https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:34:37 +0000 Sun, 12 Nov 2006 11:39:42 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.05 360 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=4398 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/ https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85751&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85751 Author: yummymummy
Subject: 4398
Posted: 12 November 2006 at 11:39am

Emma, do you know why the lactation consultants recommended you the Medela over the Isis IQ. From what I have read, the Medela tubes can get blocked with milk and there is a poss of milk going backwards. The Isis IQ does not use tubes as you pump stright into the bottle but seems fiddly to assemble.
As I'll be going back to work (almost full time or full time) quite quickly, I need something I'll be able to use for a long time that's quick and easy to assemble and use and clean. I hope it's not wishful thinking - I really want to feed bubs my own milk... ]]> Sun, 12 Nov 2006 11:39:42 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85751&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85751 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85391&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85391 Author: Maya
Subject: 4398
Posted: 10 November 2006 at 2:42pm

I'm still using a hospital grade Medela electric that I hired and it is so effective.

Sienna is having the Avent bottles and Mercedes is using the Nuk anti-colic ones and neither of them seem to have nipple teat confusion.]]> Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:42:57 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85391&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85391 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85374&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85374 Author: luna
Subject: 4398
Posted: 10 November 2006 at 2:08pm

We had huge trouble getting Amelia to BF in the hospital (1 week), and I was expressing a LOT. They had a Medela electric pump which was great, and I didn't seem to have a problem with my milk coming in and keeping up with her needs.

She finally got the hang of BF (after a visit to the chiropractor), but her and I seemed to be on different schedules and I was still expressing a lot (Avent Manual Pump). Expressing is hard hard work - like a lot of others have said. I also ended up getting a Breast Infection as a pump can't quite do the same job of emptying a breast that a baby can. Having said that, I really wanted Amelia to have breast milk so kept up with expressing. After the infection (think it was the voltaren) my milk supply dropped right off, so I am now doing alternate BF/Formula feeds, and use formula when we are out (usually just one feed anyway).

We found a Choo-choo teat excellent in the early days while trying to establish BF (but not having any luck). They are meant to imitate a nipple more than any other teat. We now use Avent bottles and Amelia hasn't had a problem since we started using them, with nipple confusion.]]> Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:08:18 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85374&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85374 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85312&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85312 Author: Andie
Subject: 4398
Posted: 10 November 2006 at 9:51am

Letting the baby suckle builds up your milk supply really really well.  The trouble with expressing to build it up is that you don't know how much to express, and can end up with too much milk (hmmm, not comfy).  I found breastfeeding hard work for the first 2 weeks, but after that, it hasn't been uncomfortable at all.  I'd suggest trying to breastfeed and give it long enough to get through that initial 'yuk' phase (which after giving birth, you can definantly handle  ), and after then you could be right as rain!  I know some women get trouble with sore nipples or infections after that initial phase, but none of us know if that's going to happen until we give it a go.  Anyway, it's a personal choice and I'm not trying to push my opinion (based only on my little tiny bit of experience) on you - just wanted to share what I've learned.  And I've learned that breastfeeding is much easier, for me anyway.  Expressing has it's place, but it's just so much more work, and heating milk with one hand while a baby screams in the middle of the night isn't great fun, neither was sitting there at 2am with a breastpump afterwards while Ella slept away and the bags under my eyes got darker and darker!  Also, Ella had no trouble taking a bottle the few times I've given her one.  And I suppose again, that's one of those things you don't know if it'll work with your baby until you try it.  So much guesswork!! ]]> Fri, 10 Nov 2006 09:51:22 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85312&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85312 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85253&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85253 Author: Maya
Subject: 4398
Posted: 10 November 2006 at 7:05am

I had a record express this morning - 260ml on one side and 220ml on the other. But the half hour it took at 3am was a bit frustrating - do you know what sort of crap is on TV at that time of the morning!

I luckily haven't had any probs with nipple-teat confusion, my girls both latched beautifully at Family Centre the other day (even tho they wouldn't latch when they were first born), the problem is me being too sore.

Ann - I started expressing at 5 days but like Janine says it messes with your milk supply something shocking so ifyou only want to bottle feed occasional feeds I'd wait until your supply is settled sometime between 1-3 weeks.]]> Fri, 10 Nov 2006 07:05:39 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85253&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85253 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85250&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85250 Author: mum2paris
Subject: 4398
Posted: 10 November 2006 at 12:07am

if you wanted, you could possibly express after each feed from early on - but keep in mind that it will dramatically increase your supply as you will be stimulating more than baby feeding.. ie baby will stimulate as much milk as it needs then expressing on top of that will make more.. so as long as you keep it up it would be ok, but if you were to miss a time, or stop suddenly.. you risk lots of pain, engorgement and possibly infection from blocked ducts.

