expressing for new baby with a toddler

[beanypip1]

has anyone expressed milk for newborn when having a toddler? how did u cope with the toddler? at first it was ok (5 weeks in) but now its getting too much. dd2 wont latch on (tongue tie) so I bought a pump and was geting eniugh milk for every feed. now though im hardly getting anything and I think its because express time is just so stressfull. dd1 constantly on dd2. just now she pushed hard on her face. I couldnt push her away fast enough as I have a double pump so hands were busy. I have no one to take dd1 while I pump. im wondering if her getting my milk is worth her getting hurt for. im not sure what to do for the best.

I tried to do this because of tongue tie as well. I had a 22 month age gap and a very spirited toddler. I gave up at 5 weeks with a lot of milk in the freezer which I used for a couple of feeds a day over the following weeks. The main reason I gave up was because of an infection that is had the whole time caused by cuts from not being able to latch properly just wasn't getting better because of the constant expressing and all the breast tissue was inflamed. My plan had been to start mix feeding with as much breast milk as I could manage. I was expressing 8 times in 24 hours to establish my supply over the first few weeks and I had planned to make life easier by expressing just in the morning before my toddler got up, at nap time and during the evenings and maybe once at night if I could bear it on the basis that some breast milk was better than none. I had hired a medela pump which was excellent but it still meant being hooked up for 20 mins each time and I couldnt master any kind of hands free techniques I read about. You can get special bras which are meant to help you be hands free but I get the impression it's more so you can change the tv channel or read a book rather than run across the room to save a baby from a toddler and all the other things that will be going on!

Best of luck though, I hope you manage to persevere at least with some feeds.

Although I only did it for ds1 so no toddler around just wanted to add a few thoughts.

Totally go with the more breast milk than none theory and possibly mix feed.

I also found a manual hand pump my friend for some pumps. Would lie ds on play mat and sit on floor with hand pump and entertain ds (and in your case i think I woudl have had a hand free to fend off toddler) or hand pump (as relatively quiet) when trying to settle ds to sleep.
I really think you have to also pat yourself on th e back any small amount of breast milk is great - I also used to set little milestones - get to 6 weeks get to 2 months etc.in the end i was still mix feeding at 6 months.
goodluck

Formula isn't a bad option you know. And i say that as someone who ebf 2dc past 7m.

You have to choose what's best for your whole family.

Personally i couldn't express for toffee so in your place i would like to think I'd have got the tongue tie snipped and had advice from a bf expert and if that didn't work I'd buy a perfect prep and happilyformula feed and express in the evening when toddler in bed for a good stuff topup.

See any bm as a bonus. And no it's not worth her getting hurt over.

I did. IME experience stressing (about whatever) really doesn't help milk yield. Can you put dd2 in different room while you express ? Somewhere maybe on the other side of a gate so that you can see/hear her but DD1 can't get to her ?

Do you keep trying to latch DD2 ? I have no experience of tongue tie, but my DS1 didn't latch on until he was about 5-6 weeks old (born at 38 weeks).

Or just express when DD1 is having her nap and in the evenings/mornings when DP/DH is around to give you a break.

And if nothing works - formula is a good alternative - and she has had the benefit of some breast milk.

thank you for your replies. I was having a wobble this morning it all got on top of me. we are looking into getting a playpen so I can put dd2 in when I express then dd1 can do as she pleases and I know she isnt going to hurt dd2. not dure why I never thought of doing it before! I dont have anywhere to put dd2 yet as the rooms are all open plan with no doors to shut apart from the utility and I cant put her in there! I have a highchair in the garage that lies flat so im going to bring that in and pop dd2 on that until I get a playpen. thank you for making me feel better. id like to continue giving her ebm as its obviously good for her. im seeing the bf support worker later today. I havent been putting her on as much as I should as I have to use nipple shields and I just dont like them

You can apparently get bras that hold the pump in place. Mad put possible solution?

I've heard of people chopping holes in an old bra to keep it in place!!!!
Playpen is a great idea - we used a big cheap travel cot from kiddicare when ds was small - have you got a travel cot you could use! we just put lots of soft toys in etc. Also kiddicare do free next day delivery.
Its stressful but well done!

I did see the bras and was goibg to get one but at £30 I decided against it. I have rather large boobs so thought it might not work. I have an old bra I might just try cutting holes in then I can have dd2 on my knee out of dd1s way!

Reading through the earlier responses I was going to suggest a playpen to put dd2 in. It's what my mum did with all of us (she had 4) and was purely to protect the baby from the rest of us! I'm going to get ours down when I have dc2 so that my dd won't try and over love him.

No advice for you regarding pumping with a toddler around. However I am a long term expresser (6 months so far of just expressed milk due to latch issues) and I would say don't fork out for a special bra! I use sports bras, haven't even bothered to cut holes in them, just tuck the funnels in through the top of the bra and it holds them in place. Obviously no good for lugging toddler/baby around, but I have managed to pick my 6 month old up to pop we on my lap whilst pumping.

And also massive well done for getting so far, it's bloody hard work, kudos to you for doing it with two kiddies!