone that that was the way I wanted to do it. So this time I'm happy with the bottle again but would like to make the effort to at least express and offer it... I did have a long chat with the lady at the hospital about breastfeeding but I just couldn't do it :( Still I guess if I can get my head around this pump it's better than nothing at all!!

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 09/04/2006 12:32

It sounds like the pump might be busted if there's no vacuum - but I don't know of any tricks with it as I have only ever used an Isis.

I'd lend you my Isis, but I use it.

There's almost certainly someone who'll let you have one for postage though if you want to try it? I'll start a thread for you if you like - easier for me to ask on your behalf perhaps?

Original poster
zephyrcat · 09/04/2006 12:36

Thank you HM that would be brill :) I'm having a good read of that link and will definately give that a go - even if just to keep the supply coming until I can get another pump - I remember with ds that once it got this painful it all tailed off quite quickly.

OP posts:
FastasleepInABunnySuit · 09/04/2006 12:39

zephyr am in the same boat further along - I couldn't get milk with a pump as it just came in and I used the bowl idea as the lovely IJ said :) I hate medela pumps - I've broken three on the first use!! Seriously as a long term pumper you'll find hand expressin or using a hand powered avent are way quicker and more efficient ways...

Make sure to keep your supply up by doing it 6 times a day, one of those times should be through the night or early in the morning (just in case you hadn't been told!)

hand expressing feels ungainly and weird at first, but it gets easy - keep plugging away at it hun, best of luck xxx

hunkermunker · 09/04/2006 12:42

\link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=1375&threadid=162876\There you are, my lovely}

Original poster
zephyrcat · 09/04/2006 12:43

Thank you Hunker, you're a star Grin

OP posts:
chocolateshoes · 09/04/2006 12:44

I used Medala mini express & found it brilliant. But I melted the 1st one when sterilising it Blush & had to buy another. This replacement seemed to have something wrong with the motor & didn't 'pull'. Maybe the one you bought is faulty too. Personally I'd splash out & get another Medela in Boots & clock up some reward points.

hunkermunker · 09/04/2006 12:47

\link{http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Product.aspx/bruorfindusing/bruazofbrands/brufeedingavent/211664\The Isis is £21.97 at Babies R Us}

It's £27.50 at Mothercare.

jabberwocky · 09/04/2006 12:53

I solely expressed for ds using the Ameda Purely Yours starting at around 3 months and going until he was 13 months. I would say either the suction part is broken or you need to replace a valve. I didn't know until about 6 months into it that you needed to do that. It makes a world of difference!

Original poster
zephyrcat · 09/04/2006 14:07

I've just seen those in the toys r us catalogue - I might ask dp if he will get one although he was wanting to go back to work tomorrow Angry but that's a whole other thread!!!

OP posts:
serenity · 09/04/2006 14:13

ZC, have a look at HM's other thread.

hunkermunker · 09/04/2006 14:46

ZC, email me - hunkermunker at gmail dot com - Serenity has a breastpump for you and I can put you in touch with each other Grin

Now get to hand expressing and we'll make this work beautifully for you this time, OK? Smile

Original poster
zephyrcat · 09/04/2006 14:56

Am just about to email you Hunker - soon as I can unhinge all these small people from me!! Thank you so much for your help :)

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