Breastfeeding vs expressing

[Angel2018]

I’m 38 weeks pregnant and in a real dilemma about how to feed my baby. I’ve bought some ready made formula but would really like to try and breastfeed/express feed but worried about it not working out. With my two previous babies I’ve fed them formula so breastfeeding is new to me. Just want to find out how all you ladies got on with breastfeeding for the first time? Did you breastfeed only or did you express also?

Hi, I've been breastfeeding my first.
Had no experience or family with experience beforehand. The first 2 weeks were really hard - first baby didn't latch properly and then it was quite painful/sore. What really helped me was the community midwife who came round and sat through an entire feed, and the local breastfeeding support group where i went with baby at 9 days who showed me how to properly hold the baby for a good latch. After that, everything went uphill.

Breastfeeding may work out without issues but I can only advise informing yourself beforehand, good positions for baby and after birth getting advice from breastfeeding support group asap. Oh, and getting a good nipple cream- Lansinoh is good.

Didn't express, but am pregnant again and want to express as well as breastfeed this time (expressing is recommended once milk supply is established after 6-8 weeks i think) to give me some time off!

For advice you can also join breastfeeding FB groups, they can be quite helpful and are very supportive.

I really wanted my baby to have breastmilk but didn't get on with breastfeeding and really didn't want the extra stress of it while dealing with a newborn, so I exclusively express. Baby solely has breastmilk but out of a bottle. It's hard work but another option if you aren't sure what you want to do.

I breastfed with dc it took a while for my milk to 'come in' and I was hand pumping colostrum in to syringes at the beginning (no one told me about this).

At the hospital I was encouraged to give one ready made bottle to my baby too. As he hadn't fed in a while and to keep his weight up. I don't regret this but I know many disagree with nurses advising this. I hope the above just gives a flavour of what it might be like very early on.

Essentially I mixed fed a bit then went to mostly breastfeeding until dc went to nursery. Where we mix fed again. I did try pumping and did feed from a frozen stash but pumping takes a while to do, and I couldn't manage it with work.

I found breastfeeding for the first 6 weeks tough, and then after that it became something we were both used to and loved. The convenience of it was pretty appealing - I didn't need to wash and sterilise bottles, and could just feed her as and when I needed to. Those first weeks can be really challenging but if you can get the right support, hopefully after time to adjust you'll be flying. I really recommend you find a breastfeeding support group near you and (if you can afford to) look into getting an home visit from an IBCLC (lactation consultant) - I did the latter when my DD was a week old and it was an absolute game changer!

Anyway, I ended up absolutely loving breastfeeding, for the bond it helped us build, the convenience, the health benefits etc. We're still going at 15 months (only to feed to sleep really now mind!). I wouldn't change it, even when it was difficult and really testing at times.

It's absolutely different courses for different horses - we're all in different situations and at the end of the day, the most important thing is what works best for you, baby and your family good luck!

I breast fed DS5 and plan on breastfeeding our next DC. I'm 30 weeks now. Also have lots of friends who've breastfed. General consensus is it's really hard and painful for the first 2 weeks, but usually (not always) works out after that and if it does is the easiest, cheapest way to feed your baby.

Expressing is an option (and one I would consider if breast feeding didn't work out this time) but doing it regularly is really time consuming on top of the time you'll already be spending feeding your baby.

I've breastfed both my children for different amounts of time. 4 months and currently at 15 months with the youngest.

The early days can be hard. I found latch and things tricky both times. Plus breast milk digests quicker and so baby can feed more frequently. They can also cluster feed while very small and during growth spurts. I didn't know this with my eldest and thought I wasn't making enough milk.
Feeding on demand can be really demanding while they're tiny but that settles down.

I'd get as prepared as possible. There's some brilliant Facebook groups which helped me loads or there may be a breastfeeding group locally to you and they are for pregnant women too. A couple of health visitors at the clinics basically kept me going in the early days second time round by helping me with latch issues and pointing out a potential allergy.

I haven't exclusively pumped though some women do and I take my hat off to them as I imagine it's really hard work. I think it has to be done very regularly to keep supply up plus that and cleaning equipment etc must be really full on in the early days. They recommend that you don't start pumping until after 6 weeks so your supply settles. This might be different if you solely pump. Hopefully someone who's experienced in this will comment. I have pumped small amounts so dad can feed while I was out or when I went back to work but I havent done that for months. I mainly used a suction type pump like a naturebond while feeding on the opposite side. My dc only feeds 1 maybe 2 times a day now. Plus a fair bit at night.

If I were to have another child I'd definitely want to breastfeed again. Although a few hurdles at the beginning it's been fuss free since.

Seek out bf support in your area now, their maybe peer supporters, and a bf group. Le leche league and the national child birth trust and association of breast feeding mothers may have pople operating in your area who can give support and advice. I think knowledge really is power. The more you know def helps. I mean I had a child in scbu trying to get bf established 1 nurse says get child on 4hr feeding plan. Well I knew this would be wrong for bf preemie, next nurse says come in and feed on demand. Yes she was the one to listen to.

I love breastfeeding, it's the best bond and so easy after initially working it all out. Always on tap. Join breastfeeding yummy mummy's on Facebook, fab group. Very supportive

Thank you for all your advice ladies. I have an appointment with the midwife on Monday I will have a little chat with her about it and join one of the Facebook groups too. It’s good to hear so many have managed to stick with it as so many people I know never get beyond 2/3 weeks because of baby not latching on or not producing enough milk. Everybody is different I know but just wanted to hear some positive stories.