I mean in the grand scheme, some babies do get the nipple confusion and others dont and you can't say which will and which won't, but from what i have seen so far at work, it tends to be those that introduce the bottle then do the only bottle one feed and only breast the next etc.. if you want to try a bottle, give a little bit of a breastfeed to stop baby being frantic first, then try half way through.. cos introducing some weird foreign thing when baby is already starving will make it hella pissed off with you. lol that way you can still givce both.. but bear in mind you'll have to express afterwards to take off what baby didn't feed from you... other wise supply will drop. argh it's all so complicated who thought motherhood was so fricken complicated.

doing both.. ie bottles during day/while you are at work and then bf when you are with baby and during weekends.. does and has worked for lots of mummies.. i think that's the reason i kept feeding Ayja for so long.. that and after feeling so let down by the badd experience i had with Paris.. i had ayja who fed well.. so kept with it for 14 mths just cos i probably was trying to make up for not having that the first time.. and i was too damn lazy to get up at night and make bottles - still am.. i wake mike and he gets her up, brings her to our bed and makes her a bottle.. i just have to stay awake till she's finished and put her back to bed.lolol

Edited by mum2paris]]> Fri, 10 Nov 2006 00:07:35 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85250&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85250 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85248&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85248 Author: AnnC
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 11:08pm

so sort of taking over this
When did you start to express? I want to not for work reason asap - but so that Dh and other children - more my 8 yr old daughter Brooke can feel part of that too.]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:08:11 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85248&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85248 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85239&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85239 Author: Nic01
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 9:39pm

I think mixing & matching the bottle & breast is fine as long as your bub is happy to take both. Personally, I find breastfeeding a lot easier than expressing. Like Emma said - to keep your milk supply up with expressing you really need to express every time baby has a feed. That means that if you're giving a bottle in the middle of the night, you'll need to express at the same time which can make for a very tired mum!!
The only thing I enjoy about expressing is it means I get 20 minutes or so of 'time out' at work when I can't do anything else! ]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 21:39:29 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85239&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85239 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85229&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85229 Author: busymum
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 9:02pm

I started Hannah on expressed milk once a day from the time she was 2 weeks, as I too was returning to work at 6wks and wanted her to be adjusted in time. It wasn't too difficult getting her onto the bottle that young, she seemed to adjust really quickly. The only thing I did wrong is always give her the bottle myself, so it wasn't until I went to work and left her with DH that he had his first go... oops!

Expressing is a lot more hassle than just BFing. Sometimes BFing is tricky but only in the beginning until you both get the hang of things. I would wait until your milk and feeding is established (week or two?) before trying to express, as there is enough to learn in that first few weeks as it is.]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 21:02:48 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85229&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85229 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85206&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85206 Author: Syd
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 8:16pm

At the moment I am breast feeding and expressinbg in the mornings and evenings. I will be going back to work, but only for two days a week. Personally i find expressing a pain, but I still want bubs to have breastmilk when I am away. We introduced the bottle at 3 weeks ( I wanted to introduce at about a week, but too many other things to worry about!) and that has been working well. We give bubs a bottle a day of expressed breast milk to keep him used to it. Its quite nice, as hubby can give bubs the last bottle at night which gets him invloved and also give me an early night! I have avent hand pump, which is good but I am thinking I should have got an electric one now!]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:16:59 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85206&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85206 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85182&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85182 Author: Maya
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 6:20pm

I breastfed for 5 days and have been expressing ever since, the girls are on 100% expressed milk atm. If I could b/feed them I would - expressing is a pain in the butt. It means every time I give them a bottle I have to express to keep my milk supply up, which means I am up twoce during the night to express which takes about 20 mins or so on top of the night feeding time. Not to mention how loud the girls scream while waiting for their bottles to heat, plus the time it takes to wash annd sterilise everything. To be honest, if it wasn't for the cost of formula feeding Neocate to two babies I would give the expressing away.

I'm using a Medela double electric that I've hired and it is great. The two lactation consultants I have seen have both said the Medela's are better than the Isis IQ. I've got the Isis hand pump which I really liked but it's not efficient enough for full time expressing.

I also haven't had any supply probs, am expressing 200ml per side per feed and am taking NaturoPharm Milkmed to help my supply.

I'm hoping to get the girls back on the breast if my nipples ever heal (I have a bacterial infection - ouch!) as it is so much easier. I remember with Maya the first month was agony but after it settled it was so easy and convenient.]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 18:20:18 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85182&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85182 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85181&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85181 Author: Bizzy
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 5:42pm

but you can still give the occasional feed - like at night and on weekends. i dont think that doing both to start with will do any harm. nic01 seemed to have the right idea - she said she does both.]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:42:31 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85181&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85181 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85179&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85179 Author: yummymummy
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 5:30pm

