oooh lollybaby, I'm so sorry to hear you're having trouble I'm afraid I haven't had the same experience as you. I did use some lansinoh for sore nipples early on, but I didn't ever have cracks. I suggest you give ABA a call and see what they say? I'm wondering that maybe your nipples were only just healed, so the pump was a bit too brutal? Also, I would say the Lactina is a bit harsher to use than a Symphony & Pump in Style. You may need to work up really really gradually to use it? I know it's a PITA, but as you said, maybe manual pumping in the short-term and see if your nipples start to toughen up. I really hope it get's better for you.
As for what you said about not doing a rigid schedule, absolutely agree! I used to just do it when bub was asleep and there was nothing else that I HAD to do. In order to look after bub well, you need to look after yourself well - and that's all about making everything manageable & maintainable for a happy relaxed mummy - not a stressed out, rushed off her feet, crying mummy (even tho we all have our moments anyway!). Oh and I didn't pump in the middle of the night from about 10 weeks, as X was sleeping through, and my supply still managed ok. I heard of some people getting up to pump, and I was just like...noooo! So agree with you there Sars, for me the sleep seemed to make more of a difference, plus helped keep me semi-sane .
Lolly,
Are you sure you've got the lactina adjusted properly - the strength of the suck is adjusted by twisting the yellow tube, and the dial only adjusts the speed (as in number of sucks per minute). So you probably want to set the yellow tube to gentle (i.e. the piston bit travels the shortest possible distance) and the speed to somewhere in the middle.
hugs
Kate
Congrats to all the ladies on this thread for giving your babies the best you possibly can. I have been exclusively expressing for 2.5 months using a manual Avent machine. I am currently expressing 6 times a day as my boy drinks 240ml/5 times at each feed and sometimes I only get 200ml out. I was looking at feeding him 1part formula to 3 part EBM but am not sure if it will be just as good and if he will consistently sleep through the night - as sometimes he does and sometimes not.
Hi
I am not sure if this is the correct place to pose this question but I wanted to know about options for storing my expressed BM - I am new to this forum and have had a little look around but couldn't find anything. If someone could give me some tips that would be great.
I have some expressed in bottles in fridge. However a mum from MG told me I could freeze it in bags - just not sure about this or what bags did she mean?
Thanks so much!
I used to store my expressed breast milk in the bottle in the freezer. At the Gold Coast Hospital I got this brochure on Hand Expressing Breast Milk and on the back it had storage instructions for Expressed Breast Milk. Here is what it said:
1. Freshly expressed milk can keep in the refrigerator for 3-5 days (4 degrees or lower)
2. Freshly expressed can keep for 2 weeks in freezer compartment inside refrigerator
3. Freshly expressed can keep for 3 months in freezer section of refrigerator with separate door
4. Freshly expressed can keep for 6-12 months in deep freezer (18 degrees or lower)
5. Previously frozen EBM - thawed in refrigerator can be kept for 24 hrs
6. Previously frozen EBM - thawed at room temperature, use within 4 hrs
7. Do not refreeze thawed EBM
Previously frozen EBM - thawed in warm water, use at next feed
8. Freshly expressed can keep for 6-8 hrs at room temperature (26 degrees or lower)
I really hope this helps and is explained in an easily enough way to understand. If you need any more advice do not hesitate to ask. Good luck.
hey LacieMac - you can buy bags to store EBM in - they're a bit expensive, but good. I've heard some people say they use ziplock gladbags, but I think the issue with those is that the plastics might not be safe when re-heating/thawing the milk, and could leak into the milk. I bought some of the EBM storage bags online (medela) brand I think? Otherwise I've used the Avent Via cup system and found that was good too, cos I can use the containers for food as well.
Setof3 - how are you going? So sorry no-one else replied to your questions before. How is it going now?
Not that i ever had much left over to store but...
the ABA sells Sensible Lines Milk Trays. I had a pack of them, found them really good. Also got a pack of Medela Pump'n'save plastic bags for a weekend away in Taree. They stick right onto the pump, and take up hardly any room in your suitcase.
