When do you find time to express?

[anna*]

I sort of started asking this before, but the thread took a whole different direction... but when do you find time to express? I try to express enough each day to make a dreamfeed of EBM, but honestly it's a struggle - and I really need to try and put some in the bank so my mum can care for Stanley one day each week. It's Thursday now, I've had to go to the freezer for my last bag of EBM cuz I only managed to get 4 oz through the course of today, and I'm already worried about how I'm going to get enough together so that Stan can go to his Granny's on Monday.

I really don't like giving formula. The homeopath recommended a goats-milk based formula (because there is lots of asthma and allergies in our family) but, while I've given it to him a few times, I don't feel comfortable because it hasn't had all the medical testing that cow formula has. It seems like there isn't a good decision.

Anyway, to stop feeling sorry for myself... Stan generally feeds from both breasts, and pretty much drains them. So it feels like the only time I have a little 'extra' to express is last thing before I go to bed (three hours after his last feed) but to be honest it's usually about 3oz max, so an amateur mathematician can see it's going to take me two days to express one DF - and those figures don't add up.

anna
x

[*Nicola*]

How old is Stan?

TBH it is only now at 5 months, that I have managed to identify a time to express each day! 

I really struggled with it in the early days.  I couldn't rely on Callie taking long enough naps to express during the day, I couldn't stay awake or express enough to do it after she was in bed for the night, I found it difficult to pick a 'slot' in the day as between DD1 and DD2, there is something different to do every day. 

Not that I think that will help you much ....but wanted to let you know you are not alone. 

What I have been doing is expressing right after each feed until I get a second letdown (which is fab, rich, thick milk).  I only get about 1 oz but I just keep topping up. Doing this also helps get your supply up so might help with expressing in the long run.  I have started to express after the DF now and I am hoping I can get a fair bit this way. 

I think the key is to be a couple of days 'ahead' so that you are not always chasing your tail.  If you can squeeze in some extra pumping after feeds (keep going for 15 mins or wait 15 after feed works here) then within a few sessions you will have a good few oz.  Add that to the DF session and you have a feed. 

((((Hugs)))) it is hard work!! 

[anna*]

hi Nicola - Thanks for the hugs, I'm so exhausted, it seems like expressing is just one more thing on my plate and I really wish I felt like there was an alternative.

Stanley's just turning 16 weeks. I try and be in bed by the time the DF happens - he's still waking twice in the night (sometimes more often, with gas) so I really need to be in bed early (in fact I should be there already  ). I've been trying to express after each feed but it's SO time-consuming (15 mins on each breast?) and only possible if Stan is content and happy and not needing me. His naps are good, so there's time there, but by then it's getting close to next feed time! 

He's on a 4-hr EASY, feeding at 7, 11, 3 and 6.30, so even if I get an ounce after every feed, it still doesn't add up to one DF    I can't see how to make it work.

[*Nicola*]

hi Nicola - Thanks for the hugs, I'm so exhausted, it seems like expressing is just one more thing on my plate and I really wish I felt like there was an alternative.

I say this to DP at least 100 times a day.  I remember crying at the thought of having to express.  Callie doesn't take bottles (another nightmare!) but I need to express for gaviscon and to up my supply and the very thought of it makes me want to stamp my feet and throw a hissy fit sometimes.  Honestly!

If he naps well and consistently can you do a feed, activity, express whilst he is in bouncer or whatever, and then do nap etc.  As long as you are leaving a couple of hours between expressing and feed  you should be fine. 

Also, I would express from the 'first side' and then offer the second side at the next feed. Does that make sense?!?

[liacarmen]

I have more luck in the morning - maybe try at 8:30? Plenty of time before his 11 feed. I think you're doing good that he's on a 4 hour schedule, my son is 7.5 months and 3 to 3.5!

[anna*]

Thanks Nicola - yes this is a tough old gig! Everyone told me how hard motherhood is - the funny thing is, I believed them but I still had no idea how hard! Sorry to hear you're dealing with reflux - some friends' of mine LO has it and makes all their lives miserable when it's not under control.

Stanley only fed once in the night last night - hooray! - so for breakfast he had all of one (very full) side and I expressed straight afterwards from the other and got nearly 4oz so that's encouraging and a good start on tonight's DF. I'll try and express between feeds when he's happily occupied, and maybe at the beginning of naps (2hr naps, usually (fingers still crossed)) if I miss the A time window.

I guess all I can do is try. Thank goodness, he will take a bottle (has done since 1 week old when hospital had me expressing every single feed so they could monitor his intake to the last ml for jaundice treatment - I was so scared he wouldn't go back to the breast, but like a little trooper he did). I hope I can 'catch up' with myself and get a few feeds in the freezer because I do not want to have to cancel my day off, when Stan is with his Gran, because I haven't got enough milk in store! The thought of my long Monday nap - napping without keeping one ear open for a tiny boy - is all that gets me through sometimes!

I have more luck in the morning - maybe try at 8:30? Plenty of time before his 11 feed. I think you're doing good that he's on a 4 hour schedule, my son is 7.5 months and 3 to 3.5!

Thanks Liacarmen - you're right, mornings are best. I'll try for more mornings but sometimes I seem to not get a spare minute til the evening! I'm really lucky that Stan is very adaptable - he was wavering between 3.5 and 4 hours for a few days, so I said ok let's try the switch and go to 4 hrs - had to be careful about OT for a couple of days, but he's basically a textbook boy and just adapts. We're trying to wean off the swaddle now too. He's too tall for his miracle blankets and wakes himself up trying to break out!

anna
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[Mum of 3 + 2 stepkids]

Hi Anna, I try and and pump after feeds too, dh give last feed with ebm at 6.30 so i pump then and before i go to bed at 9.30-10. I don't do df. It is really hard but if you know you have to do it, it just fit in after a few days. I know whet you mean about being tired, i didn't pump last night as i fell to sleep on sofa a 8pm just after kids. Now im thinking am i going to get much tonight?

Have you got a single or double pump, Electirc?

WOW 4hrs, i am only on 3hrs and my lo is 16 weeks also. How was your lo with the 1 breast in the morning? It doesn't matter how long my lo has gone in the night he will still empty both breasts in the morning.

Kate

[clh]

{{{Hugs}}} Anna!  I'm sorry no good advice.  We didn't do df here, either.  If he was hungry, I treated it like any night waking.  I wasn't pumping very much, either, and I didn't want the stress of trying to make enough for that in addition to the stuff for daycare.     Anyway, when he stopped waking for the 10 pm feed, I kept pumping at that time.  It provides a bit extra.  I don't know if there's anything in all that that you can use, but I wanted to give {{{hugs}}} and maybe a bit of hope for the future.  Hang in there!