Hi there- this is my first post in the parenting rather than pregnancy forum 1 week after giving birth!
Due to various traumas around the birth I have ended up mixed feeding expressed breast milk and formula. Not at all what was planned but it seems to be working for us and is the best I can do at the moment.
I have a few areas of confusion I hope people can clear up though!
1- I am only managing to pump 3x a day at the moment while am recovering and as I also need to look after my baby! Get about 140ml each time but then between times I am leaking which frustrates me as it is a waste! Will my supply reduce so I don't leak so much? It's worse at night - shall I set an alarm to wake up and pump?!
2- how long should I pump for each session? I know frequency is more important and I hope to increase frequency when I am able to but at the moment I pump for half an hr till I have a good amount and the breasts are softened but the milk is still coming out a bit - I lean back and press down on my nipples to stop the flow. Should I keep going longer? Breasts never truly empty though do they.
3- how long can I expect my supply to last before it dries up if I don't manage to get back onto direct breast feeding?
4- I have heard of people exclusive pumping for 6mths. I know they pump more like 8x a day but how do their bodies know to produce more milk as the baby gets bigger? Do pumping sessions have to get longer and longer?!
Thanks for any advice given- I have been in such a tailspin since the birth that any help would be much appreciated.
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Infant feeding
Mixed feeding formula and EBM
7 replies
Smerlin · 06/11/2013 10:59
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