News about us - we're still expressing. Olly will be 6 mths at the start of Sept, and Im going back to work part time so i've decided to start weaning down. I'm expressing 3 times a day for this week, next week will be 2 times a day, and should be pretty much dried up by Sept. Now that all the hard work is behind me Im just so chuffed we made it to our original goal of 6 mths. hurray!
All has been well, since Monday. Went to a pediatrician to check what was the go with my DD, he was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy. It sounds really bad but I was actually happy to hear that it was something, as I thought I had a really colicky baby. He is on special formula and has to avoid a few foods for a while, but it is not a life long allergy, which is good news. He is so much better already and his eczema is going away as well.
What a great thread. I have read all of your posts & found it so inspiring & helpful.
I am hoping to get DD2 back on the breast, but ATM I am fulltime pumping & have to consider what I will do if we are not successful with BFing.
Will pop back later & post our details...but I just wanted to say thanks! already I have found this so helpful
jasp - hey welcome to the thread! Always great to have more company around here Well done to you for persevering and looking at all solutions... you're doing an awesome job for your little bubba! If it helps any, I look back now (11 months on) and I wish I'd tried to move heaven & earth to keep BF'ing... if I'd known then just how much work expressing can be. I know you mightn't want to hear it... but I know for me, next time, I will be leaving absolutely no stone unturned in my efforts. And then, if it still doesn't work out, well I guess I'll just pump again lol!
setof3 - oh gosh, no wonder bub wasn't happy! That must be a relief to know what the problem is. My DH is sensitive (not allergic per se) to milk protein so you have my sympathy! Awesome about the eczema too.
Sars - congrats on 6 months, that's wonderful!!! It's amazing isn't it, to realise how far you've come! And lol yes, the pump'n'save bags by medela, thats what I've used too
AFM, we're going well. My goal is 12 months, I can't believe we're nearly there. I NEVER thought I'd go for this long. I've got about 3 litres in the freezer, so hoping to start to wind back soonish. Aim to drop to 2 pumps a day in sep, then 1 pump a day halfway through Sep, and still keep him on EBM until the 25th. I still have my days when I can't believe that my schedule revolves around the darn pump STILL... and I also have my days when I look at my happy healthy bubba and I'm so pleased with what I've done.
How long have you been expressing? 4 weeks - since birth - but Arlea has been on EBM exclusively since day 5
How long do you plan to do it for/ or have done it for? As long as I have to - I'm hoping to get her back on the breast. If not then my first goal is to make 3months, then 6, then 12 if I can, But ATM that seems so far away! and a lot of work...
How many times a day do you express? Supposed to be 8... I only make 7. occasionally 6 but mostly 7.
Do you enjoy it? Ahhhh... not really... I would much rather be BFing - but then I guess most of us would....I do like that I can do it and it's still giving her breastmilk. I hate being tied to the pump & not having any time for anything else.
Do you have other kids? Yes, three others.
If you feel comfortable sharing- Why you are expressing? Arlea was a big baby & had low blood sugars at birth, which meant she was on a drip for the first few days. That made her slow & lazy to feed... we had just started getting the hang of it when my milk came in & i developed severe oedema in both breast, making it impossible for her to attach. Expressing didn't help attachment as it drew the fluid down towards my nipple. It was either bottles or tube feeds...We left hospital expressing on day 5 & have been attempting to get her back on the breast since I lost the fluid (around day 10).
What type of expressing method do you use? We were lucky enough to have loaned to us from the hospital, an Ameda Purely yours double electric pump. I have my own Avent Isis electric but the LCs suggested it wouldn't be up to the job we need it for ATM. This was supposed to be a short term loan - 1 or 2 weeks...If we have to keep doing this I will be looking to buy an Ameda.
How much milk in a day? It's slowly increasing, was 800-900 when we came home, now at1100-1300ml a day.
Best expressing tip? Plenty of rest! I have had nights where I was so tired & struggling to get 20ml out... an hours sleep made all the difference. And I can't pump as easily when I'm stressed. Also massage the bbs.
That's us.... we have had a couple of appts with the hospital LCs at clinics, they were initially very confident but seem to have run out of suggestions & I feel like we are going backwards. Yesterday had a visit from the pharmacy LC, she is private & so there's a charge but she has a different approach to the hospital LCs...she also is very confident...
