How to express & store??

[Blurry29]

Ok don't laugh but I honestly don think I know how.

I'm 36 + 6 and due to have DS2 in a couple of weeks via CS

I breast fed DS1 (8) but only for a short time and stopped for a few reasons:

Lack of support
Lack of knowledge
Pressure from family
Very very sore nipples
Very very very hungry baby

So I never got to the stage where I would have to express or store but I'm determined to make I work this time.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, not finding books much help and my DS is the only child in family so far.

Thank you

I'm not going to be much help except to say I totally get where you're coming from. I'm due in February with DC 1 and am also wondering about this. I've got a breast feeding talk with one of the midwives next week and will be asking her about it.

sorry dont know much either so watching with interest. i know u can freeze breastmilk but unsure how long u can store it in the fridge i would imagine prob.only a day

Well, the first thing to think about is how you want to express. There are basically three options:

• hand express. Free, some people have great results, other people find it tricky;

• hand pump. Cheap, some people have great results, probably not the best if you plan to express a lot;

-electric pump. A lot of people get on with these the best. Have a google on open and closed systems, particularly if you would consider buying second hand. Personally I would never buy an open system like the Medela swing second hand.

In terms of storage, you sterilise everything just as you will be used to. I can't remember how long you can store expressed milk for, but the NHS have some good pamphlets on how long you can freeze, keep in the fridge, etc. I am sure your MW could help you find one if you cannot get it online.

What else would you like to know?

Linky to NHS advise here

Thank you

When would you start expressing? That's probably an individual thing really for each lady.

Was just wondering about storing and when to use it etc.

I'll get "googling" too.

I've got MW tomorrow so ill ask her too x

Generally bf-ing experts recommend getting breast feeding established first. So probably about 6 weeks for most people. But it is up to you.

In terms of storage, I think my link explains most of that.

When to use it? Erm, when you aren't around to feed the baby directly . If you are keen to give a daily bottle (never saw much point myself, but some people want their partner to do one) I'd say evening )or another time your partner, assuming you have one, is generally around) as it means that you can pump whilst the feed is going on.

I think when to start is entirely up to you & six weeks may be early or late for you...it depends how you're feeling & how you & baby get to grips with it.

I found it very tough going at the start & my DD didn't have a great latch so I started expressing within about 2 weeks. I found it extremely helpful - although DD had an incredible knack for waking up out of a deep sleep in a separate part of the bloody house!! the second I got out the pump! I often pumped & fed her at the same time, which took a bit of manoeuvring but meant both she and the pump got plenty!

Regarding practical stuff - I found the Phillips electric pump was great but used their bottles only to store the milk as they leaked all over the place. Much preferred Tommy Tippee to actually feed her from.

Regarding feeding, I was lucky that she didn't get confused/fussy & took both breast & bottle. After a few weeks I mostly fed her myself. HOWEVER, in order to do this I found (Phillips) nipple shields an absolute godsend - they were recommended to me on here and I know for a fact I wouldn't have continued trying to breast feed without them. For me it wasn't so much a pain thing but a latch problem but I think they're good if you find breastfeeding painful too. Apparently Medela is also brilliant (pumps & shields) but I was too impatient & went with what I could get locally!

Sorry for the essay!!