When can I start expressing?

[skippingturtle]

Hi All,
First baby due in a couple of weeks, and am trying to get my head round this breast feeding malarkey! Apparently lots of women have done it before me so fingers crossed!

I'm a bit panicked about being the only parent who'll be able to feed the baby, rather than my fella being able to share the work, as he would with ff. I'm fully expecting to be tired and for feeding to take a while to get into, but the idea that I may get no time at all away from the baby is making me feel trapped and scared and the poor little thing hasn't even arrived yet!

So, a couple of novice questions:
When can I start expressing, so that there's a store and the dad can help out? Someone told me "once breastfeeding is established". I don't know what this means, if I'm feeding on demand will there be a routine at some point?

Secondly, [stupid question alert!!!] how long does a baby stay full? If I've just fed, is it OK for dad and baby to go out for an hour or so without me? Or will that result in a starving baby and a stressful sprint home to the breasts?

I hope this doesn't come across as me trying to avoid my baby! I have no experience with children (didn't actually want any for ages!) and I think I'm having The Fear about how I'll cope.

Apologies for the long post!

About 6 weeks is usually recommended.

You are already with your baby 24/7 . You may find that the idea of not having them with you terrifies you rather than the idea of being with them all the time.

At the start my DSs were both pretty much permanently attached. They can be hungry 10 mins after finishing the last feed. Got teeny tiny little tummies and even if you fill that tummy with formula you are going to have to do it almost as often.

An hour is a very long time between feeds for a newborn.

Thanks Morloth, very clear and sensible advice! I think I've got last minute jitters and very much feeling 'forwarned is forearmed!'

Hungry 10 minutes after eating? Sounds like me!

Aw, this is exactly how I felt before my dd arrived 4 years ago Thing is, she became my security blanket - you will be amazed at how much you need each other, not just baby needing you!

One thing I regret about the early days of breastfeeding was clock watching constantly and fretting that she was feeding too much! It made me quite stressed out when really all you need to remember is your baby is growing at a huge rate and your milk is food and drink all in one. Do you often fancy a cuppa between meals? I know I do Also a newborn's tummy is about the size of a walnut!

Best of luck with everything

I started expressing at 2 weeks, and DD2 is now 5 weeks, and have a nice little supply in freezer, and averaging 150 mls a day. Giving EBM top up daily so she is used to bottle for when I return to work, plus I can now go out without fear of her going crazy for a feed (not that I want to go out without her).

I express after her 3am feed, and also later in the morning. It is really helpful when growth spurts happen, as there is plenty of milk.

I did this with DD1 also, so was pretty confident in my milk-making abilities. It may be different for you, and breastfeeding is challenging at the best of times, so do not put too much pressure on yourself. Each feed is an achievement, and there will be many in the first few weeks. Establishing feeding should always be your top priority, but I believe expressing can help with this, if you listen to your baby and your body.

Thanks for your supportive messages. WWSW, bless you for understanding my jitters! I'm lucky in that I have a fantastically supportive partner who will be doing all he can, but I think I'm frightened of being alone on this issue. Hope that makes sense.

I'm happy to let the baby eat as much as it needs of course, but I'm not confident that I'll be able to tell the difference between proper eating and nuzzling etc. I'm sure like all new mums I've heard the horror stories of 'my baby sucked for 24 hours straight and was still hungry' etc etc!

I might well be going back to work early stinky, so it's good to hear that you've been able to prepare for that yourself.

Thanks again ladies, I'll be trying to just go with the flow and see what happens! There's a nice support group in my area so I can always pitch up there wailing if I need to!

oh yes, make use of the support groups! It's fear of the unknown so it's wonderful to be able to meet with other mums going through the same thing

Let them nuzzle, they love it so much. I did everything you "shouldn't", i.e. co-slept, carried him all the time, held him while he slept, fed him to sleep, let him "comfort" suck etc.

He is the most chilled out independent kid I know, don't listen to any of that "rod for your own back" bullshit, this time is soooooooo precious, you will blink and it will be over.

You can't give them too much of your time/affection when they are tiny, you are their whole world and all they want is you. It is so special.

Sob, DS2 is only 9 weeks and is already moving out of that stage and I miss it so.

Also get some Laninsoh cream and apply it after babe pulls off, even if your latch is great and your nipples are not sore, I found pre-emptive moisturising was great this time. I only do it once a day now, but in the early weeks basically every time.

Morloth is right, nothing wrong with nuzzling! Ignore the people that tell you to worry. And as well as being lovely, there are good physiological reasons for nuzzling too - as the extra nipple stimulation helps to build up your milk supply, which should make things easier for you further down the track.

good luck!