Is 5 weeks too late to start?

[Arimeh]

well I pumped again at around 1-ish - and got 2.1 ml!!! woohoo!!! I actually saved that bit (put it in a sterilised bottle in the fridge) I did 10 mins both sides and got that - which I was impressed with, cos last night it was 20 mins on both sides (shower break in the middle though) for the 1 ml!!!

I'm pretty impressed that actual white milk is coming out... who wouda thunk it?

hehehehe

Thanks for all your support guys

ETA: Janie - yup she is used to a syringe cos thats what we give her wind drops with She's a star!!

[Janie]

WOOHOO Mel!!!!!!!! She is a star, and so are you!

Usually, less time, more frequently is a good thing when trying to build up supply.........and it's certainly better than sitting there for an hour at a time (Mind you, when i say 'less time' I don't mean 30 seconds LOL). So 10 minutes/side is probably adequate at this point

If you like, you can store the EBM in the syringe in the fridge, and before you give Mehkelti her bottle you can give her the EBM. As you express larger amounts, you'll be able to store it up for say, one feed a day. Hope I'm making sense!

Did you know you don't need to sterilise your pump? You might be aware already, but I know lots of women who think they do have to, so just thought I'd mention it

[Arimeh]

Really? cos it says in instructions to wash after every use - but sterilise once a day But it will be much easier if I don't have to!!!

hey if i store the syringe in the fridge and give it to her, would the coldness of it upset her belly at all?

[Nelle]

Mel, I tthink it's only formula that needs things to be sterilised...I'm slack with that sort of thing at the best of times though. Yaaaay on the expressing though!

[Kmn]

If you can, store the rinsed pump in the fridge between pumpings. And give it a hot soapy wash (and a sterilize if you want to) once a day. Just let the syringe get to room temp (only take a few minutes) and then give it to her - you don't heat the wind drops! When there is more she may prefer it warmed up - cold won't hurt her, she just might not drink it as well.

[Janie]

Yep, it should definitely be given a really good clean once a day, but that can entail a good, hot soapy wash (with all the bits pulled apart), rather than sterilising if you prefer. Always rinse with cold water first before washing in hot water.

As for during the day, you can either rinse it in cold water and store it in a container, or keep it in a container in the fridge without rinsining it. I prefer to rinse and keep in the fridge, but that's just me I also used to sterilise most days, but I that's just the dental nurse coming out in me, we're sterilisation freaks

As Kmn said, you can just take the syringe out of the fridge for a bit before feeding it to her. BM can sit at room temperature for up to 6 hours (obviously if it's not too hot inside), so 10 minutes will be fine.

ETA I should mention that the sterilising/not sterilising techniques that I have mentioned above are only for EBM........anything used for formula should always be sterilised.

[PinkPalace]

How is it going mel!

You reminded me of something i was told up north qld (we lived in a cyclone watch area).
We were told that if a cyclone hits and you need to be prepared and have a baby - if you dont have formula or h2o for that matter for a number of weeks... you can always relactate. I never ever knew this!

[Arimeh]

hey PP
Its not going toooo bad.... I'm still getting between .3ml and 2ml each time I express (which are all sitting in syringes in the fridge at the moment..lol)

DH started to give DD her bottle at 10.15 last night because I was expressing at that time, then I had finished at 10.30 - took over and he went to bed, then when she woke up at 4am - he fed her so I could dash out to the loungeroom and express again. What a man!!! I say that cos he had to go to work today... so was very nice to take over feeding her the feed that I usually do (he usually does the 10.30 one and I do the 4am one)

I expressed again this morning and got another .6ml (got about the same last night) but my milk seems to form in droplets quicker than it was a few days ago... and my veins have started to come back again... so I think *something* could be happening.

Fingers crossed!!!! (DH likes the idea so we don't have to spend so much money on formula.. lol)

[PinkPalace]

Mel - have you tried to actually breastfeed.
The ABA told me that bub will always get more than an expressor for feeds.

And She would probably love the contact with you - it might stimulate your supply a little more to try before her bottle each time?

I know it is hard to know how much is coming out but maybe after a few weeks you will notice that she will feed longer and if you try to express more might come out?

Just a thought

[{sarah}]

Yay Mel, how exciting

[Aimz]

You are doing great Mel!!!

[thepixie]

OMG I wash and steralise my pump after every use! RFLO If only i'd known the time i couldve been saving.

Me too!!!! I thought I had to sterilise it every time! But then I guess I don't often use it more than once a day so it's ok.
Mel I think ten minutes is plenty, as the supply builds up you will just get more each time. Sounds like you're going great guns. About the temperature, I don't think they really mind, but if you're concerned about it, just put the syringe in a bowl of warm water to warm it up a bit.
You're going so well good stuff!

[Arimeh]

PP - I don't "do" BFing. It just doesn't agree with me. Makes me vomit (yes I'm QUITE strange)

As it is, just expressing makes me feel like throwing up, but I don't actually throw up - so figure this way is better than no way.. IYKWIM?

So yeah.. I'm not going to put her on me because I don't like vomiting!!!! LOL

[PinkPalace]

lol thats cool! good idea not to make yourself vomit! haha!
Keep persevering though! and keep bub close to you to help stimulate! Even try when in the shower when it is nice and warm!

[Aimz]

I think its fantastic Mel that even though you can't breastfeed that you are sacrificing being uncomfortable (i.e. with the pump) to give your daughter breastmilk.

What a fantastic mother you are!!

[Jennifer13]

Well done Mel, on giving it a go.

I have a couple of tips that might work for you:
1. Try expressing at the same time/s each day. Your bbs will be used to producing milk on demand.
2. Try expressing in the morning if at all possible. After a sleep there seems to be more on offer.
3. A warm compress on your bbs might help with your let-down.

Expressing takes practice - your bbs will continue to make milk as long as they think it's needed. Yes, you won't get as much out from a pump as a baby will, but you will get better and you will get more than you are right now.

I really admire you for giving this a go - it's very unselfish of you, despite your aversion, to be doing what you can to give your bm to your DD!

[Arimeh]

Thanks guys (expressing as we speak)

I will try to do it around the same time - hard with 2 kids though, especially the 20 month old and the fact that it takes DD an hour to finish her feed - thats a lot of hour suckage!!! lol

But will give it my best shot - I don't think I'm a fantastic mum really, otherwise I would have done this from when she was born!!!!

Ahh, live and learn huh...

[Jennifer13]

But will give it my best shot - I don't think I'm a fantastic mum really, otherwise I would have done this from when she was born!!!!

Hun, you ARE fantastic - we make the best decisions we can at the time and it takes a lot more guts to say, "gee, I think I could do a little better," than it does to not make a change at all!

And you know there is a lot more to mothering than providing bm, this should be a guilt-free journey for you right now.