Hello everyone!

Just wanted to do a quick response about using manual expression over
pumping.  With my fist child(she was 4 weeks early and very tired) I was
sent home with a hand pump and told to feed the baby, pump and bottle
her until she woke up.  Well I ended up with cracked, bleeding nipples,
and mastitis(my doctor said on a scale of 1-10 I was a 8).  I ended up
quitting out of shear(sp) exhaustion.  I didn't know about LLL, and
there wasn't anyone else I could talk to.

When my second daughter was born(10 weeks early) I had nothing to do but
pump.  Thankfully there was an excellent LC on staff-Jan Tolley in
Springfield, IL(they never get enough credit) who set me up with a
double pump set and I was on my way.  When my daughter was finally able
to latch on at 4 weeks old I was ready and had plenty of help in the
NICU!!  Abby is now 2 1/2 yrs. old and still nursing!!  I don't think I
could have done it by hand expression in the beginning.

Hand expression is a wonderful technique to teach women, but I never got
the hang of it.  One weekend when we went to visit family, Abby was too
busy to nurse and I hadn't taken my hand pump with me.  Finally after
about 12 hours of no relief I tried hand expression.  I was really proud
that I could do enough to relieve myself, but it took about 30 minutes
on one side and I only got maybe a half ounce and a sore neck-thank
goodness she decided to nurse a few hours later.  So to all those women
who have the gift of being able to hone that skill I applaud you, but
for me the easiest was a pump.

I understand about making a buck off of breastfeeding to-I have a rental
station but believe me I'm too much into helping mothers and haven't
made much of a profit I'm afraid, but that's not why I started my
business-I wanted to help moms like I was helped.

Anyway, I'd better climb down before I fall.     Julie Miller, BC
                                                 [log in to unmask]