Expressing only anyone?

sarah_george · Jan 15th, 2009, 07:23 AM

Hi ladies I am after some advice, as D-day is getting even closer my brain has started to wonder about how to feed my baby, i tried to breastfeed my daughter but i just couldnt bare it! Think i have the most sensitive nipples in the world ever and i just couldnt do it

Anyway the reason for my post is i wonder if anybody has had a similar experience and got round the problem by feeding expressed milk only? theres a number of reasons why i would like to use breast milk but I cant bare the thought of doing it directly, I cant see a logical reason why it should be a problem but i havent spoken to anybody else who has tried it. also plan B would be maybe to use nipple shields if anybody has experience on using these and whether they numb things a little (or maybe a lot!)

Any advice would be much appreciated as i dont want to buy loads of extra kit unnecessarily and would be nice to be more informed, thankyou xxx

Serene123 · Jan 15th, 2009, 07:36 AM

nipple sheilds would be better than pumping, no one can get milk out like baby can x

Hevz · Jan 15th, 2009, 08:04 AM

I would recommend looking on this website. They have fab, accurate information and a helpline too

http://www.laleche.org.uk/pages/about/helpline.htm

EmziMoo · Jan 15th, 2009, 08:12 AM

I was wondering this too.

We are ttc at the moment & though I would like to bf I just can't face it. I don't know what it is but I know I couldn't do it.

Bec L · Jan 15th, 2009, 11:20 AM

I know a girl who was doing this and it was ok for a while but as expressing doesn't produce as much milk as when your baby feeds, your supply will eventualy dry up a bit. She has gradually had to give more and more formula to her baby as her own milk has pretty much gone. I agree that nipple shields are the best way forward. Do you have any breastfeeding clinic/classes you can attend? The girls I know who have done this have found them to be great.

Sovereign · Jan 15th, 2009, 11:42 AM

I'm just expressing at the moment as my LO can't latch on and had no problems so far but i've got an expensive breast pump (medla swing) which is great! But baby is only 9 days old so don't know if any problems will crop up in the future for me. x

alice&bump · Jan 15th, 2009, 12:25 PM

i mainly expressed for a while cos i couldnt bear the pain on my nipples, but i got used to it eventually and my nipples toughened up! but i did find it easier just to plonk her on my boob rather than get a bottle ready

sarah_george · Jan 15th, 2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bec L

I know a girl who was doing this and it was ok for a while but as expressing doesn't produce as much milk as when your baby feeds, your supply will eventualy dry up a bit. She has gradually had to give more and more formula to her baby as her own milk has pretty much gone. I agree that nipple shields are the best way forward. Do you have any breastfeeding clinic/classes you can attend? The girls I know who have done this have found them to be great. There may be a reason for the soreness ie maybe an infection or something?

Thanks for the reply, There are classes i could attend, not sure if they would entirely understand my problem with feeding directly or whether they will think i'm strange! surely I cant be the only person who feels this way, i dont feel comfortable bringing it up with my midwife either in case she thinks its odd, guess it would be nice to here of others that are doing it first to make it seem more acceptable xxx

Ragirl · Jan 15th, 2009, 13:44 PM

I have a friend who exclusively expresses and feeds, has an abundant supply, and no problems doing it long term. It's certainly doable but does take committment. She pumps for 15 min every 2 hours. As for if it's better for sensitivity, I don't know. My friend commented on how much it hurt at first and she slowly had to increase the power on the pump. I think the feeling of the pump is just very different from the feeling of nursing- so it might be a better fit for you. I would certainly say it's worth a try. There was a thread a while back "Pumping..destined to fail" that is worth reading. It highlights some of the downfalls to exclusively expressing- but rather than let it discourage you, I think it's good info to know so you can do things to combat them. Good luck.

curlylocks · Jan 16th, 2009, 16:40 PM

I'm so glad I found this post! I have been worrying about this for weeks! I really don't want to breastfeed for many reasons, however understand the benefits of breast milk but wasn't sure if only expressing was possible?

