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Original poster

How is everyone feeding baby?

84 replies

Hayleyandbaby · 07/10/2007 13:25

I know breast is best but I also know breast feeding is not for me. I'm going to bottle feed in the hospital and when I get out I'm going to express. Everytime I feed the baby I have to express rather than doing it just morning and night or else my milk will stop. I think it's going to be hard work but I really think it's the way forward.

Is anyone else doing this? Or how are you feeding yours? Does my way sound ok or silly?

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Original poster
Hayleyandbaby · 07/10/2007 13:51

Ok, good. I've been really determined from the beginning but everyone keeps saying it's a stupid idea and to just bottle feed. So I'm starting to believe it. I don't mind that it's time consuming as I have a very demanding job but I'll be off work for the first 6 months after baby's born and I want to atleast try it until it's 6 months, and then I can maybe move to just bottle feeding.
Now one person has said it's feasable I'll stick at it. As there's only me and the midwife who has said it up until now.

I do understand it will be a lot of work.

OP posts:
calebsmum · 07/10/2007 13:54

Hayley, whereabouts in the UK are you?? I'm a breastfeeding counsellor and if your anywhere near me i'd be more than happy to help. If not will try and post some links that could help. Don't give up! It's difficult the first few weeks when everything hurts but it is possible to express feed. You can express when baby is sleeping then freeze it for when you need it.

belgo · 07/10/2007 13:54

A friend of mine expressed milk for six months. So yes, it is possible.

Another friend of mine expressed for a week, meaning that her newborn got the important colostrum milk, then she went onto bottle feeding as she found expressing hard.

notnowbernard · 07/10/2007 13:55

It will be really hard work... but good luck if that's what you decide to do.

There is a lovely thread at the moment on breast feeding (it's got a youtube video of a woman giving her baby its 1st breast feed).

Will try and find it

notnowbernard · 07/10/2007 13:57

Look under Breast and Bottle Feeding: Another video to make us go AAh...

Sorry can't do links!

Original poster
Hayleyandbaby · 07/10/2007 14:02

Ok I've been thinking about it. My DP was trying to encourage me to breastfeed in the hospital before starting expressing if I need to when we get home. I was in two minds as to whether to start by bottle feeding or breast feeding before expressing. The general opinion seems to be to breast feed first. So I will, if it is benefitial to my baby. I don't think it will bother me too much in the hospital as I'll be settled and have time to get used to it.

Thanks to everyone who gave positive points of view.

Atleast now I know what my options are, and how important it is to breast feed.

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Original poster
Hayleyandbaby · 07/10/2007 14:04

Calebsmum- I'm in Cumbria. I would like to just get over myself and breast feed and I'm really hoping that's what I'll feel i want to do when baby's born, but I just don't know if it will happen.

R u anywhere near me?

OP posts:
Flamesparrow · 07/10/2007 14:06

Oh a supportive DP is half the battle

JackieNo · 07/10/2007 14:09

I expressed every feed for about 4 months because I was having problems getting DD latched on - so it definitely is possible. I think like anything to do with having a baby, until it's there, it's really difficult to know how you'll feel about things, so I'm so glad you can keep an open mind and give all the options a try.

Habbibu · 07/10/2007 14:14

Hayley - really well done for keeping an open mind. It is hard to get over hangups, but for breastfeeding it is definitely worth a try. I actually HATED the idea of breastfeeding before I had my baby, but it is a pretty amazing experience. Also, in public, you can get really good at being discreet, and generally once you've had the baby, he/she is so cute that no-one gives YOU a second glance! Good luck.

belgo · 07/10/2007 14:15

Support is crucial whether you bf or express - a good bfing counsellor (I think you can contact one form the National Childbirth Trust?) will be able to help you, and support from your partner. It sounds like a good plan to try and bf in hospital for the first few days, then if that doesn't work out, then express.

StrawberryMartini · 07/10/2007 14:20

Expressing is v hard work, but it is possible. I expressed for a year. Produced over 500 litres of bm, expressed over 2000 times.

In the beginning you have to express every 2 hours including during the night - I did a pump at 2am until ds was 6 months.

At 12 weeks your supply is established and you can slowly start to drop pumps.

You need a double electric pump - nothing else will come close. You'll need an empty freezer - I had to buy a second one. I hired my pump for £30 a month.

It's v v hard work. If you want your baby to have bm then PLEASE try bf. Even if you bf at home and feed expressed milk when you are out, it will be a lot easier. I only expressed because I had so many problems bf and am determined to bf for my next baby.

You have to have the determination of an ox to exclusively express, and tbh it doesn't sound like you will last the distance.

Having said that, any bm that your baby gets is fab!

notnowbernard · 07/10/2007 14:22

Strawberry Martini : WOW

pistachio · 07/10/2007 14:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bobsmum · 07/10/2007 14:28

Hayley - you're on my antenatal thread - hello!!

