Just wondering

[Dizzy20]

Can you express breast milk and out it straight in a bottle from birth or does baby have to go on your boob I want to breastfeed my second child but I'd rather just put the milk into a bottle ? I have ages yet but just wondering need to know what to buy etc in next few months... Xxx

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Hi Dizzy20

I'd contact either the Breastfeeding Network or LaLeche League for advice, but premature babies are often fed expressed breast milk. However, one reason they encourage breast feeding early on is to help with the bonding process and reduce the risk of post partum depression. So, I think it's better to talk to the experts and decide from there. There's an article here on NCT about it and they recommend establishing breastfeeding direct first, but the article's mainly about expressing/storing breast milk safely rather than when you can start.

nct.org.uk/parenting/feedin...

You can also call NCT on 0300 330 0700 and speak to a breast feeding counsellor who can advise you.

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I'm pretty sure you can bottle feed newborns with expressed milk rather than breastfeed, based on the fact that some people donate their milk to babies in NICUs and also people express if their LOs have tongue tie.

If you're using a pump, you won't be able to do so until your milk comes in, as colostrum is apparently too thick to express (but you may be able to hand express - I'm not sure).

If you're planning on breast and bottle feeding, you'll probably be advised not to introduce a bottle until breastfeeding is fully established, which is around 4-6 weeks X

[Choo]

I started breast feeding then expressed. Be prepared it is a lot harder to express then you may believe! It's good to breast feed first as it helps your milk to come in and let's your body know how much milk you need. I used an electrical pump, but I soon found the action to "mechanical". I then hired out the Mandela pump (available from mothercare and their site). It's hospital grade and is what you will use in hospital. It has a more natural action and is quicker. I wish I had hired this from the start. I was much more comfortable using this and it is not so noisey as other pumps. (U can still hear the TV !)

Your milk supply will slow down when pumping. I was only able to do it for 3 months. But it was nice for daddy to feed our baby in the early months. When he was home he fed our baby while I pumped. But it was difficult to keep on top of producing feeds while home alone.

Hope this helps

[Hidden]

I think you can hand express colostrum - my friend did it as her baby was premature. Although it's certainly not an easy option!! I also agree with Choo that expressing isn't always easy although it varies from person to person. I intended to express some milk so my husband or a babysitter could feed my lo in the evenings sometimes. But I didn't produce much milk when expressing - if I'd kept it up my body would have adapted but I didn't persevere because I didn't want to mess up my supply. Also baby was never keen on the bottle and the boob was much easier for us. So here we are at 9.5 months, still breastfeeding and she won't take a bottle! So I guess I'm saying it depends on your priorities and your individual circumstances as to what suits you. Establishing breastfeeding can be tricky to start with but after that it's so convenient - no sterilising bottles and pumping equipment etc, no delay when baby wants a feed. But for some people expressing might be what suits them. Definitely be a good idea to contact NCT breastfeeding councillors or La Leche League to talk through the options. Good luck.

[Mummy_Pandaa]

As a mum who expressed since day 8, I can say that it is one of the hardest feeding options out there. My son had latching issues, so it was the only way for me to give him breastmilk, and I was lucky enough to overproduce milk.

Feeding takes twice as long because you have to add expressing time, and that means that you have less time for yourself and chores. Also, expressing will never get out as much as a baby feeding from you will get, and this reduces your production faster. I have gone from getting 60oz a day out, to only getting out 10oz now, and my son is 23 weeks old.

I am not trying to discourage you, but it is very hard work to persevere, and very stressful.

