Anybody planning on expressing straight from birth or have experience of this?

[cocopop123]

Hi all,

When dc arrives, I'm hoping to be able to express immediately from birth... I know it's not everyone's choice, but I'd like to be able to keep an eye on how much they're taking and also involve dh and family with feeding.

Just wondering if anybody else is planning to do the same, or if anybody has any useful advice from previously doing this?

Thanks!

I chose to EE for DS2 when he decided at 9 weeks that he didn't like milk - the only way I could get any milk inside him at all was via a bottle while he was asleep (i.e. He wasn't an active participant in feeding, IYSWIM).

It was hell. I couldn't go out anywhere because I needed to keep the pump sterile. I couldn't nap when he did because that was my only chance to express. It was hell.

I cracked at 16 weeks and started mixed feeding. He has 3 bottles of BM and 3 bottles of FM from then until weaning. Honestly, I wish I'd mixed fed sooner. It would have saved me so much heartache and tears.

DS1 and DS3 both BF fine. It was soooo much easier.

FWIW, I always found expressing really easy. The best solution for us was for me to express one bottle per day. DH, FIL and MIL all had turns giving the DSs expressed BM to give me a break - and they definitely bonded over feeding by bottle.

I expressed from birth through medical necessity (my boys were born at 26 and 24 weeks respectively) I had to pump every two hours throughout the day then overnight. I seriously would not recommend it in anyway. The nighttime pumps are a nightmare and I suffered both times with engorgement issues as it's harder for your body to regulate supply when there's not a baby at the breast.
I went on to breastfeed directly my eldest for 3 1/2 years my younger is still at 18 months so in those terms it did work but it was hard hard work to get there. I was so relived when they could just be stuck on the breast!
If you still plan to I would seriously recommend hiring a hospital pump, anything less for more than a few weeks I don't think is sustainable if you're planning to use it exclusively.
A good bra is also essential and sterilising equipment.
Please don't worry about not knowing if their getting enough though, weight gain and screaming will let you know if theres a problem.

I am pumping exclusivly for dc5, ( well she's 7 months now so does have some food and will take water, but only had breastmilk up till 6 months) I never expected to be able to not use formula from 10 days, I started feeding directly when she was born by c section, then I gave her a bit of formula prob 1 bottle a day until 10 days when I swapped to just breastmilk, I managed to build a big freezer store and keep some fresh in the fridge, it's worked really well for me, I take my pumps everywhere and it's never been a problem, pumping through the night is hard though, this is where Netflix is your friend as obv it takes twice as long that ff or bf, I exclusivly ff dd1, then with dd2, ds, and dd3 I did the same as with dd4, but they all had formula from about 8/10/12 weeks respectively, I have never had a supply as good as this time, it can work

Meant to add I had no reason to pump then feed from a bottle, babies all born at 38+ weeks with no problems! I just prefer bottle feeding! but wanted them to have my milk! most people think I'm mental

Thankyou SlinkyB , I should also apologise for assuming you meant me. I obviously missed the post you were referring to and wound up making assumptions myself. It's been a long day!!

This is my life right now. DD lost a lot of weight when we came home from hospital (and I mean A LOT) from me not getting the knack of BFing right and we ended up back in hosp with her being v poorly.

Rock and a hard place for me atm - I can express loads now, but when I put her on to BF she just doesn't take enough at all and won't settle, which results in my giving her my expressed milk anyway.

We did this through medical necessity. I'd echo what all the others say. Worst of both worlds and BLOODY hard work. Worth it for us in the long run as we did manage to BF in th long run thanks to a lot of help.

I did for 5 months due to severe tongue tie.

I expressed onto a teaspoon to start with and then to bottles. Get a double pump. It is hard and gruelling and I envied my breast feeding friends greatly as there was no alarm setting and lots of freedom.

It is such hard work. I could actually cry reading some of these responses. I wish she'd take to the breast but even now I've just tried and she won't. I'm not precious about FF but it feels like such a waste when I've got the supply here and ready.

Hi, I did this for six months due to possible tongue tie and a lot of pain unless using shields. Not straight from birth as I tried from the breast for several days and had to supplement on formula due to jaundice but I very quickly got into the swing of things and formula was gone quickly save emergencies or busy days.

I didn't steralise the pump or bottles every three hours. I did both once a day. Breast milk is sterile (I was told) though obviously it does go off.

My advice is to accept that it will be very time consuming and that feeds may take up to twice as long. At night I'd have films to watch so that I could feed then express and then sleep. Quickly, you'll be able to feed and express. This will help when baby wakes up every two hours.

You will know if your baby is getting enough but I understand why you'd want to see the amount baby takes. As time goes on and you become more comfortable this may change.

Good luck.

I admire all mothers who express exclusively

I found it difficult and time consuming to express the few times I did for ds so dh could feed him when I wasnt around. I couldn't imagine doing it for every feed

If you really want to do it get the best pump you can find, invest in a time efficient steriliser and the easiest storage bags etc and start recruiting those family members who want to help with feeding now so you have the extra support you will most certainly need.