How did you start to express?

[Lizbiz89]

Just had my 3rd baby a week ago and this time exclusively breastfeeding. I would ideally like to start pumping the odd bottle for a night feed or so my husband can help a little. So far my bf journey is going really well so I don't want to disrupt my supply. Just wondering for anyone who expressed occasionally how/when they started to pump?

I used a Haakaa

I really hate expressing but also wanted to be able to collect some for occasional bottle feeding. So the Haakaa was great. You won't get gallons of milk from it, I used to get about 3-4oz each time. Its a handy thing to have if your BF!

I had twins so and expressed from 6 weeks (so I could leave the house by bottle feeding one, while breast feeding the other as tandem feeding in public is a no no for me). So I was advised to express after each feed to build up supply. This didn't work as I needed to wind two babies and also wasn't getting much off. So I built in an express time (halfway between feeds) and manage to build it up over a few weeks till the point of getting enough for 1-2 bottles a day. To me it was less faff and just worked better for the family.

I started expressing two days after my son was born because my boobs would get so big and full it was a relief to pump. I hand expressed at first then once the flow came used the Tommee Tippee electric pump

We started a bottle at 2-3 weeks under the advice of the midwives.
I used the haakaa at mostly but she intermittently took the bottle I did get a manual pump around 5 months when she went through a better phase of taking the bottle

Thanks for the replies. I've currently got a MomCozy 12 but I've only used it to relieve engorgement and it was extremely uncomfortable. Sounds like the haaka does a good job as well. Would you recommend them?

I started pumping as soon as my milk came in, I wanted the choice of being able to breastfeed and also have my partner be able to feed. I now pump once a day. The haakaa is good but I usually only get 20-40ml each time. It's almost zero effort though! I mostly use the spectra S1 or Medela freestyle wearable.

If your pump is uncomfortable you might need a different flange size? There are size guides online and you'll probably have to measure your nipple size with a ruler. The wrong flange size can make pumping quite sore

Definitely recommend the Haakaa. Its one of the few baby purchases I was actually impressed with.

Also jumping on to recommend the haaka!

No wasting time being attached to a pump or worrying about timing as you just latch it on to the other breast while baby feeds. Doesn't mess around with supply as it collect natural let down anyway, comfortable, easy to build up a stash, I love it!

Would recommend watching a YouTube on how to attach it correctly as I spent a week or so very frustrated that it kept falling off.

@Juicyjuicymango thanks for the tip! I've just ordered one from Amazon. I will also look at flange sizes but tbh I just don't think my supply is ready to start using an electric pump. Really don't want to cause an oversupply either.