I want to start expressing -help please.

[Sparrowlegs248]

DS was 5wks on Friday and so far ebf. He feeds a lot, some of it for comfort i think. It has been quite demanding but i feel that I have enjoyed the time with him.

It can be hard though when i want DH to have him while i have a bath or cook dinner, and DS wants feeding again. I had actually considered a dummy as it is often that he gets unsettled and feeding calls him again, so a dummy might work and help stretch the feeds out.

But also i think DH needs to be getting more involved so the ability to give bottle might help.

I was thinking of expressing in the morning and then DH can give a feed in the evening.

I assume i need to sterilized pump,storage containers and bottle. How long after being sterilized can i use them?

If i express in the morning i can just keep the milk in the fridge and warm in a jug of water in the evening? And how warm?

(totally new to this!)

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/expressing-storing-breast-milk.aspx

Good link from NHS website with best advice on storage.

You will need a breast pump, steriliser and bottles.

Morning is usually best time to express (I expressed for 6 months for DS2), but be warned not all people get on with expressing. Some people can happily breast feed baby and get almost nothing out pumping.

You also may find if you have a very keen feeder (my DS1 was one) that they outstrip what you can pump. I tried expressing in morning and had to give him the expressed milk by about 11 as I just didn't seem to produce enough milk to compensate for the pumping. Gave up expressing quite shortly after and just ebf (constantly).

I expressed and breastfed. Duckstar has given great advice.

For me, the Madela Swing was amazing. You buy little bags that are fine in the fridge, but can also be frozen.

I went to a Bf support group at our local sure start which was fantastic. The counsellor there told me that if you are having trouble upping your supply enough to pump, try doing it around 4am. It's a killer, but I did it for a few nights and it did work. Also, you can try pumping for 10 minutes after every feed to up supply.

Good luck

Thank you. I have a steriliser bottles and a hand pump so far. I will give it a go with that to start.

In the morning i often have milk just leaking out and think i could hand express, of course i don't know how much i would get.

If i have house the ebm during the day, well at leastvit will still introduce the bottle and be preparation for someone else giving a bottle.

Though even the thought of it makes me feel a bit sad!