Expressed breast milk

[hayesgirl]

I have just had twins and have been experimenting re: breastfeeding. Due to some complications both twins have ended up being tube fed, cup fed, bottle and breast fed. I am now considering that from both a practical and convenience perspective giving them bottles of EBM is the best wah forward.

I have a tommee tippee electric pump from my first child but don't think it roll be up to the job, I am still in hospital at the moment snd using their pump which is fantastic (medela symphony). Considering whether to try buying a decent second hand pump or hire something like the hospital one.

Does anyone have any recommendations or views on the best pump for this and rent or buy?

Thanks

Hayes, you can rent the medela ones fairly cheaply - I did for a few months after my twins were born. That was 5 years ago now so I'm afraid I haven't the details where from anymore, but the hospital should be able to advise you.
If you are going to express, I would definitely recommend going for the best pump you can - it will save you a lot of time! I had mine as an interim measure while my milk supply built up and I was lucky that my two did eventually go on to exclusively breast feed. Once I had a decent supply I dropped expressing as felt I spent all the time between feeds sterilising, pumping etc This meant rental was the most cost effective route for me. I guess it depends how long you are planning on expressing for.

If you do buy, a cheaper option is medela swing with a double tubing thingy (either DIY or bought online) - there's a handy YouTube demo of the DIY option.
Unless you have the hospital-grade suction really high, the swing should be fine, I double-pumped with it quite low and didn't notice any time difference compared to the big medela one I pinched while at work (hospital)
Congratulations on your babies, it's magical (my twins are 21m now, it goes far too fast!) enjoy xx

I had a hospital grade pump and it was fabulous for expressing. My DS was exclusively fed Expressed Breast Milk as he was unable to latch on properly. I always managed to express more than was needed and used to do it for 10-15 minutes eight times per day to begin with then reduced it down. I wouldn't do it again though as I think it made the whole feeding process stressful and too time consuming. It's time i could have spent with my baby instead of being attached to a machine. I did it for 10 months.

I borrowed a Medela from the hospital for a few weeks, was excellent. If/when we have another child, I would definitely rent one or possibly buy one if finances allow. It totally saved my milk supply which had diminished to a few drops by 3 weeks post birth due to the pain of dreadful cracked nipples as she had tongue tie, I managed to EBF DD to nearly 6 months.

Thank you. Very helpful.

2 days in hospital of exclusive EBM in a bottle and I have an engorged left breast! Very painful!! The lovely neo natal nurse has however advised me to stick Savoy cabbage leaves on it! Hubby will be bringing one to the hospital tomorrow for me to try it!! Seems strange but I don't doubt a thing this lady tells me!

Slightly off topic but any tips on how to avoid this in the first place ?

I would second the suggestion of renting a hospital pump if you can - they are much more effective than the home versions IME.

If you do buy one, Ameda Lactaline is a good one to get second hand as it's a closed system, so milk doesn't go into the tubing at all. I have heard of Medela swings having mould inside from old milk getting into the system.

There are quite a few websites about exclusive pumping, many of them are US based (as they go back to work so early), try looking on kellymom for links.

Engorgement: Savoy cabbage leaves are traditionally used to dry up your supply so be careful! Engorgement is quite common in the early days of your milk coming in, it will settle down as your body "learns" how much milk to produce.

The main thing is to avoid blockages while your milk supply settles down. Avoid blockages by: regularly expressing (hand or pump) or feeding, ie keep the milk flowing; check for any lumps and massage them out, best done in a hot bath/shower; don't wear underwires and don't sleep on your front or too much on one side.

I've been exclusively breast feeding my 8 week old since she was born- was so engorged by day 4 I got mastitis. Believe it or not the last 2 days are the first that I haven't been engorged!! My DD's milk demands fluctuate day to day- not massively by any stretch if the imagination- an it seems my body has only just started to figure it all out!!
I've used Savoy cabbage leaves, tried expressing off very small amounts if really uncomfy (be careful- te more you express the higher the demand and therefore the more you'll produce!), warm baths with gentle breast massage. But ultimately the only thing that's helped with results over several days rather than short term fixes is block feeding (I guess you might be able to block express)- but I think you have to be careful doing this so early on as it can interfere considerably with supply :-/

Huge congrats by the way!! :-)