Expressing From 1st Day

[Wobbles]

Is it possible just to express from first day or is your milk supply not good enough!

With Caitlin I had NO milk nothing in pregnancy nothing after her birth ZILCH

 

[Margerle]

It's possible for women who are successful at expressing. The problem arises when women (like me) have an awful time expressing. Baby is designed to pull milk of breasts which are designed to be suckled. So for some reason, when I hook up a machine to me I just "clam up".

A friend of mine turned me on to the Avent Isis and I can at least get 4 or 5 ounces pulled off every couple days for storage. I would never be able to get that off with my $300 Medela.

Now, I know that my baby gets 5-7 ounces every feed because of what she eats when we go out, or when I'm away from her. She's in the 90th percentile for height and weight so I know she's thriving.

I mentioned all this because I didn't leak during my pregnancy, nor really afterward.

It can take up to ten days for your milk to properly come in, so I wouldn't expect to be able to pump much prior to then. Maybe be in touch with good lactation consultants...you can establish a repor with them and have a proactive plan if you should still have issues with this baby.

 

[Emmea12uk]

i expressed every 4 hours after giving birth right from the word go until tom was well enough to feed and i got literally 5 mls a time off until my milk came through 5 days later. then only ever got a max of 80mls off per time

 

[claire1983]

You only make colostrum in the first few days which is a very thick yellow coloured fluid - there is only a small amount of this substance and can get lost in the tubes of most hospital or electric pumps - its is much better to let your baby suckle for the first few days until your milk supply comes in between day 3 and day 5. Plus it will confuse your baby if you give expressed milk from a bottle as the attachment is different for bottles and the breast and you may find you have big problems later with attachment - I would only reccommend expressing this early with premature babies that are in special care.

 

[cherylanne]

Why are you thinking of expressing the milk instead of putting baby onto the breast? You would get more of a suuply if baby was feeding from the breast for at least 10 days prior to expressing.

 

[ColtonsMom]

I didn't think I was ever going to get mine..
didn't plan on BFing though so wasn't worried about it.. although I had hoped it would because I'm debating whether I want to BF the next one (probably will for first few weeks and then just express.. I think I'd feel more comfortable expressing, but ya' never know!)
However, about 1-1.5 weeks after he was born.. I thought he threw up on me.. alittle while later (and not holding him) the spot got bigger!

 

[Wobbles]

Why are you thinking of expressing the milk instead of putting baby onto the breast? You would get more of a suuply if baby was feeding from the breast for at least 10 days prior to expressing.

Choice ...what I am personally comfortable with so wondering if this is an option (my original question).

 

[Emmea12uk]

i think the answer to your question is yes - but it is more tiring and your supply will dry up. if you bf for a few weeks first, you will be much more successful.

instead of just putting baby to breast, you have to steralise your pump, pump for 30 mins, then bottle feed. that takes 1.5 hours and doing that every 3 hours drove me nuts!!

 

[cherylanne]

Why are you thinking of expressing the milk instead of putting baby onto the breast? You would get more of a suuply if baby was feeding from the breast for at least 10 days prior to expressing.

Choice ...what I am personally comfortable with so wondering if this is an option (my original question).

I asked because sometimes women need to express because baby can't latch e.g due to inverted nipple and other problems, this would make it harder for you to express also. There should be no reason why you can't express. I would suggest that you start expressing as soon as possible after baby is born to build up your supply. There are plenty of women that have done with great success. Good luck when the time comes xx

 

[Rachel]

With Nathan I expressed using a pump in the hospital because he wouldn't suck and got quite abit out so it is possible, but hard work.

With Kieran I just let him breastfeed direct from me and when I tried expressing at around 5 weeks I got hardly anything out so I suppose it just depends

 

[Wobbles]

Its one of these that you don't know til your there then really! Humph!

I had nothing through pregnancy or after birth as far as leaing went ...not a drop of any milk showing! At the time nobody appeared to relate to this & has always worried me.

Thanks for your answers girls x