When to introduce expressed

[ablisha]

Hi all

Baby is only a week only. Just wondered if and when you brought in an expressed bottle during the night?

I'm currently EBF and am hesitant to pump because the midwife said adding a bottle could affect DSs latch.

Thanks

There’s lots of ifs and buts about expressing before 6 weeks. You have to do what’s right for you whilst accepting the risks.
They say it takes around 6 weeks for your milk supply to stabilise so pumping before could increase risk of mastitis, oversupply etc...
I pumped at around 3 weeks, never had any problems apart from a slight oversupply in right boob.
If it wasn’t for pumping I don’t think I would have carried on breastfeed (still going at 10 months). It just gave me a bit of a break as I could share the feeding with my Husband.
Do what feels right for you x

I pumped right from the start so dp could help with feeding (twins) and had no probs!

Generally advice is to wait until after 6 weeks as that when milk supply and BF is established. Introducing a bottle before than increase the risk of confusion or breast refusal.

Pumping is also a PITA, it's time consuming and not everyone is able to express, or gets less than they expect. It's a big cause of stress for BF mums, but the amount you express isn't necessarily an indication of your supply. I've seen so many new mums stop BFing because they weren't expressing much and thinking they had low supply when actually the baby was doing fine on the breast and their supply wasn't an issue (cluster feeds also add to this stress and worry).

I would recommend a haakaa pump and use it during feeds, you use it on the breast baby isn't feeding from to catch what would otherwise be absorbed into a pad (or leaked all down your top). There are still risks with this, especially so early on.

Research is invaluable! The breastfeeding network, kellymom and any local HV or BF groups are great sources of info and support.

I expressed from day 1, and Dd had a bottle when she was 2/3 days old. I didn’t have an issue with supply, but obviously not everyone is the same.

I would say though do introduce a bottle sooner rather than later. The ‘nipple confusion’ thing has been debunked, and out of all the women I know who waited to give a bottle, none of the babies would take one at 6 weeks. Dd would happily switch between breast and bottle (if I wasn’t giving it!) from birth.

Totally agree with the hakaa pump rec, they are fab!

we introduced an evening bottle at around 5 weeks old, just so I could have a little bit of time to myself as OH would give that bottle. night time feedings are key to building up a good supply as this is when the most prolactin is produced so if you were to skip a feeding overnight I believe it is recommended to pump at that time so as not to damage supply, especially in the early weeks. We found it easier if I did all the night feedings, DH did nappy changes and some resettling overnight then basically all the house work and brought me breakfast in bed every morning until baby was about 8 weeks old!

Thank you all

We introduced a bottle for to occasions first feed of the day (usually at the weekend) to allow me to get some extra sleep at about 3 weeks. This was the midwives suggestion. She said as lo was doing well at breastfeeding it shouldn't cause confusion and that we didn't need to wait until 6 weeks for a morning bottle.
I don't know about night bottles though as in the early days I think they help your supply.

I EBF for the first six weeks, and then DD refused bottles completely. If I could go back I would have done more mixed feeding from the start. I'd say do what you and baby find easiest

We did it at 3 weeks when i was confident of my supply, we introduced a dummy at 2 weeks.

My friends who waited the recommened 6-8 weeks couldn't get their babies to take bottles or dummies