expressing

[emily09]

hi, my ds is 5 weeks old and I am wanting to start expressing so i can have a bit more freedom. Was wondering how do I know how much to express and how much he needs? Also whats the best way of storing ebm when out and about? Thnaks!

[dreamtobeamummy]

I was advised by the midwives in hospital not to express any more then 20 minutes on either side.

It will depend on each individual how much you can get, but I started out being able to get 20 mls, then it went to 90mls each boob.

As far as storing it, have a look at the ABA website, it should tell you on there. I can't remember the exact amount of times it was in fridge/out of fridge.

I used to find that with DS a 90ml bottle wasn't always enough and I would end up BF anyway. But then he became a guts and I couldn't keep up with the BF so am now bottle feeding.

Good luck!

[Gabi]

hi, my ds is 5 weeks old and I am wanting to start expressing so i can have a bit more freedom. Was wondering how do I know how much to express and how much he needs? Also whats the best way of storing ebm when out and about? Thnaks!

How much to express: You may be able to get a lot out or not very much. Your breasts may also get better at it with time.

How much he needs: It depends on how much he weighs and how often he eats. Babies typically eat their weight times 150mL in a 24hr period. Then you would divide this by how many feeds he has a day. The average 5 week old boy weighs 4.2kg and has 8 -12 feeds a day. So the average baby would eat 630mL in 24 hours, if he had 10 feeds that'd be approx 65mL per feed. Please work it out according to your baby's details because there is so much variation.

For storage: I bought a cooler bag which fits in my bottles and my pump.:yes:

Other: Bottles can be really easy to drink from because the milk just drips out. Esp EBM as it is thinner than formula. My nurse recommended using a Y cut teat and to slow my baby down so that I didn't overfeed him.

Good luck!
I hope you enjoy your time out.

[BabyPaparazzi]

The ABA has a guideline on expressing and storing milk.

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/express.html

I express and store daily for when I am studying. I use the zip lock glad bags in the snack size (this is safe and sterile and recommended by lc's). Pour 50mls into each one and freeze laying down. Write the date they expire on them and then stand them in a container. That way you can defrost the quantities you want easier. I usually give them to my care-provider frozen, they use hot water to defrost them as required, if bubs decides they want more, its real quick to defrost another 50mls.

I usually express on the opposite side to the one being fed on at the same time, it helps with letdown and I get alot more in one hit. It will slowly increase the amounts you can get to as you get better at it.

As previous pp has mention how to calculate roughly how much babies can drink, but remember this is only a guide, it can also be alot more or alot less than this. My DD1 was drinking 300ml bottles by 5mths and according to her weight was should have only been taking 150-180mls.

As you start giving bottles you will soon know roughly what is being taken, this can also change for different feeds of the day, as you know some bf's are bigger than others, so some bottles will be to.

Pigeon bottles are really good for bf bubs to, with the Y teat as it doesnt free flow.

And just remember to express each time you give a bottle of ebm, supply=demand, so if you start skipping feeds to often and give bottles your supply will lessen to the lessor demand.