Expressing- sore nipples

[88MincePies]

My baby is 12 weeks and I have just started expressing (3 times this week) so DH can give him a bottle now and again. Not planning on a huge stash yet. . It's made my nipples SO SORE. Anyone else? I have the elvie pump. I do need to go back to work at 6 months so I need to get to grips with expressing.

Also, any tips on expressing? I feel like it sort of empties my breast and there isn't enough left for baby, even after a few hours.

Hi,

I have the medela pump, mine doesn’t hurt so I feel your flange might be the wrong size. Maybe go up a size and see (might be friction if to small maybe?)

I’ve always been told as long as there’s an hour either side of pumping then don’t worry about soft breasts. As long as baby is satisfied at the end of there feed. Soft breasts don’t mean there’s no milk and baby is far better at getting the milk out than the pump.

I’m no expert I only pump here and there at the moment but getting a regular routine is best same time of day sort of thing.

Give it a day or two as your supply will build up due to the stimulation :) x

Expressing due to sore nipples

Due to a poor early latch my nipple on one breast is really sore and I can’t bare to feed on that side. I’ve started to pump to keep up the supply on that side but baby is only & days old so my plan is to feed exclusively on the other side under the cracks heel. Anyone had any similar experiences ? When did you first give breastfed baby expressed milk in a bottle ? Thanks in advance !

Sorry I’m not much help here I can only say I wish I introduced expressed milk in a bottle sooner. I left it to late (4 months) baby didn’t have a clue what to do with it so I gave up, I’m now trying a sippy cup instead at 9 months!
Definitely just go ahead and give it a go I wish I just did at least one feed per day with a bottle at least looking back :( I got those minbie bottles which are breast like teats and which are good I just left it to late even for a dummy!
i did get the odd sore nipple in the beginning, you will be surprised how quickly it heals get lots of lansinoh on and in a day or so you’ll be ok! Start with baby feeding back on that breast in night maybe once feeling a bit better as they seem to just feed so much better at night when more relaxed and drowsy

ive also only ever fed one breast at a time baby never wanted the 2nd breast

xx

Thank you ! Baby’s back at birth weight now 12 days pp so I think I’m going to give the express milk a go in the next day or two ! Fingers crossed baby takes to it then maybe one of the night feeds can be swapped !

So glad baby is at birth weight brilliant news
Hope you are ok also though breast feeding is the hardest in those early days I remember the pain of such full breasts and constabr feeding. Once you get to around a month or two things get easier. I couldn’t quite grasp the position when baby was so small but if you can lay down breast feeding it’s a game changer, even in the day time for a nap together you can feed and both rest if someone can just keep an eye on you if your worried about rolling (you won’t but I get my parter to just pop his head in on us if we do it for peace of mind)

Be careful expressing to much I caused a huge oversupply by pumping and baby would get jet washed by milk with the let down! Just pump at similar times each day :)
Another good one is pumping the other breast whilst baby feeds you get lots of milk so easily :) x
fingers crossed baby takes to the bottle for you :)

lots and lots of water for you also look after yourself xx