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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

When should/would you start expressing?

4 replies

Mirry71 · 28/03/2009 12:24

DC is just over four weeks old, am tempted to express so that DH can feed her occasionally (good for bonding) and I might be able to leave the house before 2010.....but I can't remember when is the right time (so she doesnt reject the breast or the bottle) - have a feeling was told you have to introduce between 4 and 6 weeks.
Am rather reluctant because don't want to mess up bfing though - feel a bit paranoid about the whole thing and have put it off. Please advise!

Also any advice on which pump to go for?

OP posts:
Jojay · 28/03/2009 12:27

I introduced both mine to a bottle of EBM by this age with no problems.

Saying that, DS2 took it like a dream till he was about 3 months old then refused it ever since - go figure....

DS1 was no trouble though, took breast of bottle no worries.

I found the Avent Isis hand pump very good and a reasonable price

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 28/03/2009 12:35

A bfc would advise to start expressing at about 6 weeks, when your supply is established. And well, they're the experts!

Your dh can bond in other ways, cuddles, baths etc, and it's only 2 more weeks away.

The Medela Swing always gets good reviews, but it's pricey.

wideratthehips · 28/03/2009 12:35

i didn't realise there could be a potential problem and i have been doing it for three days and dd is thirteen days today.

have been using a medela electric pump and the feeling of having a totally empty breast is such a relief.

dh then feeds her with the medela bottle and ting teat and last night she was very happy with it.

hv/midwife did not suggest it was too early when i asked what time of day i should express (i was confused because GF suggested 8pm)

today i did it about 9am

tiktok · 28/03/2009 12:49

Er....I am a bfc and I wouldn't state any age like that, ILikeToMoveIt

There are no rules. There is no reason to express ever, in fact, unless you want to (or need to for a baby unable to feed direct). It's certainly not necessary for fathers to bond...it's the quality of the interaction between adult and baby that aids the bonding, not the moving of nutrients into the baby, and the interaction can be bathing, nappy changing, holding, cuddling and so on.

Gina Ford's advice on expressing is totally non-evidence-based.

Having said that - you can express at any time of day, at any age of the baby, if you want to. Bear in mind that expressing should not ever mean you later go hours and hours without feeding, as this will impact on your supply...less of a concern with an older, more established bf relationship when things are more flexible. Mothers also need to know that it is a hassle to express (or can be) and prepare the bottle and so on...there is usually enough to do with a new baby without intro'ing another job.

Babies are less likely to reject the breast in favour of the bottle if bf is going well, too.

Main thing to remember is that it is optional to express - where's this talk of 'having to do it' come from?? And that fathers really, really don't need to feed a bottle to bond (plenty of dads don't do this, and would resent a suggestion that this meant they were less bonded!).

Hope this helps.

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