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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

loads of expressing questions all at once

37 replies

spots · 18/07/2004 18:06

Ok, so in between all the various safe-storage and sterilisation tactics that keep nasty bacteria away from your baby I've got lost. I want to express enough milk, bit by bit (I'm a novice at expressing: 2fl. oz. per shot at best) for a NIGHT OUT.

I think you have to freeze immediately if you're going to freeze, but I produce so little at a time I don't have enough for a container. Is this why people use ice cube trays? how do you keep them sterile as they're not lidded?

Can I add to an 'expression' over the course of a day before freezing? or express on top of a frozen bit and then re-freeze?

Also, is it true that you get better at expressing as you go on... in which case, why? Does the let-down change or is it purely skill?

...cheers...

OP posts:
Twiglett · 18/07/2004 18:12

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Twiglett · 18/07/2004 18:13

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3PRINCESSES · 18/07/2004 18:43

You definitely do get better at expressing the more you do it - it should only take a few days of giving it a go a couple of times a day (first thing in the morning is best, def.) before you'll be really quick and productive (does that make you sound/feel like a prize cow?!) Also it depends on the type of pump you're using - I found the manual type by far the easiest, gentlest and most effective - the ones with the disposable bags that you can label and put straight in the freezer are great.

Persevere - you'll be producing gallons in no time!

3PRINCESSES · 18/07/2004 18:46

Didn't answer the question, did I? Don't know why you get better at it... must be a let down thing.

Original poster
spots · 18/07/2004 18:59

thanks you two. Twiglett, you are the queen of links! also I love the idea of 3 princesses all sitting on their thrones, expressing milk like there's no tomorrow...

I have an Avent Isis and some compatible cups (couldn't find bags). Can't wait for Gallons!

xxx

still curious about the getting better at it thing, if anyone knows...

OP posts:
Twiglett · 18/07/2004 19:22

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JiminyCricket · 18/07/2004 20:12

Do you express while you're feeding from the other boob? I got gallons more this way. Also was more productive in the morning than in the evening. Sounds stupid but I couldn't express much with the manual pump unless I was looking at what I was doing, got awful neck ache but it was useless otherwise.

Bozza · 18/07/2004 21:32

spots I freeze in bags that you can buy in packs of 40 from Boots.

I agree that first thing in the morning is the best time so I try to express in bed at 6.45 before the rest of them get up. If I don't for some reason then I will try to do the feeding and expressing at the same time thing but I still find this a bit tricky.

I had built my expressing capability up but then didn't express at all for a week while we were on holiday and so have had to start building up again.

kbaby · 18/07/2004 21:45

Hi,
Ive bought the avent bags. I either express a few onces and freeze it and then just defrost as many bags as I need to make up a bottle. Or if I express in the morning I express into a bottle and keep it in the fridge and then add to it again at night and then freeze it.
HTH

skerriesmum · 18/07/2004 22:20

Just a quick answer to the ice tray question... you can put clingfilm over the frozen milk to keep it sterile, I did this for frozen purees too. God it seems like so long ago now!

Original poster
spots · 19/07/2004 09:52

ok, am going to buy bags today...

and here comes another question!

If I express at say 6pm am I depriving dd of some of her 7pm feed? How quickly does a boob replenish?

I don't know how I can reliably express during the day without impacting on next feed... her feeds are without pattern...

xxx

OP posts:
hercules · 19/07/2004 10:33

Dont worry about that. Babies are very effecient and get what they want. Breasts are never empty anyway.

hercules · 19/07/2004 10:34

Why is my message at the bottom?

hercules · 19/07/2004 10:35

What's going on?

hercules · 19/07/2004 10:36

phew

prufrock · 19/07/2004 10:51

You won't impact her next feed - babies are far mor effecient at getting milk out than a machine - I've often expressed all I could of a breats then put ds on after he'd finished the other one and still found myself spurting milk.

The reason you tend to get more milk is that if you express at roughly teh same time each day, your breasts come to expect to be emptied thn so supply mroe to keep up with the demand - in exactly the same way that a breast that produces only 4oz a serving for a 6 week baby will produce 8oz for a 6 month baby

Original poster
spots · 19/07/2004 11:39

cheers m'dears... lol hercules!

OP posts:
californiagirl · 20/07/2004 05:18

I thought I was the only one who had to look to get a let-down with the Isis! It doesn't make my neck hurt, but I can't express in the dark.

And I hate to be a wet blanket, but even when I express every day for weeks, 4 oz from both breasts together is about the best I can do. I've been told that's not at all unusual if you're expressing while also fully feeding, but maybe people are just trying to make me feel better. I can get gallons, but only if you give me months to do it in!

Original poster
spots · 20/07/2004 08:44

Is 4 oz not much then?

OP posts:
hercules · 20/07/2004 09:18

Part of the reason i stopped expressing at school is that on a very good day I could get 8 oz but I was starting to get less and less ie lucky to get 4. I know some can get far more. The best way for me was as soon as I got home and dd had triggered let down.

Original poster
spots · 20/07/2004 10:08

oh wow can't wait for 4 let alone 8... you are all woman! or once, twice, three times a lady if you prefer...

by the way when I went to freeze saturday's refridgerated milk on sunday (after 24 hrs approx) it had separated to the extent that there were 'flakes' in it, like when milk goes off. Is this ok? Fridge DOES work!

OP posts:
Original poster
spots · 20/07/2004 10:09

I am now preparing to be impressed by people who can express phenomenal quantities...

OP posts:
hercules · 20/07/2004 10:10

Thats the fore and hind seperating. Just shake before using.

hercules · 20/07/2004 10:11

It took a long time to get more than 2 oz and then I had to stop during the day as so little.

kbaby · 20/07/2004 10:29

I normally feed dd and then express of that boob and generally ger 2ozs and then i do 2ozs off the othe boob. Iread somewhere that it takes 1 hour for a breast to completly fill back up with milk if emptied.
The best ive managed was 5ozs in one go when dd was with my mum overnight.Although my wrist didnt half ache.