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Infant feeding

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

Hot tips for expressing including a simple way to be hands-free!

10 replies

Phillie · 14/03/2007 11:19

Gotta share this as it's made such a difference to me. Have been expressing one feed a day in the morning from week four in a ploy to give my DS higher grade milk than my 6pm supply is likely to be. This was a tip from she who must not be named in order to settle him in the evening and get him further through the night. Seems to work for us. I have the single Medela swing pump and get on well with that. Anyway, after searching for more interesting nursing tops (try Mamaway), I came across bras for hands-free expressing. However, they're £30-40. They also didn't look as though I'd be able to BF him and express at the same time, which would save a lot of time. Here's how I did it at virtually no cost: take a piece of material at least big enough to cover your breast (I used a curtain sample) and cut a horizontal slit in the middle, just big enough for the narrower part of the pump that screws onto the bottle. Take some tape (mefix is great as it sticks really well and doesn't hurt when you peel it off) and securely fasten to your chest. This is far easier than any of the "homemade" suggestions I found online.Today, I dried my hair and typed this, all while expressing 150ml !!!! Also, if you're gonna express on a regular basis, invest in an electric pump, attach the neck cord and put batteries in it. I spent the first few weeks attached to the plug but now use batteries which last quite well and am suddenly free to walk around. Expressing doesn't have to make you feel trapped!

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hunkermunker · 14/03/2007 11:21

Glad you're hands-free on the expressing front, but I'm afraid the "higher-grade milk" stuff is Not Very Good Science.

hunkermunker · 14/03/2007 11:21

But if it works for you, then I am being churlish - I just didn't want other people to read it and get antsy.

Phillie · 14/03/2007 11:23

Fair enough, but he goes a lot longer through the night when given this than on the days I don't get round to it.

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hunkermunker · 14/03/2007 11:25

But that's because if you're not expressing or feeding at 6pm, you have a longer gap between bfeeds and your body's not used to making milk then.

Phillie · 14/03/2007 11:29

Whateva, but anyway, it gets him used to taking a bottle for when I go back to work and allows his dad to feed him. All good things.

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Sterny · 14/03/2007 12:46

I bought a hands free expressing bra on ebay from a lady who sells them in the states. I think I paid £16 in total including postage.

hunkermunker · 14/03/2007 13:07

Still fine, still happy for you - just didn't want to leave a myth on the board for anyone to stumble across and feel they ought to be expressing.

JodieG1 · 14/03/2007 13:09

Agree with Hunker Glad you can be hands free though.

Gemmitygem · 14/03/2007 13:14

while we're on the subject, this website is great:

www.workandpump.com

has loads of tips for expressing mums...

Phillie · 14/03/2007 14:00

HM thanks for educating me, I take on board what you say. It wasn't actually the point of my message, I was just describing how I got into expressing. There are lots of tips out there, on MN included; some based on science, some based on where mercury is in relation to mars IYKWIM! In the end you have to decide what's helpful to you and what's not, don't you think ?
PS I'm sure many will think the cloth idea crazy, it does make you look like a bit of a loon...

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