I think what I wrote was not quite what I meant - mummy brain and all
What I wanted to say was that I want to feed bubs breast milk only but I also know I'm going back to work and will be able to only do it for a short while. Once I'm back bubs will get it's feeds from a bottle mostly. I don't want bubs to reject the bottle if not used to it when we make the switch, so I wonder if I should just bottle feed it breast milk from the start to avoid confusion.
Is mix and match a good idea or should we stick to bottle only is what I'm really after I guess. I know expressing won't be easy but we have no other choice - once I'm back to work it's the only way.]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:30:57 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85179&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85179 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85141&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85141 Author: Bizzy
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 2:14pm

lets see - you have to put the machine on to pump the milk out, then store the milk, then re heat it when feeding the baby, and hope you pump out enough, wash and sterilise bottles and pump as opposed to open up shirt and attach baby... the breast pump may say it helps build up milk supply but at the end of the day it is only a machine and wouldnt do as good a job as the real deal.

breastfeeding can be hard, but not always, some women find it really easy and have no problems. you wont know till you try it tho.]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 14:14:06 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85141&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85141 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85127&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85127 Author: yummymummy
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 1:16pm

For some reason I thought that expressing is heaps easier than b'feeding. Also the Medela pump is supposed to help build up milk supply so that's why I'm inclined to buy that one. I'm not keen on b'feeding as such (sounds quite painful really) but want to give the baby real milk from me, not formula. And the main reason behind this is that I have quite a few allergies/intolerances and don't want bubs to develop those too - I was a formula baby.
B'feeding at lunch is not going to be an option once I go back - we'll have the bub cared for at home at first mostly by mum & MIL & grandma & maybe part-time nanny (diff days). That's 30min drive from work so out of the question - it's 1 hour there and back.
Hmmm.... For some reason I see expressing as the 'easy' way out - is it really not quicker/more efficient than b'feeding? ]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 13:16:33 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85127&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85127 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85120&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85120 Author: mum2paris
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 12:34pm

i would definately say give it a go, that way once you have an established supply you can express and on the countdown to going back to work, start dropping one feed a week during work hours, and instead express.. Some women find it hard to let down to the pump, esepcailly so if they have not yet done so by having baby feed so they know the feeling. plus, by bf first off it means that when you ARE home, you can just BF.

I studied so would BF whenever i could going at lunch times etc to feed and in breaks between classes, but when on placement, i would pump, and Ayja would have bottles.. after a few it got a bit much and i was running myself into the ground so switched to formula for the bottles when needed, but still BF whever i was with her.

The other thing you can look into, is see if there is a daycare that is close by to your work.. many mums go at lunch breaks to feed babies and baby has bottle for any feeds needed in between, cuts down work, and fills in your lunch hour when you are most likely sitting around thinking "i wonder how baby is?"

Generally, medella pumps are great.. from experience these are the ones most hospitals have and use and mums that i work with find them good, you can hire electric medella ones but if it's a long term thing then i'd suggest buying, you can get the mini electrics, or hand pumps, because hiring can cost alot and you'd pay less just to buy.

In saying that, i used hhhm, i can't remember the brand, i think it was pur, hand pump.. when i was studying and it was fine for me. i think with hand ones, try and make sure that you get one that is one-hand operated, cos sometimes you need that extra hand to keep everything steady and sitting right, lol.

lol... Have a heap of info on this because as part of my training i developed a booklet for mothers returning to work and studying and wanting to contiue bfing. lol

Edited by mum2paris]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:34:28 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85120&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85120 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85078&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85078 Author: Nic01
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 8:56am

If you want to breastfeed I'd give it a go. If you're working part time you can always combine breatsfeeding & giving expressed milk. I currently work part time, so breastfeed when I'm home & Matt gets a bottle of expressed milk while I'm at work. It works well for us. I'd imagine after 6 weeks of breastfeeding you'd be pretty well established & as long as you introduce the bottle before you go back to work it should be ok. I've got the avent isis iq electric pump which I love. I haven't tried the Medela one though so can't compare them.]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 08:56:52 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85078&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85078 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85062&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85062 Author: EthansMummy
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 8:27am

I have the Isis Manual and have tried the electric Isis one. I really like them.

For the other question I am not too sure. Perhaps you should talk to your midwife because having baby on the breast may help bring your milk in easier.]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 08:27:15 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85062&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85062 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85043&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85043 Author: yummymummy
Subject: 4398
Posted: 09 November 2006 at 7:34am

I know it's a little bit early still but I'm really curious about this and wanted to get some advice from all you experienced ladies.
I'm looking at buying a breast pump - the one I like most at the moment is the Medela pump in style traveller. I'm keen to breast feed but I'll be returning to work quite quickly (after about 6 wks or so - part time at first). My question is, from what I've heard breast feeding takes a little while to establish, should I even try it or just start expressing from the start and just give baby bottle?
Also any views on the Medela vs Isis IQ will be appreciated.
Thanks

Edited by yummymummy]]> Thu, 09 Nov 2006 07:34:10 +0000 https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4398&PID=85043&title=breast-feeding-vs-expressing#85043