expressing after each feed for "topping up" - HOW?!!

[Caz10]

i am probably just being crapply organised about this, but just can't seem to manage it! due to weight gain issues i've been advised to try to do this as often as poss but really struggling...to give today as an eg...

1st feed at 7am - lasts till 8.30, then have to settle dd, get shower etc and get to baby clinic for 10am

feed at clinic, back home, feed again 12ish, have to walk dog, back home 3ish to feed again, this takes until 4.30ish, settle dd again to have a VERY quick scoot round putting a washing on etc begore 5.30 - 6 when she starts to cluster feed until 12.

i am lucky, when he is here DH does EVERYTHING round the house, but he is obviously at work a lot of the time. we have no other lo's.

despite this i just can't seem to fit in the expressing. even if i wasn't meant to be topping up i'd like to build up a supply so i can leave her with dh every now and again, but just can't see how - any tips?!!

"before"!

Easiest way is to keep two bottles in the fridge so that you can hand express into one after each feed. Hand expressing is most efficient in removing small amounts of milk, and of course removes washing up of pump etc.
Once the milk is cold, then you just transfer milk into the main container.
You could also try using a sling so that you can feed on the move to give you a bit more time. Also, if you take DD in the bath with you, you can feed and get clean at the same time (and the skin to skin is good for supply)

first off, don't despair, it does get easier, they feed less often and quicker, right now let the cleaning etc slide and stick to the bare minimum of chores. how great your dh is so helpful

how old is your dd (I'm guessing pretty young?) and are you sure she needs the top ups (sorry, but there's a lot of bad advice out there)

I'm pretty impressed by what you're doing already, with my first I thought being dressed by 10am was a major achievement (I'm not kidding either ).

expressing - don't stress yourself about building up a supply for later, give it a few weeks and things will be more settled. if you want to express for the top ups, you could try mornings while feeding from the other breast for example or try expressing after each feed and saving the little bits you get and putting them all together to make one larger feed.

Why do you need to top her up? From your schedule it sounds like she is being offered milk often enouhg and for long enough. The way you are feeding her you should produce enough milk.

If you want to express some more to have some extra (which I totally understand) try to do it before a breastfeed or during one (i.e. feed with one boob and express with the other, you'll need an electric or a one handed pump for that though).

If all else fails and you can't express enough. One bottle of formula won't harm her.

Relax you are doing a grand job !

Caz10
I have nothing useful to say at all. But I echo your question! I've found it impossible to follow the advice of expressing after feeds to top up. In addition, my dd will not tolerate being put down, so I'm never sure what to do with her when I'm supposed to be expressing.

My dh works away Monday to Friday so I have to manage on my own too.

It feels blooming impossible at times, doesn't it? I feel your pain!

I have been known to express with dd in a sling on occasion.

I hope you get some useful advice, and I'll watch this thread closely.

hiya caz, nme again!

would def second an electric pump, can't remember if you have one or not. I always find I get most in the mornings, so just try and do iut straight after her first feed. don't worry about getting washed and dressed and out the house- this is more important.

I would second the idea of expressing while she is feeding, but I know you've had latch probs and it may be a while before this is feasible unless she is good enough at latching on and staying on now in a cradle hold, or propped up on cushions.

if dh is at home in the evenings then make sure the pump is ready and then let him settle dd while you pump.
remember you don't need to sterilise your pump between sessions, just pop it in the fridge, that'll save you a bit of time.
and forget the housework#1

I agree, forget the housework !

Breastfeeding will get easier. I found that once I was past the 6 week stage, it was a breeze !

Excellent advice about 'catching' all the little expresslets in one bigger bottle.

Do you really need to top up? If you feed your baby more (rather than expressing after each feed) it will boost your supply, babuies are better at getting your milk than a pump.
Is weight gain a serious issue?
It sounds as if you are giving lots of feeds already.
Have you looked on kellymom for info? I found it a really useful site with my first baby.
Here is a link which might be of interest:
www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/weight-gain.html#wtgain

caz's dd has been labelled failure to thrive. so she's feeding tons and trying to express for top-ups and to boost suppply

Breast shells. put one on one boob whilst babe is feeding from the other. It fills up with milk from your spare boob. Then swap over when you switch sides. you can get a couple of ozs per feed. Tops ups are v useful if your baby is cluster feeding as can give you a little break in the evening - but remember the more she feeds now, the more milk that will be there for her tomorrow. The breast shells are ace - still an element of faff cause you have to have the bottle sterilised and next to you ready to pour the milk into (and trying not to spill whilst feeding baby at same time!) but so much less faff than expressing..... buy them at mothercare etc. Keep up teh good work - sounds like you are doing brilliantly. I know everyone says it but really, sod the housework....