[Hopeful15]

Hi Dizzy, I've got loads of questions like this too. I'm 16wks now. A friend recommended booking onto NCT ante natal courses in my local area. I went on their website and there are two types of courses essential which is 12hours and signature which is 17 hours. You go with your partner and there is a session on breastfeeding as well as all the other important bits about childbirth and early post natal care. They automatically booked me onto a women only post natal course nearby as well. When you make the enquiry you tell them your due date and they fit you in at beginning of 3rd trimester with other first time expectants due at same time as you so that you have a ready made team of newbies together. I've been advised to wait until then anyway before worrying about buying anything. (Altho I've been warned that prams can take up to 6 weeks to be delivered from some larger stores). NCT have nearly new shopping days as well for members and it gives you time to speak directly with other parents about what they've bought in preparation - and find who you can borrow from The courses do cost but I note there are reductions for lower wage earners and possibility of paying in instalments. For example hubby and I plumped for the longer signature course and it cost £165 between the two of us. The post natal course of 12 hours is £72. I feel a lot happier now knowing I'll get personalised training nearer the time along with my hubby.

[Lizzie13]

You can express milk (and colostrum) from birth and cup/spoon/bottle feed if you choose but, as many people on here have already said, it is hard work and time consuming. I've supported quite a few mums that have exclusively expressed but it is double the work.

Whatever you decide to do can be possible but its probably an idea to sit down and weigh up the pros and cons and think about why you want to solely express and bottle feed.

see if there's any BF groups near you and pop along to talk with a supporter. You can also call The Breastfeeding Network and talk through all of your options so you can make an Informed choice and do what works for you

[Lizzie13]

As hopeful 15 said you may be able to book onto an ante natal course. It depends where you live to whats avaliable. Lots of areas do the NCT courses which you pay for but lots of other areas do free ante natal courses run by children's centre staff, midwives, health visitors and infant feeding specialists. Ask your midwife to see whats available in your area x

[adeline123]

I hand expressed colostrum during first couple of days until milk came in, which I gave via a cup. I went to local breastfeeding support group weekly until feeding established. I have expressed breast milk to use in bottles and cups to help give me options for others to feed my baby. I made mistake of waiting too long before try to introduce the bottle, my little one refuses the bottle but is not so wary of cup.

My friend spent 6 months feeding her little one breastmilk from a bottle because her child was unable to latch on.she used 2 old nonwired bras with holes cut in the cups, and rented a hospital grade double pump in order to get the amount of milk required by her child. She found it hard to go anywhere as she was either feeding or pumping. Her husband works from home so helped her with day to day care of the child while she pumped. One example is that in the early days she would get up 1 hour prior to feeding to pump, feed for an hour then resettle baby, then wash and sterilise equipment even at night leaving her little time to sleep between feeds. This is a difficult feeding option(as a previous reply states) but it can be done if your baby allows.

Her child seemed to accept a feeding schedule,(not all do and for some feeding on strict schedules can be dangerous eg jaundice,low birth weight etc).

When she had built up a healthy supply of frozen milk her husband could night feed while she pumped so saving precious sleep time as nursing mothers need rest in order to produce milk.

She did not go out to many baby groups as she slept a lot in the day when not pumping, this left her isolated a bit from other new mums

I have found expressed breast milk via bottle or cup to be a supplement to breast feeding rather than a long term alternative.

I have a deep admiration for my friends dedication and commitment to giving her child the 6months exclusive breast milk feeding using only bottles that she did and wish you all the best with your decision.

[Viclet_terrier]

I expressed from birth with both my children as first point blank refused the breast despite 6 weeks of trying with the breast feeding team and my second being badly tongue tied. I managed for 8 weeks with both of them before changing to formula for my health really. I had to feed every 3 hours and to express enough each time was taking 1.5 hours so as you can imagine I was only catching under an hours sleep every 3, day and night and was mentally and physically exhausted. It is certainly not for the faint hearted but I am so pleased to have been able to do it. if either would take the breast I would have been overjoyed but sadly not. I would consider all your options as expressing is certainly not an 'easy' one but if like me you wanted to breast feed and were unable then it made it more bearable even if I wasn't to live with !!!! Good luck in whatever you choose but just be open minded as you never know what curve balls life will throw at you

[Dizzy20]

Think I may stick to bottle feeding like I did with my first sounds easier! Xxxx