Elvie smart breast pump expressing

4 replies

nickname7890 · 27/12/2018 17:04

Hi all

I am really struggling as I have so much milk and my 3 week old takes so long to feed that I literally feed him 1 hour then have to express then sterilise al the equipment and have to start all over again feeding him. It's not sustainable but I don't know what the answer is.

I read about the Elvie hands and cord free expressing machine and thought that could be the -ludicrously expensive- answer so that I can express while doing house work/ dropping dc1 at nursery /taking dc1 to a play group or play ground etc

But it is so expensive I want to make sure it is worth the price tag

Does anyone have it?
Anyone have any tips otherwise ?! I am persevering with breast feeding but he guzzles bottles (100ml easily- he was 9.5 pounds at birth!) within 10 mins and as I said an hour in the boob and I have to still express to empty my boobs otherwise get mastitis starting so I feel expressing may be the answer. My dc1 didn't latch ether so maybe it's my nipples. Seen bf consultants and they say it all looks fine ...

OP posts:

pennysays · 29/12/2018 21:50

Didn't want to read and run.

I feel your pain it's SUCH a ball ache.

I used to pump and feed all the same time. It's very tricky logistically but once you've got the hang of it it halves the time you spend

You don't have to sterilise it all in between. Keep the bottle and suctioncups in the fridge and that should prevent germs

We are the only country that sterilise at all. All other countries just wash up with soap or put in the dishwasher. That's what I did. There are no more babies getting sick from non sterilised breast pumps in France

Have you seen a haaka? Super cheap on amazon, hands free and easy to use and clean. Definitely worth a shot.

I bought a hands free pump on eBay and just got new tubes. After sterilising all the pieces it was good to go. It was 1/6th of the price as a new one. Hand free pump was a game changer.

Original poster

nickname7890 · 06/01/2019 08:24

Hank you so much!
So many tips

Can I ask what is the hands free pump you bought ??
Definitely will get a haakaa
Baby just took 50 mins on and off feeding and is still hungry and my toddler desperately wants breakfast it's a nightmare! He is 3.5 weeks and 10.6 pounds already and always hungry!

OP posts:

pennysays · 06/01/2019 17:53

It was a medela swing with the hand free expressing bra. It's not flawless though, so I might consider another brand next time.

Expressing will help free you from the boob monster but I'm really wondering about perhaps focussing on your supply and bfing habits first before investing loads of money on a hands free pump. If your little one is hungry, it won't last forever but there are lots of things you can do to make it easier. Do you know kellymom website? It's really the bible of breastfeeding and lots of lovely common sense and reassurance.

Here is a page on frequent nursing which might help:
kellymom.com/hot-topics/frequent-nursing/

Specifically have you considered a sling? I worked out how to nurse in a sling and it was great. Much more useful than a hand free bread pump which is an utter faff and you can't really do anything too vigorous cause you always end up knocking the pipes out.

Secondly I'm sure your supply is great and your baby is just being a new baby and growing a lot but make sure you're giving yourself the best chance to make all the milk e.g. by staying hydrated etc