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels like this as it seems like every where I look for information on this just pushes breastfeeding!

Jan 15th, 2009, 07:23 AM	#1
sarah_george Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Midlands Posts: 2,120	Expressing only anyone? Hi ladies I am after some advice, as D-day is getting even closer my brain has started to wonder about how to feed my baby, i tried to breastfeed my daughter but i just couldnt bare it! Think i have the most sensitive nipples in the world ever and i just couldnt do it Anyway the reason for my post is i wonder if anybody has had a similar experience and got round the problem by feeding expressed milk only? theres a number of reasons why i would like to use breast milk but I cant bare the thought of doing it directly, I cant see a logical reason why it should be a problem but i havent spoken to anybody else who has tried it. also plan B would be maybe to use nipple shields if anybody has experience on using these and whether they numb things a little (or maybe a lot!) Any advice would be much appreciated as i dont want to buy loads of extra kit unnecessarily and would be nice to be more informed, thankyou xxx

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Jan 15th, 2009, 07:36 AM	#2
Serene123 Other Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 32,048	nipple sheilds would be better than pumping, no one can get milk out like baby can x

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Jan 15th, 2009, 08:04 AM	#3
Hevz Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Swinton, Manchester, England Posts: 4,581	I would recommend looking on this website. They have fab, accurate information and a helpline too http://www.laleche.org.uk/pages/about/helpline.htm

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Jan 15th, 2009, 08:12 AM	#4
EmziMoo Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Wales Posts: 131	I was wondering this too. We are ttc at the moment & though I would like to bf I just can't face it. I don't know what it is but I know I couldn't do it.

Status: Offline

Jan 15th, 2009, 11:20 AM	#5
Bec L Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Manchester Posts: 2,303	I know a girl who was doing this and it was ok for a while but as expressing doesn't produce as much milk as when your baby feeds, your supply will eventualy dry up a bit. She has gradually had to give more and more formula to her baby as her own milk has pretty much gone. I agree that nipple shields are the best way forward. Do you have any breastfeeding clinic/classes you can attend? The girls I know who have done this have found them to be great.

Status: Offline

Jan 15th, 2009, 11:42 AM	#6
Sovereign Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: Manchester Posts: 6,907	I'm just expressing at the moment as my LO can't latch on and had no problems so far but i've got an expensive breast pump (medla swing) which is great! But baby is only 9 days old so don't know if any problems will crop up in the future for me. x

Status: Offline

Jan 15th, 2009, 12:25 PM	#7
alice&bump Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: Manchester Posts: 8,702	i mainly expressed for a while cos i couldnt bear the pain on my nipples, but i got used to it eventually and my nipples toughened up! but i did find it easier just to plonk her on my boob rather than get a bottle ready

Status: Offline

Jan 15th, 2009, 13:44 PM	#9
Ragirl Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Michigan, US Posts: 569	I have a friend who exclusively expresses and feeds, has an abundant supply, and no problems doing it long term. It's certainly doable but does take committment. She pumps for 15 min every 2 hours. As for if it's better for sensitivity, I don't know. My friend commented on how much it hurt at first and she slowly had to increase the power on the pump. I think the feeling of the pump is just very different from the feeling of nursing- so it might be a better fit for you. I would certainly say it's worth a try. There was a thread a while back "Pumping..destined to fail" that is worth reading. It highlights some of the downfalls to exclusively expressing- but rather than let it discourage you, I think it's good info to know so you can do things to combat them. Good luck.

Status: Offline

Jan 16th, 2009, 16:40 PM	#10
curlylocks Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 142	I'm so glad I found this post! I have been worrying about this for weeks! I really don't want to breastfeed for many reasons, however understand the benefits of breast milk but wasn't sure if only expressing was possible? I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels like this as it seems like every where I look for information on this just pushes breastfeeding!

Status: Offline

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