a janet and john's guide to expressing please

[katierocket]

Want to get DS2 (3 weeks) to take a bottle last thing at night. Didn't express with DS1 so some questions - is there a time of day that it's best to express? which bottles best to try? when best to try and give it to him and do you give the breast if they reject the bottle?

Try expressing in the morning. I used to feed dd from one boob and express off the other! You may not be coordinated enough straight away (i wasn't) but eventually I got there and it saves time. I used avent bottles and pump and this seemed to work. Get someone else to offer the bottle and you will probably find when so young that the bottle will be accepted. Our dd was fine at 3 weeks, took a bottle every day, and then decided at about 10/11 weeks that she didn't want it; but we just kept offering until eventually she took it.

I would express when you feel you have more milk (usually morning or if you've had a chance to nap).

I also intended to start DS on a bottle early to get used to it etc etc, but in those early weeks I just couldn't hack it, and felt upset seeing him fed by someone else and fed from a bottle. i left it till 3 months and then he initially refused the bottle, but now takes it happily, just needed to persevere a bit.

Personally, and this is just my personal opinion, I managed to get DS (now 4 months) onto a great routine without the bottle at first, and honestly found it easier to bf last thing at night as even if DH bottlefed the expressed milk I was worrying he wasn't doing it right and he woke me up putting the baby to bed.

I use the avent hand pump and bottles. works fine. Express a bit with your hand at first to get it going and don't panic if nothing comes out for a while. it gets easier. also don't worry if you can't assemble the pump, it's actually easy but as a new mum your brain is not capable (I was crying over it when he was 3 weeks old)

anyway this info might not be useful but all I would say is don't worry if expressing feels weird at first, just stick with it as it's a good skill to have and frees you up a bit.. best of luck!

As with others, I expressed first thing in the morning - feed with one breast expressed the other. I did this for both dds from about 6 weeks.

DH used to do the expressed milk for the last feed at night (7pm), then put dds to bed...his job once he got home from work and could releive me from my duties for a while.

thanks all, am going to give it a go this week. I do feel as though it is a bit of a hassle to get my head around but have been told my HV and also read, that best to try with a bottle before 4 weeks.

Best 'production' I got with expressing was while watching comedy programmes on tv, or buy pumping on one side whilst feeding baby on the other.
We had a nightmare with the babies refusing bottles and in the end used the fantastic playtex system (never seen it in the shops but can buy from internet) - the teat is horrifyingly nipple shape and moves in a toe-curlingly realistic manner!

if they won't take the bottle first few goes to you just breast feed them?

Argh! I can't take any more conflicting advice! My MW told me not to bother expressing before 4 weeks as it would intefer with my milk production and cause my boobs to get engorged. She said it was better to wait until a routine was establised (!) Am currently at 3 weeks, and counting the hours till 4 weeks comes round so I can milk myself. Goodluck Katie Rocket, let us know how it goes, as I'm terrified! x

drives you mad doesn't it (the conflicting advice). With DS1 we waited until he was about 7 weeks and we had a nightmare getting him to take the bottle.

I'm still confused about what you do if they don't take the bottle, presumably you have to feed them - and then just try again the next day?

lizz- what your midwife is getting at is that it takes a good few weeks until your body learns how much milk your baby wants, and that same good few weeks for your baby to get really good at breastfeeding. the idea of not expressing until then is so baby doesn't get confused, and so that your milk production becomes exactly in tune with your baby's demands. in those first few weeks you are usually over flowing with milk, then it calms down as things find a balance. so it does make sense really to wait if you can.

it won't necessarily do any harm in expressing earlier, it's just not recommended. so if you have to leave the baby with someone for some reason then it's ok, don't panic that you can't express at all until the magic x number of weeks.

We started using a bottle for last feed so DH could do it at 8 weeks. Used the Tommee Tippee closer to nature bottles. DD took to them straight away with no problem going back to breast. I tried expressing so it was still breast milk but only 2-3 fl/oz at a time so not enough for a feed - DH had to wake me up as she was begging for more - so moved to using formula. I have an electric pump which makes such a racket that DD wont let me use it while feeding so have to wait for her to have a nap but have such a list of things waiting for "when she has a nap". I am happy using formula (aptimil - sma gold made her blotted & constipated)once a day but am now trying to build up a supply in the freezer for replacement feeds when ill or out.