I BFed my third child for 14months and I didn't realise until now just how much I had enjoyed it, now being faced with the prospect of not being able to BF I feel quite depressed.
It has been great to read this thread & see what a wonderful job you all have done, it is so inspiring & makes me feel like I can do it too! I still would rather BF but I feel more like it won't be the end of the world if I have to keep expressing.
I have a couple of questions but she is awake now... back later!
Ok I'm back... I hope you all don't mind but I have a couple of questions...
I see that a lot of you got down to 3-4 pumps per day. When did you do this & how? ATM I am 'supposed' to be pumping 8 times, I find though that I get by fine on 7. Arlea sleeps very well at night (o far) and I hate having to get up & pump when she's asleep! Plus it's so hard to work around through the day. I love the idea of cutting it down. Speaking of being hard to work around... any tips for managing pumping when you have to go out somewhere? So far all our trips out have been planned as short trips so that I have time to get home & pump. Even then though it's hard, we run late or get held up & in any case It only gives us 2-2 1/2 hours before we have to be home. How did you work around this? How did you manage pumping when baby needed feeding / settling etc? I find I often express later than I should because at the time I am meant to pump she needs my attention! In particular yesterday I started at 12, got halfway through then she got grizzly... by the time I got her settled it was 1:00.. what do you do then? Wait till next pump or finish it off even though its an hour later?
Belfie - thanks for the welcome! and thanks for your honesty it's ok I am getting an idea how much work it is! Especially compared to BFing DS2. Dh is making noises already about me giving it up, he's worried it's too much. I just can't do it yet, I'm not ready to give in! I think it would be worse for me to stop now than keep going.
Setof3 - DS2 was diagnosed with an intolerance to cows milk protein ( he had blood in his dirty nappies) - would this be the same thing, or similar? I had to cut all dairy out of my diet for a while... it was only 8 weeks before I started re-introducing it & he was fine. Don't know if this is same or similar to your situation... great though that it's identified & he's improving already
Sorry for all the questions. I have found this thread so helpful already. I didn't know for example that Raspberry Leaf Tea increased supply? I have some left over that I was taking while PG... not that my supply needs increasing but it's good to know.
Mostly I have found it so inspiring to read what you all have done.
Thanks again!
Jasp - When I went to the pediatrician she said that if my DD (Marius) had any black or blood in his poo it meant that there was a tear in his bowel lining, which is not good. She wanted to know if this happened immediately - so I hope your DD has been checked since that happened.
To answer your expressing question - as Marius got older I was able to pump more at one time which meant that I did not need to pump as many times in one day. It took a lot to start with but I pumped for at least 20minutes on each breast, even if it was only a trickle, it slowly increased. Your breast milk usually increases with your babies need to drink. When this happened I extended the time when I needed to express. So instead of doing it every 2 hours, I did it every 2.5 hours and gradually it stopped filling up so quickly and going hard. It was uncomfortable at first but then it got better.
In regards to going out, I had the manual attachment to the Avent Isis Breast Pump, so I took that along with me and a flask of boiling water to clean it after use. As the breast milk can stay at room temperature for 6 hours, I would pump then rinse the equipment then keep the breast milk in the baby bag til I got home then put in the fridge til it was needed. I asked my midwife if this was okay and she said it was fine. I even found that I got more milk out using the manual method.
I hope you're all going well.
jasp - how are you going? Given you've BF'ed before (which I never managed very successfully) I can see you definitely know the difference in the work involved. I hope it's going well whatever you're doing. At the end of the day, it just has to be what works for you and your family! And sorry I missed answering your earlier questions! In regards to cutting down pumps, I think I sometimes waited too long cos I was scared that my supply would drop too much. I guess as long as I was meeting his needs and squirrelling a little away I was ok. I also had some surgery when he was just over 4 months - so between that and the 3mth growth spurt I remember feeling like I was always behind, madly trying to pump enough! Like you, I always planned trips around pumping, I never tried out & about. I did take my pump to my IL's place for things like Xmas & stuff. And regarding pumping when bub needed feeding/settling...oooh yes! My DH did his back in March (DS was 6 mo) and it was a nightmare cos suddenly I had to do ALL the runnign around (getting bottles) settling etc... I found it really hard and nearly stopped. I had a week where I just thought about stopping every single pump - I felt very trapped and unhappy. Once I acknowledged it and weighed it up as a CHOICE, then I felt better and decided to continue. I also asked for some help from ILs (my family interstate), as I was feeling like a single mum with 2 kids plus pumping. It was tough, but I guess we just worked out routines to cope. You're always evolving when you pump, what you do with them, the right times etc. But it can be really stressful juggling it.
setof3 - how are you going?