As 32G girl when not breastfeeding - I totally get your fears. When I had ds I was sure I would suffocate him with my enormous norks - I went up to a 32 J! But I didn't and I also very quickly learned the art of breastfeeding without anyone noticing. I had ds at 25. I'm a bit confused why your
age has anything to do with it though .

It's actually loads easier with big boobs! I've seen mums with teeny tiny A cup boobs having to lift the baby right up to collar bone height to reach their breasts and exposing their whole tum.

But with big boobs you just snuggle baby in to you and baby has more to get hold of. Then I would pull enough of my top back down so that baby's head was covering everything. If necessary I would put a muslin cloth across my waist in case any jelly belly was showing.

I also couldn't afford to bottle feed - it's on average an extra £500 a year on bottles/formula/sterilising. I guess it depends whether money is an issue.

I expressed a lot with ds (I believed it was necessary to boost my supply, but have since seen the light) and it was a total pain in the arse and the boobs. I got mastitis repeatedly and spent forever in the shower unblocking blocked milk ducts. I screwed up my supply big time, because I ended up making enough milk for at least 8 babies instead of 1. Very,very painful - I was very ill advised.

I gave it 3 weeks, then a few more, then a few more and eventually fed ds for 17 months and dd for 22 months! I come from a staunchly pro-bottle family who were rather shocked at first, but are now supportive - just like my maaahoooosive nursing bras

I'll stalk you on the antenatal threads and keep telling you lovely positive stories I am a very friendly stalker though

I've been more paranoid about my expansive tum than my boobs tbh

chipmonkey · 07/10/2007 14:37

You can also get breastfeeding tops which cover your tummy and have tiny openings for feeding. A lot of people don't bother with them but I think they're good if you're shy about feeding.

Original poster
Hayleyandbaby · 07/10/2007 14:43

Thanks Pistachio.

Bobsmum- finally someone with big boobs who can understand!! I'm very impressed you had the courage to bf!! I'm becoming more open to it by the minute- I actually don't know anyone who's breastfed apart from one friend who had to stop because she had no milk.
I suppose i could hide my tummy and breast so that I don't feel self conscious.

I just don't want my baby to miss out just because I've got hang ups.

Feel free to stalk me on the ante-natal thread, I think with a little encouragement I may end up opting to breast feed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hayleyandbaby · 07/10/2007 14:44

Chipmonkey- brilliant! I might be able to get some online. I'll have a look. Thanx

OP posts:
moondog · 07/10/2007 14:47

Hi Hayley.
It's lovely that some of your worries are being aired and problem solved.

It's true,expressing exclusively is a vast amount of work.
Most of the time I breastfed in public,people didn't even know i was doing it and I'm fairly buxom.

Best of luck with your pregnancy.

moondog · 07/10/2007 14:47

Hi Hayley.
It's lovely that some of your worries are being aired and problem solved.

It's true,expressing exclusively is a vast amount of work.
Most of the time I breastfed in public,people didn't even know i was doing it and I'm fairly buxom.

Best of luck with your pregnancy.

pistachio · 07/10/2007 14:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jennifersofia · 07/10/2007 14:53

Well done you for even considering it although you find it a difficult concept. You could always give it a go a few times and see how you get on. It is an amazing thing to look at a chunky little baby and think "I did that!". I used to have a lightweight shawl/pashmina thingy that I would just drape over my shoulder and baby so baby was shielded, and so was I. I would drape and then put baby to breast.

chipmonkey · 07/10/2007 15:01

Hayley, mamanana, Breastfeeding Heaven.

prufrock · 07/10/2007 15:13

hayley

I had 32FF before pregnancy - whilst bf went up to a massive 34M and I bf both my kids until they self weaned at 11 months (including feeding morning and night and expressing other feeds fro dd when I wnet back to work when she was 4 months)

As somebody else said, I thought that if I'd had to carry around these huge appendages all my life I may as well get some use out of them! And I wasn't at selfless as you - whilst I did want to give my babies teh best start, I also wanted to bf because it is considerably easier ot be able to whip ot a boob than it it is to faff with bottles.

And when we say whip out a boob, we don't mean you actually have to get anything out on show. I bf in public loads and I don't think anyone ever saw flesh. If you wear a bf bra, then a strappy top, then your normal top, you can lift up your top top (IYSWIM) and hoick boob out above the strappy top, then undo bra, thus creating minimal exosed flesh. And muslins/scarves can be easily used to provide even more coverage.

prufrock · 07/10/2007 15:18

Big boobs (IMO) made bf easier. At home I where I could let it all hang out I used to be able to put my baby on a cusion on my lap and feed without having to hold them. So both hands were free for magazine holding/remote control operation. And at night I could lie down with my baby next to me on the bed and feed whilst half asleep.

I wouldn't want you to feel pressured by all our advice, but if you want to, bf can be done with big boobs, and would be so much easier for you (on a practical level) than expressing or formula feeding.