Exclusively expressing

[Michy]

Just wondered if there were any other mums out there giving all LOs feeds from expressed breast milk and if so how are you coping?

I've been expressing from day 5, had wanted to breast feed, but a combination of a v. traumatic birth, emergency section, reaction to pain meds (was hallucinating and being sick), anaemia and totally flat nipples meant that Alfie was bottle fed in hospital for 5 days and so wouldn't latch on to me.

I didn't have the mental strength or energy to keep trying, so I decided to hire a medela double pump and try expressing. To start with I could only produce 2 feeds a day, but now I produce all his feeds (8x120mls) each day.

I pump every 2-3 hours, for around 15 - 20 mins.

I'd really like to increase my supply, so any tips from anyone would be fab!

 

[XKatX]

Wow, that sounds like hard work! Well done you for sticking with it. I've heard Fenugreek (?sp) is supposed to be really good. Otherwise, I know that the doctor can prescribe things to help. Have you tried talking to him or your HV about it?
Keep up the good work you! x x

 

[XKatX]

Ooh, ooh - I'm on a roll now! I was told recently, to keep pumping for another 10 minutes after your milk has stopped. This encourages the breast to produce more milk. hard work to start with, but worth it!

 

[smartie]

I exclusively expressed for 10 weeks from week 4 as i found it too painful to put LO on me any longer. I too bought a medela electric pump but found I could express manually just as fast and quieter! (no noisy pumping noise, lol).

I did find it quite time consuming but as it meant my daughter could get Mummy's milk for longer I didnt mind doing it. I was able to express a 7oz bottle in under 30 mins.

I eventually went back to getting my daughter to latch on for night and morning feeds and am still doing the morning feed.

 

[Michy]

Ooh, ooh - I'm on a roll now! I was told recently, to keep pumping for another 10 minutes after your milk has stopped. This encourages the breast to produce more milk. hard work to start with, but worth it!

I try to do this once a day!

thanks x

 

[Michy]

Wow, that sounds like hard work! Well done you for sticking with it. I've heard Fenugreek (?sp) is supposed to be really good. Otherwise, I know that the doctor can prescribe things to help. Have you tried talking to him or your HV about it?
Keep up the good work you! x x

Have spoken to HV she just said rest and eat lots!!!!!!!!!

hmm easier said than done!!!

 

[milliemeg]

have been expressing for 2 weeks now just because Amelia was getting fustrated at the boob and with the combination of pumping every 2 hrs and when the milk stops pump for a further 10mins and taking fenugreek were on a roll as well she still has the odd BF if were out and theres no where to heat EBM

we were still BF through the night but she was waking every 2 hours as she wasnt getting enough she never drains the boob think shes too lazy lol to get the last dregs out

so we switched to bottles and she now wakes once a night and she downs 5oz at 5am and it doesnt take to long to make up either brought an avent IQ bottle warmer and it takes 2 mins to warm up 5oz

I luckly have a really nice HV she said what ever works in your house is fine with her where as the other HV is against everything and said i should try and keep going with BF even if she was screaming after every hour!!

Gem x

 

[pennysbored]

I am expressing 95% of Betty's feeds too.
You also need to make sure you are totally hydrated.
I was prescribed domperidone to help increase my supply, it worked a bit, but the best thing I could come up with was just keeping it up, really.
I'll have to try the whole pumping longer than i need to, it does sound obnoxious, but I'll try anything.
Errr...I was given some off the record advice from a nurse, too. Have a Guinness. Just one, mind you, but some say its helps, and it also has tonnes of iron in there. Like I say, that was off the record advice, but from a good source.

 

[helen1234]

your story is exactly the same as mine, emergency c section, i had 2 blood transfusions etc etc. i dreaded feeding him after 5 days he made y nipples sore and screamed when i put him near me. so i exclusively express i have a twim medela and try to pump every 3 hrs at least the more you pump the better apparently and having 6 weeks stuck in the house not able to drive makes it easier to find time so trying to get a stock but he's drinking 4oz every 3 to 4 hours he's 13 days old... i heard fennel tea helps and not letting yourself get engorged as then the brain thinks baby doesnt need so much hence starts reduction in milk making.
i'm goin to do it till i physically or mentally cant do it anymore.
xx

 

[Michy]

Helen we are in very similar situations! I read that you shouldn't ever leave more than 5-6 hours between pumps as then your breasts will be full and will send messages back to brain to lower production. If I am having a bad day I just make sure I never leave it more than 5 hours. Sometimes I have really good days and manage to fit 12 pumps in 24hrs, but some days you just can't!

 

[Neecee]

I'm SO glad I this thread is here. Kai is only 7 days old but he has COMPLETELY butchered my nipples to the point where they are cracked and bleeding and even the thought of him latching on brought me to tears. I'm now expressing as I want to make sure he gets the good stuff any way he can and as I have a manual pump, I have some sort of control over how hard the sucking is. I can get about 5-6oz from each breast in one session, but I have to douse my nipples in olive oil and breast milk after as they are still very sore.

I was feeling really bad about not being able to feed him directly from the breast, and the midwife who visited me on saturday told me not to use the bottle as he'd forget how to suck a nipple and wouldn't latch on again. I felt really crap and under a lot of pressure after she told me that but my mum, who is a Health Visitor said she shouldn't have said that to me and that babies don't forget how to suck, as long as he is actually getting the breast milk, that's the main thing and I need to look after myself and make sure my nipples get some good healing time in between pumps.

I'm really glad I read this girls, I have been feeling a bit tearful over the whole thing, but I feel a lot better now.

 

[Michy]

Awww Neece, I so know how you feel. You are getting really good milk production hun, I only get that in the mornings, the rest of the day I get around 3oz from each boobie.

Alfie wont latch onto me at all, as he has had bottles from 1 hour old, when he downed nearly 80mls!

I set myself small targets, like my next one is to express till he is 2 months, I'll probably go way longer than this, but this is my next milestone!

I bet if you get yourself a good electric pump you'll get even more off! I have hired a medela symphony.