Breastfeeding... expressing...advice PLEASE?

Question

My daughter is a little over 6 months and breastfeeding is all but impossible at the minute. Sometimes she feeds really well, other times is on and off the breast 10 times in one minute (no exaggeration). I know this phase will probably pass but I have been thinking lately that I might start expressing and giving her feeds in a sippy cup. I have thought about this from birth so it's not just due to what I call "distracto baby syndrome" lol.

I'd love some advice from anyone who has tried this ... or anyone else if you have any info, tips etc.

I am worried about my milk supply as it has never been great. I don't know what would be worse for it:my daughter's haphazard feeding habits (she never quite drains me at the minute cos she just wants to play) or expressing rather than feeding her directly.

Answer 1

I pumped exclusively for my daughter for 12 months.  My milk didn't come in for 8 days after her birth so I had to supplement.  By the time it did she wanted nothing to do with my breast.

My supply went up and down but I always had just enough.  Sometimes my supply was very good and I could freeze some for went it was low. Since your daughter either has already started on solids or soon will be then pumping might really work for you. Pumping is a pain but it is so much better than formula.  So for me it was worth it.

If you do decide to pump- massage your breast before hand and during if possible. This will really help getting your milk flowing.  Remember milk supply can go down but if you keep at it then it will likely go back up so don't get discouraged.  And you get the most milk in the first 15 to 20 minutes if you have a good electric pump.  So you might not want to pump for more than that at a time unless your milk is very plentiful.  I used the Medela In Style pumped and it was great.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Answer 2

Pumped with my daughter and put it in a bottle. She loved how much easier it was to feed on a bottle than the breast that she started to wean.

Good luck!

Answer 3

You would be doing both yourself and your daughter a huge disservice by switching now.

All babies go through this phase - playing at the breast, it comes and go's and is very normal, and it will not effect your milk supply.

Going from breastfeeding to just pumping will though.

Answer 4

Maybe she is ready to be done with breastfeeding???  I would just pump and give it to her in a cup to be honest that way you won't dry up and maybe if you do it consistent enough you may bring in more milk....GOOD LUCK....