Positive stories of expressing BEFORE 6 week recommendation

[Kate3150]

I have a Medela electric pump, baby currently 3 weeks. I was going to hold off until 6 weeks to express but feel I might need to use it sooner.
Anyone else done this and felt it was right thing for them? X

Yup started at 1 week
But rented a hospital grade double one- made all the difference as is quite effective and strong pumping. Didn't interfere with latch or supply which I think are the main concerns behind the 6week recommendation - but all babies are different I guess. I just feel a lot of stuff is prescribed to make things as difficult as possible for mothers...

I started after 3 days, less with dd2. My milk came in very quickly and I had loads of it. Both DDs happily took expressed milk right from the start and had no issues with confusion. I had excruciating thrush and cracked nipples both times and it gave me a much needed break to be able to express one feed or even just one side. Mine were both hourly feeders during the day and then cluster fed all evening so you can imagine the pain and exhaustion of those first weeks. I think the midwife actually recommended a pump to ease the pressure as I got so engorged they couldn't latch on around day 3. I expressed a little to soften my breast and get them latched on. It was such a relief! I recommend the Avent breast shells too.

Just to add that both were ebf for 6 months. Dd1 fed for 15 months, dd2 for 3.5 years! So no negative effects at all.

Thanks everyone! Just what I needed to hear 💜

I waited with DS 1 and he never took a bottle with ds 2 I did it when he was 5 days old and have been no bother at all

My baby was prem so was only on expressed milk for first 2 weeks. As soon as we got home expressing went out the window and he’s always been a champion feeder. Nurses in the hospital said nipple confusion was a bit of a myth and most babies would revert back to the boob easily when given the choice. You just have to make sure to express enough to keep your supply up.