Expressing breast milk

[eastie1122]

Currently 29+6 weeks pregnant and considering expressing my breast milk and feeding baby that way. First baby was formula fed, 2nd baby I only breastfed for 2 days then on to formula. This time I really would like baby to have my milk but the experience I had with 2nd baby has really put me off!
So I guess my question is...have any of you had any expressing experience? What are the pros and cons of expressing?

I breastfeed but sometimes express and can hand on heart say that I don't think I could have exclusively pumped. I'm totally in awe of anyone that does. I know that it takes a lot of discipline in terms of timings of pumping sessions etc and from the discussions I've had can be quite restrictive due to that. Hats off to you if you can though! You'll need a really good pump if you intend to exclusively pump - probably a good electric double. Good luck!

What do you mean discipline with regards to the timings etc? I'm completely new to all this 😭 I am keen for baby to have breast milk but honestly, I don't think I could breast feed. (MH related)

You have to express around the clock to keep your supply up. So at least every 3 hours. If not more to build up supply & keep it going.

You’d also need a really good pump.

I BF but pumped for a bit when I returned to work. It wasn’t unpleasant as such but it was a bit of a faff, and I think I would have struggled to find time whilst looking after baby but my DS never slept so depending on baby you might get more of a chance during nap time.

If you want to keep it up for more than a few weeks you also need to be really pro-active about keeping up your supply (pump every few hours day and night), so it can end up been harder work then BF directly.

I’d probably hire a pump (hospital grade), get some of nipple cream, and also have some formula in. That way all your options are open. If your able, try to feed directly at least until your milk comes in. With the tiny amounts of colostrum babies need you would be leaving as much residue in pump and bottle as gets in the baby, plus it’s disheartening to pump for half an hour then only see a few mil.

Whichever way you choose good luck, and congratulations on your upcoming little one.

You have to express around 10 times a day, everyday. I used to pump both breasts together for 20 minutes, every 2 hours, around the clock ( for the first 3 weeks of life ). I also rented a hospital grade pump for £36 per month. It will be hard work, but isn't all feeding? I can see the benefits of feeding this way and would consider it for my next child.

Thank you..I didn't think of the small amounts in the beginning. I would have been so disheartened. This really has opened my eyes a bit. Do you know if the trust's in NI hire out pumps? Maybe with proper help I could try BF again. I didn't realise I would have to pump so often..I imagined 2-3 times per day would be enough

I’m sorry, you need to pump as much as baby would naturally feed, so that’s a lot.

You said that maybe you could try BF again if you got some help. What support would you like ?

There’s lots of knowledgable women here who could help you think through your options .

There are quite a few people you could contact for advice. Breastmates or even contact your midwife who may be able to suggest something local.

Thank you for your advice.. like I said I'm a bit of a newbie at this.. my other babies were formula fed. I guess I had the rose tinted glasses on with regards to expressing.
I would like someone to take time to show me 1-1 how to latch properly, give reassurance and to help put my mind at ease regarding the feeding. I struggled with baby 2 and gave up after 2 days as he just didn't settle and it was very painful.

My baby was 2m prem and spent time in the Neo natal unit, I really wanted to bf but I was so desperate to have him home I agreed to bottle feeding, but expressed. I managed to express for 8 weeks, but it is so time consuming I struggled to maintain supply. I was told to do it 8-10 times a day plus at least once through the night, I couldn't keep up with this and prioritised sleep over expressing and my supply went down dramatically. Just want to wish you lots of luck and wish I could have gone for longer!

Ps if you ask your HV they should loan you a decent breast pump! I bought a manual one but my HV loaned me an electric medela one which was fab!

Get all the help you can to try again at BF (it that’s what you want), if you can power through the first month or so it does get easier.

With DS I stayed in hospital for two days longer then was strictly needed to get BF established. The midwife help was invaluable, and the fact they were there to see and step in if DS was been starved (he wasn’t) really helped me not to panic. Also check out any local support groups, and have help line number to hand for if you need them.

The best reassurance I got was been told to focus on what was coming out of baby, not what you think is going in. If s/he’s dehydrated then they will not wet nappies. For the first week or so at home I kept a record of every wet nappy (even weighed some to check how wet), as long as you get 5 or more a day, baby is fine.

But don’t be put off pumping it that would be better for you. You’re doing what you can, and that fine (great actually). Every drop of breast milk (pumped or direct) is helping baby’s immune system, even if your supply only lasts a few weeks, just do what you can and don’t beat yourself up. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If you can only manage 2-3 pumping sessions a day top up the rest with formula that’s fine, you’ve done what you can and no one can do more than that.