I'm starting the countdown now... I've dropped to 2 pumps a day, but still getting about 600mls which I'm very happy with. I plan to drop to 1 pump a day on the 10th of Sep and then pretty much finish by late this month (his first birthday). It's funny, I'm so used to looking in the fridge and seeing the bottles get lower and thinking...eep, I need to pump more! It's really weird to think I don't do that anymore, I'll just use what I get and run down my freezer supply (4.5 litres!!! woo hoo). I guess I'm in such a habit of pumping, it's almost (but not quite) hard to break! And omg, pumping every 12 hours seems so very easy. For anyone trying to keep going, I'd definitely say that the last 4-5 months pumping have been soooooo much easier than the earlier months. So if you've made it to 6 months, hang in there... just take it month by month (or week by week). I always tended to struggle a bit mentally each time he turned a month older - thinking, should I stop yet? Or feeling I wanted to stop. But it's amazing what you can do when you just take it one day at a time.
Happy pumping, and congrats, you're all doing a wonderful wonderful thing for your bubbas.
I'm still pumping. I have bought my own 'supa-dupa' pump off Ebay - the same as the one the hospital lent us - just so that I have a choice in whether to continue or not.
We are still attempting to BF but I am becoming more accepting of the idea that it might not happen. In which case I want the choice in being able to continue.
ATM I think I probably will. It has gotten quicker & easier - I also used the hint of making my own pumping bra! so I can double pump, hands free & that has made things SOOOO much easier, I can read a magazine or eat lunch or dinner while I pump now.
I think I have identified a lot of my earlier stress as being related also to struggling to BF. I stepped away from it for a few days & just expressed without attempting to BF & we were both much more relaxed. Now that she is 6 weeks I will try again for a week or so. If that doesn't work I may just end up doing this, and I'm becoming ok with that.
Plus, I have started to find the 'plus' side in it all - at least I can leave her with DH while I go & get some sleep on the weekend!
Belfie thanks for sharing your feelings re pumpng & being tied to it. I can soooo relate! and it's nice to hear that you persisted & came through it, it makes me feel much better.
Now that the end is in sight for you how do you feel? Are you excited about weaning or do you have mixed feelings? 12 hourly pumps must feel great after what you have done for the past year!
setof3, how is your DS? It was my son who had the blood in his nappies, he's 7 now & fine. Isn't it interesting what different diagnosis & opinions you get within the medical profession. When we first noticed it he was 8 weeks old & we took him to the emergency dept. The dr we saw there tried to tell me it was cracked nipples! I told her I had had cracked nipples before, & mine were NOT cracked... she wouldn't listen. The MCHN pointed out that if that were the case the blood would be digested, it would be brown not red....anyway we got it sorted eventually.
Hope everything is going well for you.
So my original goal of 2-3 months is feeling toatlly within reach, we are halfway there. After that it will be 6 months... but we will see how the first 3 go!
I am backing off a bit on the number of times I pump per day, I have gone from 6 to 7 , every 3 hrs to every 3 1/2, maybe 4 - I will have to ask the LC what she thinks about this - but my supply has continued to increase each week by about 150ml/day. Right now I am expressing about 1500ml/day, the last 2 days has been 1600.
Arlea is only having about 450-600ml/ day and I am running out of room in the freezer, plus I don't think we will use it before it is no good anymore.
I was really paranoid about my supply dropping but given that it is stil increasing I guess I can relax a little bit.