Yes, breastfeed if he won't take the bottle - and he may well not. Just try again the next day. Only use an ounce or so of milk at a time - then you won't waste a bottleful!

well I expressed at about 10 days simply to empty my boobs, they were so bloody painful I wanted to empty them once properly to give me releif!!

I was told to wait until after 6 weeks for the reasons that Dizzybint gives.

dd1 took to the bottle no problem. dd2 took quite a while, lots of refusal, dh trying, mum trying etc. eventually after about 3 weeks of trying she took a bottle. I used to try a few times then if persistent refusal give breast.

HM advise is good. Don't express too much at first in case of refusal.

is the morning the best time to express then?

I'm a Dad who works the 11pm shift! We tried Avent bottles at first which our son rejected after a few tries. He was difficult to wind and went on strike! We've been using Dr Browns bottles for a few weeks (he's 16 weeks)now and haven't had any problems - they've got a widget to avoid bubbles (probably just 'snake oil' but worth a go)

We've tried him occasionally during the day too, just to see if he'd take it while alert, and he's been fine with it. We do wonder if it's making him a bit frustrated with DW's slower let down on early evening feeds though, and with lack of milk at 10am feed after expressing earlier in the morning?

I expressed fairly early on to see how much milk I was producing as my little one wasn't getting enough to eat, she is 7wks now and although I did persevere with the breast she has been on bottles (formula) since 5 wks and is much more settled.
We use the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles, she took to them straight away and will still latch onto the breast if necessary.

Just be aware that it can take a while to build up to expressing a decent amount - it can feel like you are pumping for AGES and just getting an ounce or two. It does get better though

Ok so what am I doing wrong?
tried it today and nothing came out! There also doesn't seem to be much suction - could I have put the pump together wrong? should it feel like strong suction?

Have to say that as I'm completely knackered it's very hard to summon up the enthusiasum to carry on and not just try with formula.

Keep at it.... which pump are you using?
I used the Tommee Tippee hand pump (£25 in Mothercare), you could feel the suction and see your nipple extending in the nozzle, if you looked closely you could also see the milk coming out.
Try massaging your breasts first to help the milk through or have a warm bath and then try to express, like breast feeding there is a technique to it but do keep trying it may take several attempts for the milk to be drawn through as it is a different sensation to that of a baby sucking.

try this technique

You might find that hand expressing gets the milk flowing quicker than a pump. Try exopressing when you are in the bath just to practice. It is a psychological thing - once you master it it is easy.

Do you leak milk when you are feeding? You can collect drip milk in a sterile breastshell and save that to use. Some women express when they are feeding - I never managed to do that. I remember you said you feed from one breast at a time. It would be worth trying expressing from the unused breast immediately after you have fed.
Also, if you have a strong let down and baby is choking, take him off when the milk is flowing and catch it in a bottle. He may feed better after that.

Wow I wish I had found that site when I was expressing, would have found it a great use. I was left to my own devices with expressing, i wasn't offered any advice or help from HV or midwives.

katie, get some out with your hand first, squeeze with thumb and forefinger on either side of your nipple, press down towards yourself and then pinch upwards, as if you were trying to pop a pea out of the end of the nipple! After a few tries you will get a squirt.

are you using avent pump?

Make sure the cup bit is right over your breast with no air able to get out. Also I know it sometimes feels like you can just pump and it doesn't get suction, don't know why, but kind of try and 'catch' it on the suction, do it slowly and just reposition your breast a few times to get a good position. Also lean slightly forwards and try to relax. You should then get a thin squirt into the pump, and it feels a bit painful, then this should give way to a softer feeling as the milk comes and the squirts get less defined, if you see what I mean!!

I found it incredibly frustrating at first, and never thought I could get any out, but you can, you just have to keep at it. like so many things with having a baby, unfortunately!

so let me know if it's working, be glad to help cos I have so been there!