I had to express and bottle feed as my baby girl just wouldn't stay on my boob. It was torture! It took forever, just as I was finished I had to start again. I gave up after a month and feel much better for it. I managed to freeze some b.milk so she has a bit of that every few days until it runs out. Perhaps u could express once/twice a day and use that combined with formula. I wouldn't recommend just expressing, u won't have a life! xx good luck

I've got a 5 week old - first baby - and I really really really struggled with breastfeeding initially. I took all the support I could get and things are getting easier now.
If it's what you want to do then as hard as it can be with the right support its doable, for me it's been worth it.
I had latch issues, pain, etc. For me, having a lactation consultant was great along with going to our local peer to peer breastfeeding group.

I express too and luckily have a baby who will take boob or bottle so DH can have her and I can get a break. Am in awe of anyone who expresses exclusively!

Oh also get a decent pump. I used a Phillips electric one which was great. Got it on eBay.

You can hire Madela ones, which are the ones that the hospital use. I used one in hospital and it was good. Ask your mid wife, you can often get a discount code from them.

Also the breast feeding worker on the hospital may give you the kit that goes with the madela pump so you don't have to pay for it.

Also if it doesn't work out don't worry about it, I put way to much pressure on myself about breast feeding. The most important thing is you baby feeds and puts weight on. If they get a bit of mummy goodness along the way then that's a bonus.

Hope that helps xx

Thank you so much for all your help and advice..I knew this would be the best place to ask..real life advice from mum's who have been there and done it is invaluable. It's definitely something I still want to do but knowing a bit more I will definitely try to BF first and see how that goes

Get a hospital grade electric pump - I think some hospitals rent them out? But get the best you can find/afford.

Do you have a breastfeeding group local to you? If you do, I really recommend going before you give birth to get as much advice as possible.

It sadly does hurt in the beginning as the nipples aren’t used to being used like that but loads of lanisoh & it does fade. It is supposed to be the first latch that hurts but I remember in the beginning feeds would smart a bit.

Exclusive pumping is the hardest work of all the options I'm afraid as you have to pump every 2/3 hours AND spend time feeding baby AND deal with washing bottles.

If you want to try BF, get googling and find out what support groups operate in your area. La leche league? Facebook is good too for local breastfeeding groups.

Then phone them all now before you have your baby and sketch out a plan of what groups are where, who can maybe do Home support, what helplines are available for 247 support etc.

They will also be very knowledgeable about pumping too.

Hi OP. My baby wouldn't latch for 6 weeks so I pumped for that time. It was really really difficult. I have to pump for 30-45 mins 10-12 times a day. As DD started getting bigger and needing more I found it very difficult and stressful to try and keep up.
If you would be willing to try breastfeeding it is definitely 100X easier than pumping.
Get as much support from midwives as you can. Yes it is painful for the first week or so but after than there is no pain. It becomes much easier than bottle feeding because you can Just whip it out anywhere and everywhere. No faffing with bottles and sterilising.
What helped me to get DD to latch were nipple shields. I wore them for a few weeks and kept trying without. One day she just latched in and started feeding. I think perseverance is key but at the same time if you are struggling and your mental health is suffering then there is nothing wrong with bottle feeding as you know.
This very long post was just to say that pumping is much harder than breastfeeding although bfing takes a few weeks to get the hang of. Good luck and congratulations x

I’m currently exclusively pumping to feed my two week old (born at 35w) and it’s pretty soul destroying tbh. I’m only doing it 5-6 times a day though, as I have an older child to look after too. I’m getting about 6-700ml a day and have to pump in advance of each feed. I agree that it’s the hardest option! I hope you get some really good support to bf if you decide you’d like to. I’ve found that there is heaps of support if you ask - im still hoping to get DS2 on the boob eventually.

I'm just winding up after exclusively pumping for DD who is 11 months.

There is a really supportive group on Facebook who have been a lifeline for me 'exclusively pumping UK mums'

If you do want to give it a shot, I highly recommend the spectra s1 pump.

As PPs say, it's tough going and you need to be pumping 8-10 times a day.

Honestly if we could have breast fed directly, that would have been my preference and we would have done natural term feeding but unfortunately it wasn't to be. Having to stop now for my own MH and work commitments (both mine and DH). If you can direct feed, I would honestly suggest trying that first but you need to be happy and healthy as well as your new baby.

You could also look into milk donors, search for human milk for human babies.

OP it might be worth looking at nipples shields too if you found bf really painful to begin with. I used them for about 8 weeks with my first as found it really painful, although it was a bit of extra faff it enabled me to establish breastfeeding and then I gradually weaned him off them (but I have heard some people use them all the time and it’s not a problem)

Honestly expressing is time consuming and an utter pita.

You’ll need to express at least 3 hourly, and in the night. A pump isn’t as effective at stimulating supply as a baby, so chances are it’ll only be short ish term.

You’ll spend 20 or 30 mins at least expressing. Then you have to feed it to the baby. Then you need to wash the pump and bottles and get them sterilised. By the time they cool down it’s time to express again..

Then if the little bugger doesn’t drink it all your heart will die a little...

Get a good bf counsellor instead.