Breast feeding...?

Question

I bottle fed my two children, but am thinking about expressing milk for my baby who is due in October as I'm a little more relaxed about this pregnancy. However, I really don't want to breast feed as I don't feel able to do this in front of people like my dad for example!!
Has anyone here ever expressed milk to feed their child and if they have - was it a good experience or was it bad?

Thanks. x

Answer 1

Lots of good advice here already. I breast fed my daughter and I expressed. I expressed for when I was out and about and it wasn't possible to bf in public, but in the end I bf where ever I was as I got quite good at hiding it all away. Wear big jumpers to start off with and always carry a muslin around with you, as you can hide everything with this. The number of times I hid Liz under my jumper in a coffee bar, restaurant, and other shops is now uncountable!
Be Brave!
Clare
x

Answer 2

Breast feeding is best for your baby. When you are home on maternity leave practice feeding so that it will be easier for you to do the cover-up. Simply take a receiving blanket and throw it loosely over the baby and your shoulder, after you are covered raise your shirt and unfasten your bra ( do use nursing bras as they allow you to unfasten just the cup) put the baby to the breast. No one will see anything that you don't want them to see. If you are embarrassed to do this in front of others than express milk to use when they are around or go to another room and feed your child. I always had a bottle or two made up for shopping trips or any other time I might have felt the need for one. Another thing you can do is donate milk to your local milk bank for help with premature infants. Also remember you can freeze your breast milk. If you have other questions contact the LaLeche League in your area.This group are strong breast feeding advocates and will be of great help to a first time breast feeder.

Answer 3

I attempted bf both my children and for one reason or another neither child took to it. So I expressed for both of them for about 3 months. It is hard work, you are forever having to express in order to have milk on hand for the next feed, so when you wake up for night feeds, as well as feeding baby the bottle you then have to express ready for the next feed. If you don't express frequently enough or take out enough, you will soon lose the milk.
That said, it is a nice feeling that you are providing the milk for your baby, it is cheaper than formula, and it means the baby's dad or other relations can also feed the baby, which gives you a break!
I am glad I made the effort to do it, but after 3 months my milk had really started to run dry, the advisor I spoke to said it is because the pumps don't express as deeply as a baby feeds, so it won't last as long.

Answer 4

You lose a lot of the benefits of breast feeding for the baby if you only express and bottle feed.

Protection from ear infections, and exchange of antibodies for viruses and infection that the children get by exposing your body to their illness at the breast, plus the hormone releases that both of you get.

You can express and bottle feed, just be sure to get a strong electric pump, as drying up due to not being completely emptied is a serious risk with pumping.

I can promise you that you're making yourself work twice as hard for no real reason. I was insanely nervous about breastfeeding when my son was first born. For a long time I just shut myself in my room whenever it was time to feed. But eventually, as I got better at it, that went away.

I can breast feed in public at the mall, walking around the house, and even on a plane. No one ever even notices. I even feed my son infront of my super-old fashioned father in law. And he actually had gotten to the point where he doesnt leave the room and turn red.

The power of a blanket is amazing. Please consider regular feeding. I know I sound like a crazy Le Leche disease, but after breastfeeding my son I can promise I know what Iam talking about. You're better off doing it a'natural.

Theres nothing NOTHING NOOOOTHING wrong with a mother feeding her child, and your body is flawless in its ability to do so. Your dad, and you will get over the uncomfy feeling if you try.

Its just soooo much better for the baby.

Answer 5

i found expressing tedious. If you are not comfortable with people around when you do it, just leave the room or ask people to leave. You can be discreet whilst breastfeeding once you get the hang of it. You really need to breastfeed for a few weeks to get your milk supply established before you'll get any vast quatities of milk anyway. Plus bottlefed babies sleep better i found. But it's down to personal choice and i'm sure your dad won't mind if you leave the room to feed the baby.

Answer 6

Yes I did...my baby was born premature and I am doing it for the whole last 12 months.....It was great and I think breast pump is one the best inventions ever man kind has created....I went back to work shortly after my maternity leave and could express milk at work and bring it home for my baby......I definitely recommend it to you.....so comfortable.

Answer 7

hi yeh i expressed milk ..it was a great experience when it happened ..but unfortunatly i didnt have enough milk to continue to do this so i had no choise but to go on powered milk ...breast is best tho ..and a great bonding 4 mother and baby ..if ya dad in a room ..go else where in the house ..good luck

Answer 8

Collect and save your milk for when you are in a public setting. You can directly breast feed the baby when you are in a comfortable setting.

Answer 9

Easier to just pop it out. Leave the room if you are embarrassed. Most woman develop a technique that exposes nothing once attached. Expressing all the feeds will be hard work, all that extra sterilising as well.

Answer 10

I think it is not a bad idea but I feel breastfeeding is the best as it gives you that mother child contact/relationship. Babies that are bottle fed usually from my experience, experience a lot of colic etc. Girl stick to breastfeeding. Cover your boobs when breastfeeding in front of your father!