preparing to breastfeed and express

[TheBooMonster]

Hi, I'm in the second trimester of pregnancy with DC2 and given that I had problems breastfeeding DC1 I want to have everything in place to make things work this time round.

With DC1 I was induced so she was two and a half weeks early, there was a lady on the ward who showed me how to hand express and I was expressing into a syringe (about half a mil at a time O.o) DD was seen to be latching well and I was told we were fine and could be discharged. As it was even if she was latching well she wasn't drinking properly and we ended up in the hospital after the three day weigh in with 12% weight loss. I was told that we wouldn't be able to leave with me feeding from a syringe, and shouldn't have been allowed to do so in the first place. The nurses gave me access to a Medela Symphony and my supply picked up pretty much straight away, expressing about 150ml between the two breasts at each expression (about 6-8 a day) so after 5 days we were allowed to leave, however during this time we'd been exclusively expressing and feeding by a bottle, she absolutely refused to latch by the time we left and I carried on expressing at home using a Medela mini double electric. After a few weeks my supply dropped to next to nothing and without really having much support around I ended up switching to formula.

This time around I am determined to give bump breast milk for as long as possible. I've been researching pumps and am not comfortable using the Medela I already have this time round as it looks like it was only really designed for occasional use and I might need to use it several times a day, it's not a closed system and it's been out of use for a good two years.

I've pretty much settled on the Ardo Calypso but DH and I are debating whether it's best to buy new or to buy one second hand. Given that it's a closed system I'm assuming it's safe to buy second hand but DH is no happy to do so (though this doesn't stop him bitterly complaining about the cost of one new >.>) So is this the best pump I can get without hiring a hospital grade pump, and would I be best off buying one pre-used off eBay and getting a new bottle set for it or is it still worth buying new?

Also if I am going to supplement the baby's feeds using expressed milk initially whilst they get their strength up, what is the best way to do this without using a bottle? (I'm mostly wondering about the colostrum here as I'm hoping I can freeze the normal milk for DH to use when I'm out and later along the line start building up a store to give me a head start when I go back to work)

I'm going to get some fenugreek supplements to help boost my supply, is there anything else I should look at herbal / homeopathy wise that won't interact badly with the fenugreek?

I don't understand why you assume your baby won't just take the colostrum direct from the breast? Surely that could help avoid some of the problems you encountered the first time around? Was there a reason your first baby didn't feed direct from the breast to begin with or was it a choice?

What are your DH's concerns about buying a 2nd hand pump?

I found pumping extremely helpful in prolonging my BFing as it gave me a bit more freedom, but I'm pretty sure it can't really replace BFing in the early stages to get your supply going. Others may know more about that though.

Storing the milk in the freezer is really useful, but there is a limit to it's lifespan even frozen. Google and you'll find a whole ream of guidelines for that sort of thing.

I've exclusively expressed as my baby was born six weeks early and was too weak to latch to begin with and never really got the hang of it, so it is possible. I've rented a hospital grade pump from Ardo to save the hassle of selling one on when I no longer need it. I hope you won't need to express so much this time around though.

I've exclusively expressed as my baby was born six weeks early and was too weak to latch to begin with and never really got the hang of it, so it is possible. I've rented a hospital grade pump from Ardo to save the hassle of selling one on when I no longer need it. I hope you won't need to express so much this time around though.

surf DD struggled to do so because she was born early as a result of IUGR and subsequent induction, bump could be in a similar situation, I could be induced almost a month early this time, so if I notice the same weight loss and drowsiness from bump I want to be able to 'top up' their feeds from near enough the beginning to try and prevent being dragged back into the hospital again. Basically I'm hoping I'll recognise the warning signs if it happens again, but I will try to primarily feed from the breast as if I can get bump breast feeding properly it is of course preferable to having to express each and every feed.

I really want to avoid having to return to the hospital as DH insisted on staying with us last time when we were pulled back in and then was like a bear with a sore head trying to get us home so he could 'enjoy' his paternity leave, this time already having DD either he'd have to stay at home with her (in which case bump and I would get some peace and bloody quiet) or he'd get his parents to take her so he could come in with us and being trapped in a room with him when he's in grumpy sod more is all together stressful! I'll have had quiet enough during labour >.> I am however happy to stay on the post delivery ward for as long as I can to establish breast feeding properly (especially as with 5-7 other ladies on the ward they're unlikely to let me have guests stay!), and this time I won't be fobbed off by it being ok to feed less than 1mil from a syringe each time...

surf DH feels no matter how much you clean and sterilise somethng you can't make it truly sterile... I have tried to explain the difference between an open and closed pump system but he's not really taking it in, he thinks the medela electric might be filled with mould so every pump we bought second hand or borrowed would clearly be the same...

You can directly rent a Medela Symphony from Medela (£45 per month). Only the pump is reused all other parts are brand new. There's no way milk can get into a Medela Symphony pump. I had to express for DS2 as he was premature and if you are going to express for long periods you will need a hospital grade pump.

I'm 16 weeks in and was exclusively expressing and now mix feeding but pumping at least three times a day. I've hired an Ardo elite which I highly recommend and then have a medela swing for when I'm not at home.

I had DS1 early and was induced due to IUGR - ended up with an EM-CS. He fed just fine straight from the breast, so while I agree it's good to be prepared, I just wanted to let you know that those issues are by no means a given.

Is 1ml at a time very little for colostrum? What is normal?

You might want to point out to your DH that the pump you used in the hospital had probably been used by hundreds of women before you.

OP, having been in this situation twice (2 premature babies), I would aim to avoid pumping as much as possible, and aim to establish baby on the breast. In other words, only pump as a backup rather than making that your primary method of feeding. It is incredibly difficult to achieve & maintain an adequate supply whilst trying to express, bottle feed & attempt breastfeeding. There aren't enough hours in the day.

I would concentrate on rooming in/staying in hospital as long as possible to establish feeding at the breast (I was chucked out 48hrs after an EMCS) as it's easier to get a supply when you are with your baby. It all started going wrong for me once I was sent home.

I used an Ameda Lactaline (home version of hospital pump) which is also a closed system. You can buy a new or 2nd hand one & just buy tubing/bottles which are sterile. The milk does not come into contact with the pump.

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to establish breastfeeding with my jaundiced, sleepy, low blood sugar, non-latching baby. I think being allowed to stay in hospital would have helped, as well as practical support at home.

Good luck xx