You can give baby a bottle after 6 weeks so they don’t develop a bottle preference, as it’s easier for them to drink from a bottle so he might stop latching.
I don’t have much experience on pumping and storage, but pumping is usually not recommended until after 6 weeks once your supply has regulated to avoid giving yourself an oversupply, you’re going to be feeling full a lot early on since your body hasn’t worked out how much little one needs, by pumping regularly you’ll basically be making enough for twins since you’re telling your body it needs to make more! If your only goal with bottles is for a few feeds here and there, I would honestly wait until your supply regulates and use a haakaa in the mean time, pop it on one boob while feeding baby on the other and the let downs you catch should be plenty for now! Lots of skin to skin with baby and latch as often as he wants, there’s no reason he wouldn’t be getting enough, fussiness & cluster feeding is normal :) Hope that all makes sense!
Also make sure to pace feed the bottles to avoid a fast flow preference
When you pump, the milk can stay up to 4 days in the fridge, 6 months in a regular freezer, 12months in a deep freezer. If the milk comes in contact with baby’s saliva, it’s only good for 2hours max. Make sure you breastfeed on demand. It’s not good to introduce bottles too early as it can create nipple confusion and cause baby to refute the breast. It’s recommended to introduce bottle by 4weeks since it’s around that time that they perfect the latch. Make sure you drink lots of water (breastmilk is 81% water) & eat a nutrient based diet (look it up). If you fear you have supply issues don’t start doing all kings of supplements right away. Troubleshoot the problem: are you feeding baby often enough, are you hydrated & are you sleeping well? Check those areas 1st then introduce 1 supplement at a time. It takes 3-4days to see a change in supply. Best way to increase supply is to put baby on the breast more often! Have an IBCLC on standby in case you need support
We were advised to wait at least 4 weeks to pump I had to hand express when my milk came in due to baby being unable to latch, so I froze what I hand expressed I gave him a bottle at a week old because I was just struggling and he had a few but struggled to latch onto me again So I stopped with the bottles He’s 4 weeks today and I haven’t expressed since the days my milk came in My plan is around 6-8 weeks to express when hes due a feed and give him that instead x
Some things to research so you can educate yourself: • hindmilk va foremilk • lipase in breastmilk • nutrient based diet • deep latch • clogged ducts • mastitis You can also use a Hakka instead of a pump. Please research pumping so that you don’t create issues with that like an oversupply Breastmilk is nutritious for baby beyond 1year and is tailored exactly for baby’s needs. Also, your pediatrician will recommend that you give baby vitamin D drops since breastmilk is low on that. You can use use and put breastmilk on baby for anything: diaper rash, cuts, acne or bumps, in their bath if skin is dry or irritated & so much more!
your doing amazing and exactly the right thing, don’t overthink breastfeeding it so simple, your baby will drink as much as they need! like said above leave bottles until 6 weeks just to be safe, some babies are fine though and will still be good at breastfeeding,yu are doing everything right if pumping bc feeling engorged only pump until your boobs don’t feel full and sore anymore and you can put it in freezer straight away you don’t have to put it in the fridge as your not going to be using it yet, recommend also store your milk in the same ml/oz your baby drinks in, so if recommended if your pumping lets say 8oz split it into two 4oz or 6oz and 2oz so you aren’t wasting milk as when you do begin to bottle feed your baby most likely won’t be take 8oz so the rest of milk will be wasted x message me if you need to xx
&& pump for the missed (bottle) feeds!!
The lipase comment Wis mentioned above is important if you’re planning to pump and store breastmilk, as high lipase breastmilk doesn’t taste good to baby once it’s been frozen. So you don’t want to build a stash just for all that work to go to waste if baby refuses it. I think some some women just have it and some don’t, don’t think it’s diet related or anything. I have high lipase milk and baby won’t drink it if defrosted, only from my breast (it tastes soapy and weird and even smells funny)
LACTATION CONSULTANT!!! I’m not sure if anyone said this already but they will be able to help you the best!
@Marissa agree! I’ve had some lactation appointments due to baby having tongue tie and although other than that our feeding journey has been pretty smooth and we’re doing great, it has really helped me and just to hear ‘you’re doing perfect’ every now and then is amazing and keeps me going when it gets hard! (And trust me with a missed tongue tie it can be bloody hard, we will feed up to around 18 times a day 20-30 mins at a time sometimes and he’ll be 14 weeks by the time it’s released so it’s been a long journey so far already!🤣)
I saw above using a hakka to catch letdowns was recommended. I just want to point out that there is a hakka pump and a milk catcher. The pump can create an oversupply, while the catcher is simply catching the milk on the other breast. If you are wanting to just catch letdowns and what leaks then get a milk catcher. If you want a different pump option then try the silicone pump. When you do start bottle feeding, you will need to pump in place of those feeds. So when dad is giving baby a bottle, you will need to be pumping around the same time. Talking with a lactation consultant can help you with a schedule and any other issues that might come up with feeding. Like others have already stated, be careful about pumping so early on. You can create an oversupply which can cause other problems. Clogs, milk blebs, or even mastitis. Hand express if feeling full for now.
@Ari wat is lipase x
@Ari not every baby rejects high lipase milk. I had high lipase and both my kids drank from my stash fine. I know other moms who didn’t have issues as well. So it really depends on the baby
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@Abi it’s when the enzymes in the milk get higher in the storage process so it makes the milk taste different and have a funny smell. The milk is still healthy to drink. But the smell and/or taste can throw babies off sometimes and make them reject the milk. But not every baby reject it if it happens and the milk is 100% fine.
@✨Wis 🇭🇹 interesting, I didn’t know that! Thank you, hopefully my next baby will be less fussy with it 😅
@Ari yes! Sometimes it could be the bottle or the plastic nipple that’s the issue. Try spoon feeding at first to see how that goes!
@✨Wis 🇭🇹 how do yu know if yu have it x
@Abi for me, I knew because I was catching my letdowns in muslins at the start and they would really smell a few hours later
@Abi you can tell by the smell usually. Smells kind of sour. It’ll make you think it’s spoiled but it’s not. That’s the best way I can explain it.
Trust yourself, trust your body. Milk comes in on a demand and supply basis. Learn your babies hunger and fullness cues, what active feeding looks and sounds like. Find a local BF support group. When giving a bottle, pick a teat that looks more like a triangle than a long think nipple and pace feed. If you have pain, seek help. Generally it can take some getting used to but after 1 week it shouldn't be painful - ask to see infant feeding team for support or see an IBCLC. Eat lots, drink lots, try to eat lots of nutritious foods. Good resources: la Leche league website, Facebook support groups, Lucy Webber on Instagram, book (audio book on Spotify): a judgement free guide to feeding your baby - boob bottle and all Know they your BF journey will be unique and might not follow the "text book" - it looks, feels and is different for every mum and baby 💚
Congratulations on new baby! I wouldn’t pump this early on, just hand express if you’re feeling engorged. I would be putting baby to breast as often as possible, baby will help regulate your supply to their needs.