The Five Senses of Expressing

Expressing milk isn't a task just for your ta-tas ... in fact, all five senses are involved, some directly and others indirectly!

Check it out:

SIGHT

• Freshly expressed milk will blend into a seemingly homogeoneous mixture
• Chilled milk will separate, with cream rising to the top (it will blend again once warmed or if shaken gently)
• Milk comes in many shades of white, yellow, and even red
• If you consume a lot of artificial colors, it will pigment your milk!
• Sometimes my milk looks blue-ish when I first pump - then it becomes a creamy white after being chilled (see below - left is chilled, right is fresh)

TASTE

• No, I haven't tasted my breastmilk. But I've heard what you eat will "flavor" it, thereby shaping your baby's tastebuds!

SMELL

• Breastmilk smells like milk - but it's a very mild smell
• Just like milk, it will sour when left out too long
• After a while, your milk will start to smell like your baby (for obvious reasons)

TOUCH

• When you express, you should feel a tug on your nipples and the suction of the pump
• However, it should not be painful!! Pain is your body's way of telling you you're doing it wrong
• Check out this post for more information on how to get the "perfect latch" when expressing

SOUND

• I don't know there is a "sound" to expressing - though my pump definitely makes a lot of hums, squeaks and shreaks
• Interestingly, when your baby cries it can cause your milk to let down! Mother Nature is pretty amazing at guiding new moms

What's the Big Deal with Breastfeeding?

Curious why the big hype about breastfeeding? After all, formula-feeding has been the norm for many years and we're all just fine, aren't we?


There are countless benefits to breastfeeding - both to you and your baby. My personal favorites include:

• formula feeding is fine (gasp!) and you're baby will grow to be a beautiful and healthy child. But breastmilk offers an incredible immunity-boost that no man-made formula can deliver. Nothing compares to mommy's antibodies.
• breastfeeding is cheaper, even if you are an Expressive Mom! See the real numbers in this post
• it's the easiest way to get back to pre-baby weight (breastfeeding burns 500 calories per day!). I've actually dropped a dress size from my pre-baby size - I eat like pig and haven't bothered with dieting or exercising, so it's definitely the breastfeeding.
• you may benefit from a reduced risk of breast cancer among at-risk women.  To be sure, there are MANY correlations for causes / prevention of breast cancer. Click to CNN Article
• you may also benefit from a reduced risk for uterine and ovarian cancers 

Plenty of articles out there on the benefits of breastfeeding ... some for the sampling:

7 Ways Breastfeeding Benefits Mothers - Ask Dr. Sears
Why Breastfeeding is Important - WomensHealth.gov
Benefits of Breastfeeding - Natural Resources Defense Council 
Your Guide to Breastfeeding - WebMD

The Perfect Latch

Just as with breastfeeding, the perfect latch is critical to success.


When you pump, you need to be sure you have a proper latch in order to maximize your production, minimize your time investment and avoid roughing up your delicate nips.


Some pointers:

• be sure you have the right flange size - yes! they can vary in size! Your nipple should fit comfortably in the neck of the flange; it should not be squeezed and it should not have space around it (see below, courtesy Medela):

• when you start pumping, make sure your nipple is parallel to the neck of the flange, as depicted above. If it is sideways or crooked, you will have decreased efficiency
• start on a lower speed and increase once your milk has let down to a comfortable level. you do not need to pump at maximum speed / strength - this can make for some very tender nipples!!
• you should feel "tugging" on your nipples, but under no circumstances should you feel pain. consider a lower setting if you experience discomfort during or after pumping

If you have the perfect latch, but your nipples are only being slightly stimulated, check that your pump is attached properly:

• is the flange airtight to your breast?
• is your nipple properly centered in the flange?
• are the pump membranes in place?
• are you missing any pieces
• are the hoses airtight?
• is every piece snapped in place properly?

When Do I Start Pumping? And How Long Do I Pump?

One of the first things I asked the lactation consultant at the hospital was "when should I begin pumping?" Unfortunately, the consultant on staff was terrible and really couldn't give me an answer. 

So I figured it out on my own.

Let me share my experience with you for some guidance ...

When we went home (after two days in the hospital), I tried pumping colostrum. It just didn't work out. I sat for 20 minutes pumping at the highest level, not really knowing what I was doing, and got a little dribble. I bawled my eyes out ... how was I ever going to feed my baby?? I digress.

So it wasn't until my milk came in (late in the evening of day three) that I tried again. I pumped for 20 minutes on both sides and got about an ounce per breast. It was very yellow-y. None of it was like I expected.

I continued to pump every two hours, for 20 minutes at a time. My supply grew, and soon I was getting two ounces per breast. That's when I decided to cut back on the length of time I pumped, thinking if I got two ounces after 15 minutes, why should I bother with the extra five?

I waffled with how long I pumped - sometimes it was only seven minutes, sometimes 10. I assumed my supply wasn't going to grow any more than it had, so I stopped pumping whenever I got two ounces.

Then logic kicked in ... if I pumped longer, over time my supply would react and I would get more milk. Sure enough, I extended my sessions back to 15 minutes and before long I was getting three ounces per breast, every three hours.

For me, this was the perfect ratio of duration, frequency and output. I pump four to five times a day (six if I’m super disciplined) and am able to keep a very stable and constant supply. There is the one exception of my morning session, which is longer and more productive … but more on that later.

To find your right balance, consider how much milk you produce, how big your breasts are (not discriminating! but bigger breasts hold more milk longer), and how frequently you can commit to pumping.

Welcome to Expressive Moms, an Introduction

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.