Need Advice Breatfeeding and in Wedding HELP

[Issey]

Hi,

I am a Matron of Honor in a Wedding in a couple of weeks and I am breastfeeding. I have to wear a shoe string dress and a normal bra underneath although it does unlatch at the straps. I am very worried about feeding. I haven't got the dress yet as it is coming from interstate so not sure if the shoe strings will come down enough that is be able to slip off my shoulder to feed or if I have to go somewhere and take the dress off :eek:

I have expressed before but not recently, bubs will be 4months. Bubs doesn't have any real set feeding times either as he doesn't really cry much so when he seems a bit cranky I just feed him. He has his last feed about 7.30pm before going to sleep and I think I would have to feed him then to settle or I might be too full - this is my other worry. I guess I will just put him in his pram to sleep at the restaurant.

Should I just try to feed him as normal or express some milk. Also if I express and freeze what do I freeze it in (ice cube tray with lid?) how do I sterilise it and how to defrost? I have a microwave steriliser for bottles but I never knew they only stayed sterilised for a couple of hours so in the past I found out what I was giving bubs WASNT sterilised either ...so I am also a bit confused on all of this. My breast pump just says boil water then sit it in there to sterilise but someone said this doens't sterilise :confused: Bubs was fine though thank goodness.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Rainbowbrite]

I had to go to a wedding last year & my dress was the same. It wasnt comfy feeding but it had to be done as MJ would never take bottle (still wont). Is it possible to get a shawl to throw over your shoulder if your not comfy feeding in public?

[Goosie22]

Hi,

Dont worry about sterilising, a good wash in really hot soapy water and air dried is all that breastfeeding equipment/bottles/teats needs.

If your comfy feeding at the wedding I would just go with that. You could take your dress to a dress maker when you get it and have them make alterations to the straps to make it easier if they are to fitted or as I have read others on hubbub say they ask for a private area/room at the reception room so you can feed in private.

This is an info page on expressing and storing Breastmilk
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/express.html

Congratulations and hope you have fun at the wedding:D

[Notchalk]

I was also Matron of Honour at my niece's wedding when my son was 4 months old. His Dad looked after him while we were getting ready at the house, and I fed him there, then during the ceremony (over an hour long!) and photographs. There was no time to feed him between ceremony and photos, unfortunately, but perhaps your bride might allow you 10 minutes of privacy to feed somewhere before photos are taken?

When we got to the reception centre, we had to be introduced and seated for 'grace'... it felt like ages until we were free to go up to the buffet to get our food. As soon as we were free I took my son into a room to feed him, as I too had spaghetti straps and I couldn't just pull one down, the whole top had to come down. And I couldn't wear a bra, either, I had to wear "Lillypadz" clear silicon breastpads, so I wouldn't leak.

The reception centre had a room where the sound system was kept, and it was a mini office, too. I just got someone to ask for me if it was ok to use it, and when I got a minute, I fed him there. I just laid a blanket over my lap, too, incase I leaked onto the dress.

Does your baby take a bottle at all? My son did at that point, (doesn't now!) so DH was able to give him some milk during the ceremony, etc.

It's really not as logistically hard as I thought it would be. If you can snatch regular 10 minutes free here and there, your bub shouldn't get the chance to get too hungry. My son just slept through the whole reception after the feed, in the pram in a corner, away from the speakers.

Good luck, and try to enjoy the day!

Jo

[Imsooverit]

Hi Deb,

I agree with the others and think if you can breastfeed Ty you would feel alot better (not like you're going to explode towards the end of the night).

But in answer to your other question about freezing - You can get pre-sterilised disposable bottle bags at the Chemist. You insert them into a bottle that gets attached to your pump. You express straight into the bags for freezing. I don't know what brand pump you have but the pump and bags I have are "Avent". Avent have a special bottle holder for the bag to freeze it in. If you have a different brand pump, I imagine they'd have a similar type thing. Speak to the Chemist or Baby Shop and see if they can help you out with the bags. Or ... if you just buy the bags, pop one in your bottle and express into it, when you have the right amount pull the bag out tie it off, then make a cylinder that would slide through the mouth of your bottle (thin cardboard and tape) and place your milk bag in it to freeze. That way you can do a few in the freezer. Then when you need to use one of your frozen milks you can fit the frozen bag back through the neck of the bottle, screw the top on and defrost as normal. Does this make ANY sense???:D

Forgot to ask, has Ty got his Bumbo seat? Does he love it or is he still too young?

Storm

[Notchalk]

P.S. It's true, you don't need to sterilise feeding equipment for use with breastmilk. Just hot soapy water ( or dishwasher ) then rinse and air dry.

Jo

[Issey]

Thanks heaps everyone it makes me feel better. :)

I think I will try to breast feed as much as possible on the day and bring a bottle or two with me 'just in case', last time I tried Ty on the bottle he was fine taking it from his Daddy but not me as I think he smells my milk. How long can you keep a bottle in one of those baby bottle holders? I saw the event one for $30 at Big W that you can store for 4hours but the other types don't specify. Expensive though.

I think I will bring a shawl too, that is a good idea, then if I can't find a place to feed at least I won't be exposing myself too much!

Storm those bags sound interesting, never heard of them? Will ask at the chemist. I like that idea :) If I want to freeze some milk in a tupperware ice cube tray do I just was the tray with hot soapy water? It has a lid so can be kept away from othe stuff in the freezer.

On another note yes Ty got his Bumbo seat and it is fantastic, a whole new perspective on the world for him. I have put it in the middle of the table when I am doing stuff, it is sturdy and won't topple (although it says you aren't supposed to). So glad I got it!

Thanks for your help:thumbsup: