Expressing - very confused

[Joannie2]

I am sitting here about to express my breastmilk for the first time..eek. I am going to try hand-expressing to make sure that DS (15 weeks old) takes to the bottle before going out to buy a pump. I have lots of question though regarding storage, quantity etc. So here goes.

1. I only plan to give him the occasional bottle of expressed milk (once a day at most, probably during the night so DH can do the feed), so how much should I express in one go?

2. What do I do once I have expressed the milk? Do I have to store it in the fridge? I plan to use it that day, and I have read that you can store it at room temp for approx 8 hours.

3. Once I take it out the fridge do I have to wait till it is at room temperature before feeding or can I feed it chilled?

4. How long can I keep it once I take it out the fridge? What if he only takes a little, am I able to keep it and try again in an hour? or do I have to bin it?

I'm feeling a bit apprehensive about feeding him with a bottle, breast feeding is so much easier, but I need a good nights sleep and DH is looking forward to feeding DS, so thought it was about time I tried.

As far as I am aware, you refrigerate any expressed milk unless you are using it straight away. You can add to it throughout the day as long as it is not kept any longer than 24 hours from the first bit that you expressed in there. I wouldn't feed it chilled, in the same way as formula milk you would heat it in boiling water but that does mean than once you've heated it it needs to be used within an hour, otherwise thrown because of bacteria. Because of this you might have a couple of bottles and express smaller quantities in each so as you don't waste it. If and when you decide to buy a pump I would really recommend spending the money on an electric one as they are so much more efficient than hand pumps. Hope this helps

Good luck with trying to get your son drinking ftom a bottle. My 22 week old son has only had a bottle a few times. In answer to your Qs:

1. Personally I would say as much as you can! Unless my breasts are full, I can only manage about 2oz. This morning I expressed 6oz from the fuller breast and probably would have kept going if DS hadn't woken up!

2.You can store it in the fridge for 24 hours or freeze it in sterising bags or sterile container.

3. I have given DS it quite cold and DF has run warm water over it. I know you are not to use hot water.

4. I have kept it out of the fridge for an hour or so. When i've been out, I keep it cool with an ice pack.

Someone else will answer your Qs better than me.

try here is a great site

Am just chipping in to echo that an electric pump is well worth it. Much quicker!