Expressing Help Please!!

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  lynz_81

  May 27, 2009 5:13AM

  Hey hun, it is all a bit confusing isnt it! I have been expressing for a couple of weeks now, i tend to express first thing in the morning, once during the day while she's sleeping, and then before bed. I express from whichever side feels fullest, for example first thing i'll be feeding her from one side and expressing from the other to ease the discomfort! Don't worry if she wants feeding straight after, you produce to meet demand so she'll still get milk from you! Once you've finished expressing you need to put the milk in a sealed container (you can buy breast milk storage bags and pots) and pop it in to the fridge or freezer asap. If kept in the fridge it needs to be used within 24 hours, deep freeze it keeps for 3 months. When you want to use it, pop it in a bottle and in to a jug of boiling water, and warm it to skin temperature (if you put a little on your wrist you shouldnt be able to feel it) One thing i will say is don't worry if you don't manage to get much out, it takes time forr your body to get used to expressing! When i first started i was lucky to get an ounce. I've just bought a medela swing electric pump and its fantastic, well worth the money! Good luck xxx

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  breighlin

  May 27, 2009 5:50AM

  If kept in the fridge it needs to be used within 24 hours, deep freeze it keeps for 3 months.
  
  I have been told by the breastfeed advisor in hospital and breastfeeding leaflets, you can keep expressed breastmilk in the fridge for 5 days. (it needs to be in the back of the fridge, not the door) And in the freezer for 6 months (but you need to cool it down before putting it in the freezer)

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  alison_eardley

  May 27, 2009 8:12AM

  Hi,
  I also have a Medela swing - it is fabulous. In terms of when to express, I started expressing in the morning because everybody said that was when there was most milk, but I found it really hard to do it just after I had fed my baby - with winding her and putting her to play, and getting breakfast, I would often wait 1 and a half hours, and then it would get close to her nap, and then she would want to feed again. I found it a lot less stressful to express in the evening, although admittedly it was once she had dropped the 11pm feed. I just express instead. Based on advice from here, I express both sides. I always get a small amount from the side I've recently fed her on, but it means what I get is more hind milk anyway. I also get a lot less from one side than the other, but this is quite normal. I don't express everyday because we don't give her bottles every day, but every day she gets a bottle I do. You can also stock pile milk, so if you aren't able to express a full feed in one go (some women aren't and breast feed fine) then you can do it over a couple of days (if you don't give a bottle everyday). Also, my LO takes a bottle very well from her Daddy, and from other people, but she won't take one from me.
  Good luck!
  Ally x

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  woozle35

  May 27, 2009 10:21AM

  Hi
  Looking in all my breastfeeding books they say 'should be used within 48 hours if kept in the fridge and 3 months if in the freezer.
  viki x

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  woozle35

  May 27, 2009 10:21AM

  Hi
  Looking in all my breastfeeding books they say 'should be used within 48 hours if kept in the fridge and 3 months if in the freezer.
  viki x

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