Will expressing milk help being able to breast feed?

Jessie - posted on 08/22/2010

I dido what everyone else said. Got to a meeting/meet with a lactation consultant before you have the baby. Also, have a support person or persons that will support you in breastfeeding every step of the way (not encouarge formula or give bad advice such as 'he isnt getting anything because he is hungry again, you feed him too often, etc.) My family was not supportive of me (and still arent really, 13 months later, LOL) but my best friend and my boyfriend were/are and they made all the difference in my success and a nursing mother. without their help and support I would have been a failure! if you know someone who is breastfeeding currently, it might be akward but ask them to show you how they do it. it'll help! good luck

Natalie - posted on 08/22/2010

I will do :) Thank you

Celeste - posted on 08/22/2010

I'm glad this helped! It's totally normal for babies to want to nurse all the time. It helps milk supply since milk supply works on supply and demand. The more you nurse, the more you will make! Definitely do not give bottles in the beginning for a few reasons-a) nipple confusion (One of my twin boys developed this thanks to be given a bottle, but fortunately worked through it) and b) bottles can kill supply in the beginning because your body won't get that signal to make more milk

Good luck and feel free to ask more questions!

Natalie - posted on 08/22/2010

Thank you to everyone who wrote back. I'm so glad I asked now because I never knew or have ever been told that stimulating your nipples or expressing is a way to bring on early labour. So glad I didn't just start doing it. I'm hoping this time I will have a good milk supply because I done last time what Angie said about feeding on demand and my lil' boy just wanted to be on my breast all the time. I'm might ignore the nurses if they just say staright away to give him/her a bottle and try sticking it out and seeing the consultant, like nearly everyone had suggested. Thank you so much for all the help and advice. You learn something new every day. Also I will be going to breastfeeding workshops again with this pregnacy. Just fingers crossed this time I have a good! supply :)

Angie - posted on 08/21/2010

I agree with the ladies who posted. Also, the nurses tried to convince me that my baby wasn't getting enough milk because he was crying a lot, but it was because he had gas from the hospital food they were feeding me, not from hunger. A high pitched cry and intermittent, greedy feeding means a belly ache from gassy food that can't be burped out. Be very careful of what you eat. Don't let them give him a bottle, even if they say he needs one. If the baby is latched on right and is swallowing regularly, she's getting enough colostrum/milk. Drink LOTS of water, especially if drinking milk makes the baby gassy. It did for my babies. Water will help give your body the essentials for making enough milk. It'll take a while for the baby to learn to nurse correctly, also. Above all else, don't get discouraged. It can take a few weeks for baby to get used to latching onto your nipples without having to try a few times. I suggest you nurse on demand, most breastfed babies don't do well with a 2 hour schedule like bottle fed babies do. Sometimes they need to nurse more often than that and it takes them longer to finish eating. At first, it make feel like you are always feeding the baby. But that's okay. I strictly breastfed my baby and I am just starting to wean him now. He'll be a year old in a few weeks.

Brooke - posted on 08/20/2010

I was scheduled to be induced but my ob told me to try a few things that might make me go into labor on my own - one of which was nipple stimulation. Sure enough, my water broke while I was doing it. I would not advise you trying to express milk because it just might make you go into labor before you're actually ready. It would only be colostrum you were able to express anyways because your milk won't come in for several days until after delivery. Plus, milk is only good for a few days in the refrigerator so you might end up wasting any colostrum you are able to express anyways. Try to get into contact with a lactation consultant after you have the baby so you can get some help. Good luck!

Meri - posted on 08/19/2010

I haven't ever heard of that helping with breast feeding. When I was over due my midwife had me stimulate my nipples to bring on contractions though.
The best thing I can suggest is putting your baby to the breast as soon as you can after delivery, my son was nursing within 30 minutes of birth. Whether c-section or vaginal birth the sooner the baby starts sucking, or even licking the nipple the better your chances are for a good breast feeding connection.
Your milk might not come in for a few days after the baby is born, and that might scare you. Mine didn't come in for 4 days and my son was over 10 lbs, but he did just fine on the colostrum, and I didn't let the nurses give him formula in the hospital even though they thought he needed it. His blood sugar was low for a couple hours, but i just let him nurse and nurse in the hospital and he was fine.
If you are worried about your milk not coming in soon enough you can drink a non-alcoholic beer a day or so after delivery and there is something (i can't think of what it is) in it that does encourage your milk to come in.
I really hope everything goes well and you get the opportunity to nurse your baby. Good luck!

Celeste - posted on 08/19/2010

No, don't pump, because it can trigger contractions.

The best way to produce enough milk is to nurse. Breastfeeding works on supply and demand, so the more you nurse, the more you will make.

Make sure latch is good. A good latch ensures that baby is taking in milk.

Educate yourself-attend a breastfeeding class, go to a LLL meeting or another breastfeeding support group, find an IBCLC.

Good luck!

Amanda - posted on 08/19/2010

I don't think is is advised to try to express milk before the baby gets here. Nipple stimulation is a trick that has been used for ages to initiate labor. I would suggest finding a La Leche League near you before you have the baby and going to talk to other moms and watch them feed. Breastfeeding is a very learned skill and takes practice for both you and the baby. As soon as you have the baby I would suggest you get a lactation consultant as soon as possible to help you. Nurses in general don't have enough training with breastfeeding and the LC can get you off on the right foot and spot problems before they are actually a problem. I think that if I hadn't had the help of a wonderful pediatrician who sent me to an LC with my first that I would have been in the same boat as you. It took almost 6 days for my milk to come in and I know now that it was because of poor latch and not enough time on the breast. I think the thing that helps the most is to actually see someone else nursing so you can get what it actually looks like before you try it again yourself! Congrats and best of luck! You can do it!