expressed milk only no breastfeeding?

[Mooin1987]

My lil one is 4days ok and feed ok after birth but is lazy to latch on, so she was topped up with formula.. Now my breastmilk is In and pumping is going well, still give her the odd boob feed but usually its expressed milk in bottles.... Could this be done exclusively with out breastfeeding? Xx

 

[Ashley8806]

It can but it's a lot of work and time consuming. There is a thread at the top of the forum about exclusively pumping that might help you

 

[Baby Love]

Ditto to what Ashley8806 was saying - it is possible but a lot of work. I've been exclusively pumping now for over 3 months and it takes up so much time and effort. If you'd like to ask me anything feel free...I don't know everything but would be glad to try and help!

 

[pachamama]

Yep. I'm somehow still going 15 months later. But as others have said - it's alot of work in the early days to get your milk supply established.

You really need to mimic a newborn feeding schedule, which means pumping every couple of hours or so during the day and at least once at night (maybe even more at the beginning).

Most of the details should be found in the "Ins and Outs of Exclusively Expressing" stickie above, as someone else has said but I'd also be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Oh and by the way, if there's anyway at all that you can establish breastfeeding, I'd definitely do that. Exclusively expressing is waaaaaaay more time consuming. If I could have breastfed, I absolutely would have.

x

 

[lilbeanfolk]

Ditto to what Ashley8806 was saying - it is possible but a lot of work. I've been exclusively pumping now for over 3 months and it takes up so much time and effort. If you'd like to ask me anything feel free...I don't know everything but would be glad to try and help!

I have been doing this since birth as lo will not latch and screams bloody murder whenever I try. She was checked for tongue tie and has a little but not enough to do anything about. Can I ask why you all are doing it?

 

[PugMama22]

Yep. I'm somehow still going 15 months later. But as others have said - it's alot of work in the early days to get your milk supply established.

You really need to mimic a newborn feeding schedule, which means pumping every couple of hours or so during the day and at least once at night (maybe even more at the beginning).

Most of the details should be found in the "Ins and Outs of Exclusively Expressing" stickie above, as someone else has said but I'd also be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Oh and by the way, if there's anyway at all that you can establish breastfeeding, I'd definitely do that. Exclusively expressing is waaaaaaay more time consuming. If I could have breastfed, I absolutely would have.

x

how often do you pump now?

 

[lisaf]

I agree with attempting to establish BFing if possible/desired. Its SO much easier. I really grew to hate my pump after just a couple months of exclusively expressing.
We had a lot of latching issues and it took just about every resource available to me in my area to get established on the breast.

Now that I'm back at work, I pump 4 times a day (I had a great supply/over-supply though). I BF 1-2 times a day during the week then on the weekend I move to almost exclusively BFing.

Most babies are extremely sleepy/lazy on the boob at first. Its a really really common issue. As long as they are gaining weight and having enough wet diapers though, its usually fine and just a frustration for the parents.

 

[Baby Love]

I agree with attempting to establish BFing if possible/desired. Its SO much easier. I really grew to hate my pump after just a couple months of exclusively expressing.
We had a lot of latching issues and it took just about every resource available to me in my area to get established on the breast.

Now that I'm back at work, I pump 4 times a day (I had a great supply/over-supply though). I BF 1-2 times a day during the week then on the weekend I move to almost exclusively BFing.

Most babies are extremely sleepy/lazy on the boob at first. Its a really really common issue. As long as they are gaining weight and having enough wet diapers though, its usually fine and just a frustration for the parents.

I know what you mean, I pump 5 times a day and there are times that I wish I could throw my pump out the window! My LO had a great latch and then after about two weeks it all went pear shaped. I don't think there's any going back now; I'll be stuck pumping for the next while

 

[pachamama]

Yep. I'm somehow still going 15 months later. But as others have said - it's alot of work in the early days to get your milk supply established.

You really need to mimic a newborn feeding schedule, which means pumping every couple of hours or so during the day and at least once at night (maybe even more at the beginning).

Most of the details should be found in the "Ins and Outs of Exclusively Expressing" stickie above, as someone else has said but I'd also be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Oh and by the way, if there's anyway at all that you can establish breastfeeding, I'd definitely do that. Exclusively expressing is waaaaaaay more time consuming. If I could have breastfed, I absolutely would have.

x

how often do you pump now?

Now I only pump twice a day. Approx 8 in the morning and 7 at night. I get about 12-14 oz's a day, which is a little more than he drinks now... so I've got a slowly growing freezer stash too.

x

 

[Mooin1987]

Wow read thread at top of page... And exclusive pumping only seems so much hard work! The ladies on here that do it for over a year are amazing! Had my 5day appointment 2day and she's only lost 5% which is great so I much b doing something right, at the moment I am feeding through the day and using expressed milk at night and if we go out.

is ok to mix breastfeeding and expressing from the beggining this won't effect milk flow etc will it? X

 

[lisaf]

it may affect supply, it depends on your body. Some women make enough milk to have enough flexibility like that. Some need to pump/feed every 3 hours or else their supply does not get high enough.
Prolactin levels are higher at night, so you make more milk at night, so skipping a night pump/feed could hurt your supply. The first 6 weeks are the most important in establishing your supply, after that you often have more lee-way.

Anytime your breasts feel uncomfortably full , it sends a signal to your body to make less milk (takes a few days to kick in). So as long as you aren't getting uncomfortably full, your body might not suffer supply-wise.

You can totally express and mix breastfeeding from the start, it might cause nipple confusion for some but others have no problem. Use a slow flow bottle nipple so your LO doesn't find it easier to use the bottle and start to prefer it.
You should pump any time your LO feeds though whenever possible. I mean stuff happens, but try not to make it a very regular thing that you skip pumping for a long period of time.