Sudden need to exclusively express after little previous success....

[sorenipps]

I have a 8 week old and have tried to express with little success (biggest amount was 10ml over 10 minutes). I have been put on some antibiotics for a tooth abscess which means I can't breastfeed so will need to express for the 5 day course of the antibiotics.

Any advice on how to be more successful would be really appreciated. I've tried heat, looking at photos, and playing with the baby but I don't think any of it has really helped. I can feel my boobs are producing the stuff I just can't get it out....really don't want to get blocked ducks and develop mastitis. I have thrush on my boobs already

There are antibiotics you can take and still bfeed, can you ask for those instead?

I had a hideous tooth absess when ds was in nicu - the dentist put me on an anti-b which was safe for breastfeeding. The anti-b which is not safe for breastfeeding is more effective, so the dentist's first choice as you would need a shorter course - but it is possible to go on a b-feeding friendly anti-b for a longer course.

Can you hire or borrow a double pump from your local nct? I could never express with ds1 but with ds2 and a different pump I had a dramatic difference.

Good luck.

I def think its worth asking about a diff ab. But I expressed for 9 weeks after my DD turned up 3 months early so take heart u can do it. Initially I had v little milk as it was so early in pregnancy. It took me 30mins to get 0.1ml but it soon sped up and you'll have stacks in there if u can just figure out how to get it. I found even hospital grade pumps no good so just did it by hand. Do some light breast massage and nipple stimulation first then just hand express and swap from one side to next every couple of mins. By the end I was getting a litre a day. I used to express 8-11 times a day for 20 mins or so 3 hrs apart during day, closer together hourly even during the evening while watching telly and once or twice overnight. You might not realistically get enough to feed her exclusively while youre on the abs as it takes a while to get up and running but you should def be able to keep your supply safe. DD is still feeding strong at 14 months. Good luck!

You might find the Drugs in Breastmilk helpline useful. They will be able to tell you whether the current antibiotic really is unsafe for breastfeeding and suggest alternatives that are: www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk.html

Sorry www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk.html

If you aren't having much luck with the pump try hand expressing instead. See Kellymom website and YouTube for tutorials. As others have said it is important to express often to maintain supply- 8-10 times in 24 hours, at least once between 2-4am.

Definitely call the BfN drugs helpline. I bet there is an AB you can take and bf.

Hope your tooth is better soon.

Agree with all of the above - there are many BF-safe antibiotics (I've been on two since DS was born, damn persistent chest infection), I'd be surprised if there wasn't an appropriate one for your abscess. Sometimes I think medical professionals don't think about the massive effort involved in "just expressing for a few days", esp if baby is little, so don't bother to look up alternatives or check if the drug really is unsafe (eg may only be unsafe for preterm infants, or similar).

Thanks for all those responses. I'm going to try hiring hospital grade pump.

Carcasonne, thanks for the link, it turns out it is safe after all...also had a chat to pediatrician friend and she looked up hospital guidelines which also said in limited amounts it was safe in breastmilk.

An added complication is that now I'm on antibiotics the antifungals for the thrush aren't really working. Only 4 days left on the antibiotics though so not long. Taking 'Yeast Raiders' in the hope it'll help build good bacteria.Because of the thrush I'm finding BF really uncomfortable so I still need to get good at expressing.

Best of luck. So pleased the ABs are safe, at least you will be able to use the milk! Are you treating your baby for thrush too? If not you can keep passing it between you.

Oh, delighted to hear you can take the ABs without having to pump and dump - great news! Hope the abscess and the thrush both clear up soon.

I've found the Udo's Choice Super 8 probiotics particularly good for avoiding digestive/thrushy upset when on antibiotics - not sure how they are compared to the Yeast Raiders but might be worth a go. Also loads of really lumpy farmhouse live yoghurt.