Hello fellow moms -
Welcome to Expressive Moms ... a resource for moms who choose to express breastmilk and bottle feed their babies!
There is no shortage of sources for moms who breast- or formula-feed exclusively, but finding information for mother's who opt to pump their milk and bottle feed exclusively is challenging.
And, let's face it, there is a weird stigma around it. Or perhaps it's the mommy guilt we're all so used to feeding. I should be breastfeeding from the breast. I am not being the best mommy if I don't.
Time to let it go. We should stand proud of our decision to bottle feed breastmilk! Our babies are fed beautiful breastmilk - the best food for a baby - and we have the luxury of knowing precisely how much our baby is eating, having someone else feed the baby, stocking up extra milk for emergencies and extending the amount of time we breastfeed. And don't forget we are doing TWICE the work: expressing and feeding the baby. It's no easy feat!
So how is it exclusively expressing isn't more popular? For one thing, it is a commitment. Not a "when-I-feel-like-it" commitment, but rather a real, everyday commitment. And, I suspect, there just aren't enough resources out there to let moms know it is an option that can be sustained.
For me, I knew even before I was pregnant I wanted to breastfeed. I eagerly put my son to my breast after he was born, and he latched on perfectly and fed. I couldn't have been happier. But my bliss was short-lived as he became a lethargic eater and fussed incessantly when I brought him to latch. Instinctively, I knew he wasn't eating enough, but I hated the thought of feeding him formula. I broke, supplemented until my milk came in, and considered my options. I could torture him by trying to teach him how to breastfeed; I could continue with formula, or I could pump my milk and bottle feed it. I chose to express exclusively. I knew it was the best option for me: I work full-time and am completing my Master's degree part-time. I would only have two weeks before returning to school, and maternity leave would end by five months.
As I started on my journey to expressing exclusively, many questions arose ...
How much breastmilk should my baby be drinking?
Can I mix Vitamin D drops in my baby's bottle?
How often should I pump? And for how long?
Am I pumping enough milk? Am I pumping too much milk?
Should I refrigerate a bottle after it's touched my baby's mouth or can it stay at room temperature?
What is the best bottle?
Which is the best pump? What should I be looking for?
What are the rules for traveling with breastmilk if my baby isn't with me?
I wished there was a one-stop-shop of answers - or at least a collective of resources. And with that in mind, I decided to create Expressive Moms. If I am going to go through the trouble of finding out the information, let me share it with other moms who have the same queries.
I intend to share my personal experience, relevant articles and factoids I come across, and anything else I think may be of interest. I encourage you to comment, reply, and message with yours!
Happy pumping, moms.
