Expressing milk
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20658
Printed Date: 12 September 2025 at 9:39am
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Topic: Expressing milk
Posted By: first
Subject: Expressing milk
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 1:50pm
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I've had a couple of people tell me I should start expressing milk off to feed DS by bottle occassionally if I ever want him to take to a bottle later down the track. Is this really the case? Must I start now or forever BF without expressing?
You see I am really enjoying BFing and I don't want to introduce any bottle as I want him to BF for as long as possible. I am concerned that if I give him expressed milk that he'll decide the bottle is easier and stop the bf altogether. I know some like to express a feed for DH to give at night but I love giving DS all his feeds and DH isn't fussed if I do. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: VannesaD
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 1:58pm
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Go with what you are comfortable with First. It is a personal choice whether to express or not and some people never do. If BF is going well for you and you have no intention to return to work or see no need to ever introduce a bottle - there's no need to do it.
I say keep BF for as long as you want to, as long as you can and as long as baby wants it. There is so much advice out there and everyone has their own opinion of what works and what doesn't - ultimately it's your choice and exclusively BF is not a bad thing so don't get put off by other peoples comments. As for mixing BF and bottles with breast milk - there's no problem with that either .. my only suggestion would be to buy a bottle/teat combination that mimics the breast to help with the transition between breast and bottle. I think Avent do a great teat for their bottles or you can purchase specific teats from Plunket which force the baby to treat the bottle just like the breast in as much as using their tongue to get the milk out (rather than it just dripping down their throats). I used the plunket teats with my first and had no problems continuing to BF while giving her the bottle from time to time too. I plan on buying more teats from plunket for this baby also - they can be used with most normal style bottles (not Avent). One last suggestion is - if you do decide to express and give bottles from time to time - make sure you are expressing when you would normally BF to keep your milk supply up. So even if you miss a BF and give baby a bottle - express so your breasts keep making the quantity of milk required. Good luck and congrats on your baby! -------------  
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 2:25pm
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I never expressed until Ella was around 4 months old and it was only then because I was going back to work part-time in a couple of months time and wanted to get her used to a bottle. It was a bit of work getting her to take a bottle, but she took it at 6 months without any problem and now she will quite happily take the bottle or b/f. If you are happy b/feeding and have no real reason to introduce a bottle, then I would personally hold off until you are ready- no rush. ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 2:34pm
| You don't have to express. If you ever want a night out or some time off you could just try formula if you are ok with that. I got DH to do it a couple of times (he did the 10:30pm dream feed) in the early days when I just hadn't managed to express much and it was great. But if you don't want/need that then don't bother. |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 04 September 2008 at 2:41pm
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I never expressed when I was b/feeding Maya. I did a few times in the very beginning when I had mastitis and had to express to help clear the infection, but other than that she was exclusively breastfed and I had no need to express.
I'm expressing one feed a day atm, mostly coz I have too much milk and even tho I only express enough for comfort it doesn't seem to be evening out. I do want Chiara to take a bottle and we've been trying but she won't so far so most of the milk is in the freezer. For the moment she is exclusively b/feeding and if I wasn't going back to work I probably wouldn't bother with the bottle, but she's going to need to take one eventually and I'd rather it was EBM than formula. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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