Breast shells only work if you naturally leak from the side you are not feeding from. I never, ever leaked with any of my 3 children. Obviously, I had enough milk (as they are all thriving), but I didn't have any left over.

To the OP - not everyone can express. I always found that if I expressed my baby would want to feed from me more. It was as though I had stolen his milk.

My first was labelled failure to thrive. In the end I just stopped having him weighed and saw my supportive GP instead of the health visitor. He suggested lots of skin to skin and bathing with my baby to encourage him to feed more instead of faffing with expressing. Also, topping up can lead to a reduced milk supply - quite the opposite to what health visitors will tell you.

FL.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I have a sling, and one more ordered, just trying to get to grips with it.

DD is 8 weeks sorry, I should have said, and top ups have been advised by my very nice BFC, I feel that I should at least try!

I have an electric pump, and can get 2oz in about half an hour sometimes after a feed, which seems ok to me, but I am totally bamboozled as to what I am meant to do with DD during that half hour?! I am lucky in that she is not too much of a velcro baby, but still needs some amount of settling, which eats up the time between feeds. She is also more alert now, so then I can't bear plonking her somewhere out of the way just so I can express, I feel like that is when I should be spending time with her.

stardoman unfortunately my GP was pro-formula topups, which we did resort to doing, but I am trying to get away from. So BFC suggested expressing after a feed and giving her that instead.

I think if this had happened earlier it would have been more achievable, with more support around me etc. But now 2 months on with DH back at work life has kind of started to move on if you know what I mean. Mum and MIL are supportive but not in the kind of new baby, drop everything to help kind of way anymore.

Plus in my aim to improve BF I seem to have created a busy schedule for myself with clinc appointments, BF group, hospital appointments etc!

I do leak a little bit mainly during the morning feed, so will try the shells, thanks! And also will give hand expressing a bash. My latch is not good enough to balance dd and pump at the same time sadly.

VLC does your dd feed in a sling, and if so what kind do you use?

Caz10 rather than stress about the expressing could you try simply feeding your baby for longer at each feed?
It has the same effect but is much easier for you in terms of logistics and babies are usually more effective at getting milk than a breast pump.

Also there would be no need to worry about sterlising bottles/pumps etc, how to occupy your DD, time pressure etc...

Ring slings are ofen considered the easiest to feed in, Huggababy is a good one and easy to use:
www.huggababy.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=54&List=1

Did you maange to check out the kellymom site I linked to, there is loads of useful info on there about breastfeeding?

caz have you thought about getting one of those bras that will hold your pump in place so you can be hands-free?
I think expressyourselfmums.co.uk sell them. would mean you had 2 free hands to hold dd whilst pumping.

meant to add, that although I did mention pumping whilst feeding her that's actually defeating the object here.
you need her to feed as much as poss every time, and then express when she doesn't want to feed to increase supply

Sorry to butt in but could anyone tell me how you get your baby to feed for longer at each feed? When my ds has had enough he clamps his mouth shut and refuses to open it, I then try and re offer the breast and also offer the other breast but his mouth remains clamped shut when he's had his fill. My other two were the same...

Ledodgy I think if your baby clamps his mouth shut and refuses to open it again then I'd take it that he is full! MY DS is the same and when he does this I know the feed is over and leave it at that. Breastfed babies are generally pretty good at regulating their appetites.

hey Caz, sorry it took me a while to get back to you

I've tried feeding in a few slings, and find wrap slings a bit tricky, although possible to feed in.

I've just got into mei tais recently, and I think we've cracked it with these. You just loosen the shoulder straps so that the baby sits lower in the sling with mouth level with nipple, and off you go. I have a kozy carrier, and they hav good instructions on their website. I am currently loving this sling because I got brave enough to carry her on my back, which is MUCH easier for pootling around the house, she sleeps and I can do stuff. I haven't tried yet, but this would definitely make it possible to express at the same time. Course one looks like a weirdie person, but hey ho. The Kozy is suitable from newborn up, even with a back carry.

Oh and I would recommend cutting two nipple holes in a grotty old bra to do hands free pumping. I did this with a heinous M&S maternity cheapy bra, and it is much cheaper than a pumping bra and just as effective!

This may not be what you need to do, I'm not sure, but I express while my daughter is getting her top-up - she goes in her bouncy chair in front of me, I put on my hands free pumping bra, hook myself up to the electric pump,and it works away while I give her the bottle. Feels ridiculous, wouldbe so much easier if she just took what she needed from the boob, but it's what we've had to do to ensure she gains weight appropriately.

lulumum - THANK YOU!

ordered breast shells, tried them today and got 1oz! I know that's not much but I only ever get 2oz after half an hour of pumping so it was like finding lost treasure!!

I only ever really leak during the 1st feed in the morning, but even 1oz a day from that will really help

THANKS!