I am freezing the milk in regular supermarket snaplock bags, the hospital LCS said this would be ok & that they were no different to the Avent ones. Does anyone know if this is true? It sounds terrible but I can't afford the 'proper' bags with the amount that I am freezing, I would go through a pack a day
One other question - what was the most EBM your bubs had in a day? I figure if I can get to that amount & stay there then I can back off on the expressing until my supply is steady, not increasing - if that makes sense?
Marius and I are going well. He has been on his new formula (Elecare) for 2.5 weeks now and going well. The eczema has not gone away, but was told it never would, it would only improve. He is a lot more happy and has just started to turn on his belly, so that's very exciting. He also flipped over today - belly to back - but think it might have been a fluke. We are starting swimming lessons in 2 weeks and I hope his eczema does not flare up cause we will need to stop and I really want him to swim as my parents have a pool. I guess I'll just moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
Setof3 - glad to hear the new formula is going well! My DS has eczema too, and we've just changed his routine and it's improved heaps, I'm so thrilled. So fingers crossed your son's will too - how old is he?
jasp - I totally agree that there are some "up" sides with the freedom. TBH I don't know how I'll feel trying to BF the next one, cos I have gotten used to some of the benefits of others being able to feed him. I'm so glad the handsfree bra is working for you, it's great isn't it! I don't how I survived without one. As for your goals, I think you'll do brilliantly. And setting shorter goals is great. I started to do my own head in when I tried to look too far ahead!
And wow, you are expressing great amounts! I really only ever averaged about a litre a day. And at his hungriest, I remember DS drinking 1500ml one day at his 3 mth growth spurt - it was a nightmare lol! Then for a long time he drank about a litre and I pumped about a litre, so it was always difficult to get ahead. One hungry day would wipe me out. And thne I was trying to get some surplus for surgery & stuff. I would think you can definitely pull back your expressing a bit! As you said, if you store too much, you won't manage to use it in time necessarily (even though it's lovely to have a stockpile). TBH I don't know re the ziplock bags, I'd heard maybe they were bad... but I can understand the cost issue with the proper ones! I wouldn't fret. Oh and regarding how much X drank - he went from 25th %ile at birth to 75th at about 3 months - he was a right little chubber (and has stayed that way) so that volume got him to a mighty fine weight.
I struggled to get my supply up though, I got more supply once I expressed than when I BF'ed, so I didn't get full supply for him (no comp feeds) until he was 2.5 months. But also, early on I wasn't pumping as much - as we'd BF, then comp feed (EBM and/or FF), then I'd express (1.5 hours later!!!) - it was horribly time consuming. Once I just expressed I had soooo much more time. It's funny, thinking back makes me realise how tough it was then!
Re me - well I got thrown a bit the other day (thread here about that)... but otherwise, I don't WANT to feel sad. I think it's amazing to be at this end of the journey, I truly do want to just feel glad with what I've achieved. I have no doubt in my mind that it's the right time to finish - we plan to TTC in Nov, I want my boobs to myself for a bit. I've seen other people finish expresing with mixed feelings. But I think I grieved when I stopped BF'ing all those months ago. And honestly, it's been such a rollercoaster, maybe like stopping a marathon, I just wanna feel proud. And I hope I will.
Registered User
I'm afraid I haven't had the same experience as you. I did use some lansinoh for sore nipples early on, but I didn't ever have cracks. I suggest you give ABA a call and see what they say? I'm wondering that maybe your nipples were only just healed, so the pump was a bit too brutal? Also, I would say the Lactina is a bit harsher to use than a Symphony & Pump in Style. You may need to work up really really gradually to use it? I know it's a PITA, but as you said, maybe manual pumping in the short-term and see if your nipples start to toughen up.
I really hope it get's better for you.
.
Freezing EBM
Well done to you for persevering and looking at all solutions... you're doing an awesome job for your little bubba! If it helps any, I look back now (11 months on) and I wish I'd tried to move heaven & earth to keep BF'ing... if I'd known then just how much work expressing can be. I know you mightn't want to hear it... but I know for me, next time, I will be leaving absolutely no stone unturned in my efforts. And then, if it still doesn't work out, well I guess I'll just pump again lol!
congrats on 6 months, that's wonderful!!! It's amazing isn't it, to realise how far you've come! And lol yes, the pump'n'save bags by medela, thats what I've used too
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