Switching from breast to expressing

[knk2011]

My little boy is almost 5 days old. I know this is early, but I am considering switching to expressing milk. I already have an electric pump on order which is arriving on Tuesday.

What is the best way I can wean him?
I would do it gradually of course, or maybe even combine the two. I just need some advice/tips

I can't explain it, but I just feel like this is the right thing for us.

 

[missk1989]

I dont think it matters too much as long as you are pumping regularly to keep up your supply. Combining the two might be a great idea as you wouldnt have to get bottles ready to take out but coul use them at home.

 

[knk2011]

I dont think it matters too much as long as you are pumping regularly to keep up your supply. Combining the two might be a great idea as you wouldnt have to get bottles ready to take out but coul use them at home.

how regularly do you think I would need to pump?
I'm thinking it would be ideal so that my partner can share the night feeds, I can also take bottles with me if I go out somewhere where I may have no where to feed.

 

[CatherineK]

Just remember Hun, at this age you would still have to pump every 2-3 hours minimum to build supply, even during the night. Basically, as often as he's eating you would need to pump. So it's doable, but a lot more work than direct feeding, especially if you don't wish to supplement. It can take a while to train your body to pump, so just be aware of that. Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

[fieryphoenix]

I would strongly as advise you to wait until baby is older before exclusively pumping, a pump is a poor subsitute for lo nursing. It's harder to build your supply with a pump and a lot more work! If you want to ep then you have to pump everytime the baby eats, at least in the beginning. Overnights are especially important as the milk producing hormones are higher. There is a sticky about pumping if you decide you want to pursue it.

 

[nabo86]

don't do it yet!!! i tried it when DD was about a week old when BF was too painful and its an awful lot of hard work, especially during the night...

at this age you will have to pump about every 2 hours to establish your milk supply - when she wakes you will have to feed your daughter, pump milk and then sterilise everything before you can go back to bed, by the time you have done all that she will be awake to do the whole thing again!

i have pumped to let my DH do the late night feed so i can go to bed a bit earlier but BF is definitely easier during the night

 

[seaweed eater]

If it's right for you, I think you've gotten good advice (and definitely check out the sticky). But it is so much work and so time consuming. If BF is going well for you, I would stick it out for just a little longer.

 

[knk2011]

Today my nipples seem to have toughened up. I'm going to try and stick it out. But thanks for the advice, at least ill be prepared should it take a turn for the worst.

 

[cat lover]

to be honest it is a HELL of a commitment, if direct bf is going well i would truly carry on

 

[Pielette]

Honestly if you can grit your teeth and bear it, it will get so much easier. I akmost cried every time my baby latched at first but we got to about two weeks in and it was a hundred times better. My nipples are pretty used to it now.

 

[seaweed eater]

Glad to hear it. That first week is really tough on the nipples but things could turn around any day now. Hang in there

 

[knk2011]

Things are getting better. I can feed with much less pain now. Yesterday I broke into tears every time he fed and I found myself making excuses to put it off longer which is obviously not good for him.

Now that he's emptying my breast with each feed it makes them much more comfortable afterward and I've started to feel more than happy to feed him on demand.

They should warn you about how intense the pain can be in antenatal classes though. Rather than making it sound like a piece of cake lol

 

[CatherineK]

It can be a real pain for the first few weeks, but believe me, it gets so better if you can get through it. It's like pregnancy, it can be very rough but it's sooooo worth it in the end!