Express Yourself: Breastfeeding Your New Baby

Express Yourself: Breastfeeding Your New Baby. Breastfeeding your new baby doesn’t have to be difficult. I know that some mamas cannot breastfeed and I almost could not either! Thank God for breast pumps! If you want to start expressing breast milk but are not sure how or what to use, then here is a quick guide to expressing milk to make this process a little clearer for first-time Moms or Moms who want to give breastfeeding a try.

 

Breastfeeding Your New Baby

As you know, breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for your baby and when it comes time to change to a bottle, you can still provide your little one with breast milk by expressing.

This means you can let your partner take over feeding duties – which will help with bonding – or enable you to return to work with the knowledge that your baby will still be fed with breast milk. It is also a great option if your baby isn’t sucking well or your breast is uncomfortably full of milk.

It is possible to express by hand with many women saying they find it more comfortable, but the majority of women choose a breast pump to aid with expressing.

Different pumps suit different women so it is important to consider your breast size when choosing a pump.  Kidsco reviewed the best breast pumps, so they could help you with choosing the right one for you.

Expressing milk is also a trained art form, so don’t be disheartened if it takes you a few attempts to get it right. Although seemingly a simple action to perform, different variables can make a big difference in the amount of milk that is expressed.

Things such as stress or a cool temperature can have a negative effect on your milk production so if it just isn’t happening; think about other factors that may be affecting it.

How To Store Breast Milk

Once you have mastered the action then you need to know how to store your breast milk for future use. In a sterilized container you can store breast milk:

 

• In the fridge at 4˚C or lower – Up to five days
• In the ice compartment of a fridge – Two weeks
• In a freezer – Up to 6 months

If you have chosen the frozen method then it is best to defrost the milk in the fridge and then use it immediately. Do not use a microwave to heat the milk, as this may cause hot spots that can burn your baby’s mouth.

It is also suitable for cold – if your baby will take it this way – but you can heat the milk in lukewarm water to keep the milk at body temperature. Here is more info about storing your breastmilk.

As with most things to do with your little one, it is up to each Mom to decide what is best for her baby. If you feel like Breastfeeding Your New Baby then good for you! If not, no biggy! Don’t forget to check out my recipe for frozen bananas and breastmilk popsicles for your teething baby!