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Infant feeding

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

Some questions about expressing

3 replies

youaremychocolatecake · 23/11/2013 23:49

Some of these may sound pretty basic but I mix fed my first baby so don't have any experience with expressing... Thanks in advance :)

Baby is 3.5 weeks and I have started expressing some milk in the last week or so. I have a few Xmas parties coming up so will be leaving baby with his dad the odd evening, plus I want a stash in the fridge/freezer so I don't feel like I can never be away from baby for longer than 30 minutes (is that selfish?)

  • when I pump I get 2-3.5oz is this generally the same kind of amount they would take in a normal breastfeed?
  • I am storing the milk in bags in the fridge for up to 5 days. If by about day 3 it's not been used, I am transferring it to freezer. Is that right or do j need to freeze straight away if the plan is to freeze?
  • what's the best way to defrost and warm up the milk? Is microwave definitely a big no no? Have been using a jug of hot water so far but it takes a long time when you have a screaming baby in your arms :/
  • how much to feed? He's not really a sicky baby but on the occasions he has been quite sick (full on nose/mouth) it's definitely been through greed. Twice from constantly breast feeding and once after I tried him on a bottle because he'd drained both breasts and still didn't seem satisfied. This evening I gave 2oz and he was still crying and rooting so I gave another 1oz and he still didn't seem full but I was scared to give anymore incase he was sick. Is 3oz ok for his age?
  • once defrosted can breast milk be stored back in the fridge for any length of time? Say only half the bag is used. Can you save the other half for next feed?
  • is it normal for the milk to separate in the fridge? I've heard you should swirl and not shake. Is that correct?
  • how do you know when a baby is full or will they just drain the whole bottle regardless because of the nature of how a bottle works?
  • what's the best time to express? I have been pumping the opposite boob to whatever one he's just fed from straight after a feed.
  • if they do vomit. are the immediately hungry again?

Sorry for all these questions. It's been a long time (it seems) since my first.

X x

OP posts:
DropYourSword · 24/11/2013 00:15
  • Babies probably feed more from the breast than you express, because they are better at taking the milk - that's what they were designed for. So the amount you express is only a very rough guide to what your baby is taking

-You're probably ok to do this, but I would freeze it all immediately if you have expressed quite a lot. Put a sticker on it with the date and time you expressed, and always use the oldest first

-I would take a few feeds out of the freezer and let then defrost in the fridge. As you take a feed from the fridge, replace it with a frozen one. That way, it can slowly thaw in the fridge. Be about 3 or 4 feeds ahead of yourself. Don't use a microwave, it can destroy some of the nutrients and create hot spots

-Yes defrosted milk can stay in fridge. But not if you've heated it to feed to baby

-He will take different amounts dependant on his hunger. Try to slow down his feeds by stopping and burping him throughout the feed. Also, try burping him before you feed, so if he has any wind the feed won't sit on it. You can buy slow flow bottle teats to help him slow down feeding. If he's vomiting after every feed I'd be concerned, but occasionally is pretty normal

-Yes, it's completely normal for the milk to separate. Never heard about swirling not shaking though!

-Some babies will drain the bottle, others will stop when full

-Sounds like you're expressing at a good time to be honest. You'll be having let down hormones choosing through your body so is a good time to express

-Depends how much they vomit. If they vomit up the entire feed I would say that's not really normal on any sort of regular basis. Normally if they vomit it's more just a possit of the end of the feed because they drank too much. So I don't think they'd generally be hungry again!

All above is just my opinion, but hope it helps

RubyGoat · 24/11/2013 00:20

Hi, agree with most of the responses by DropYourSword, with one addition- I'd express from the side your baby just fed from first. This will ensure you've emptied it IYSWIM, which will help to boost your supply in the long term.

youaremychocolatecake · 24/11/2013 06:03

Thanks both that's very helpful :) x

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