Advice with expressing when breastfeeding

mummyemm

Hi
My baby is 17 weeks and I have been solely breastfeeding him. I want to start expressing some milk and storing it, so that when we transfer to bottles (probably about 1-2 months time) we can initially use that rather than formula.
Has anyone got any advice on when the best time to express is, and how I would fit this into his normal feeding regime. He usually feeds at 06.00, 09.00, 12.00, 15.00, 17.00, 19.00, then sleeps through. Sometimes though, he will only go 2 hours between feeds so don't know where I could squeeze an express in. I thought maybe about 22.00 before I go to bed, then hopefully I wouldn't be as engorged in the mornings.
I have already got a Tommee Tippee manual pump.
Thanks in advance for any advice

lauren_1

I used to express about 4 hours after his last feed at night, i didnt get much to begin with but after a week or so my body started to recognise this as a extra feed and upped my milk production.

I would say 22.00 is probably a good time.

PurpleJay

Hi

I would say expressing at 22.00 sounds like a good plan. On the days where he has an extra feed, just don't bother that day or don't worry if you don't get as much. You will find though, if you add a feed, your body will catch up.

Wondering why you are thinking of moving on to bottles? I found breastfeeding became much easier once M begain solids at 6 months and my boobs started to more normal (no more waking engorged), even though he continued to feed regularly.

I always struggled with expressing using a hand pump so when I returned to work when he was 11 months old, I bought an electric one whichwas a bit easier. I used to express enough for 1 feed while I was at work, so that he could have a bottle the next day before his nap at nursery. As we went on, he used to have follow on formula on the Monday. I was able to continue to feed him when he was with me as much as he wanted and by expressing, I think it helped maintain my supply and stop me feeling uncomfy on those days I worked.

We did this for about 5 months and then I stopped expressing and found I was still able to feed him on demand when I was with him.

Until I went back to work, I just expressed if I knew I had to leave him for a bit which wasn't very often and it would have been useful to have some milk stored for those occasions.

Those times where they feed loads are usually growth spurts and pass after a few days or weeks. You should be just about approaching one at 4 months - I remember it went on about 3 weeks! Try not to worry about fitting in expressing at those times. They do pass

Hope some of this helps.

Nicki

Does he always empty both breasts? I found it easiest to express from one breast while baby was feeding from the other. Milk flow was faster, and I didn't have to make time to hook up to a pump when baby was asleep and I wanted to rest!

If you're planning to express regularly, to feed expressed milk on a daily basis, i'd really recommend an electric or battery pump. You can often get these quite cheaply on bay, particularly if you don't mind a lightly used one. None of the parts come into contact with baby's mouth, and all the parts which will have come into contact with someone else's breast milk can be sterilized so no reason to be squeamish about this!

londonlass001

Would echo advice already given although i pumped when baby was asleep as couldn't juggle pump and baby!

Has baby tried a bottle at all yet? Doesn't happen to everyone but you might find baby is a bit unsure of a bottle. If you are transferring to bottles because you are going to be leaving baby e.g going to work, I would try sooner rather than later. Not quite the same but although my son will take a bottle and dummy, he will only take a certain brand of dummy!

Best advice though is not to worry that if you don't get much at 1st, it's not a reflection on what you're producing or what your baby gets.

good luck

tiamai_d

Nicki wrote: »

Does he always empty both breasts? I found it easiest to express from one breast while baby was feeding from the other. Milk flow was faster, and I didn't have to make time to hook up to a pump when baby was asleep and I wanted to rest!

If you're planning to express regularly, to feed expressed milk on a daily basis, i'd really recommend an electric or battery pump. You can often get these quite cheaply on bay, particularly if you don't mind a lightly used one. None of the parts come into contact with baby's mouth, and all the parts which will have come into contact with someone else's breast milk can be sterilized so no reason to be squeamish about this!

I did the same as Nikki. Medula mini electric from eBay, it was used but you can buy new horns (the boob bit) for a few pounds. The actual electric motor doesn't come into contact with milk.

I also tried expressing at night and in the morning. It's really about finding what works for you. As others have said, don't be disheartened if you get 1-2oz it's pretty common.

Massage the breast first, I found that helped a LOT with my 'output'. A bowl of warm water and a flannel for when the milk stopped flowing could help get a bit more.

craftdaft

I started expressing in the morning. DD would feed from one side then afterwards I would express from the other (I never tried doing at same time as DD feeding). I started when DD was 5-6 weeks old and had no problems getting 3oz to start off which increased to 5oz as body recognised extra feed (and meant I didn't have the engorged feeling throughout the morning!). However I can't remember when DD started needing both sides so this may not be an option for you.

mummyemm

Thank you for all your advice.
PurpleJay - Was thinking of introducing bottles so that my husband could feed D if I'm not able to. I didn't feel well at the weekend and it made me realise how dependent D is on me being able to feed him.
We haven't tried him with a bottle at all, just worried there may be an issue when I go back to work (not until start of June). I won't be able to continue feeding or expressing when at work, if D does have a problem with bottles, could I just introduce a cup/beaker instead?
Nicki I only offer one breast for each feed. This is always enough. If I express at the same time as feeding, will I not have less milk to offer at the next feed?
Should I try to express at a similar time every day so that my body is tricked into thinking it is a real feed?
Sorry lots of questions.

Counting_Pennies_2

Definitely get little one introduced with a bottle when you can. Just for one feed a day if necessary.

Some babies struggle to take a bottle if left for too long solely on breast.

Definitely agree with the late express time as well.

Nicki

mummyemm wrote: »

Thank you for all your advice.
PurpleJay - Was thinking of introducing bottles so that my husband could feed D if I'm not able to. I didn't feel well at the weekend and it made me realise how dependent D is on me being able to feed him.
We haven't tried him with a bottle at all, just worried there may be an issue when I go back to work (not until start of June). I won't be able to continue feeding or expressing when at work, if D does have a problem with bottles, could I just introduce a cup/beaker instead?
Nicki I only offer one breast for each feed. This is always enough. If I express at the same time as feeding, will I not have less milk to offer at the next feed?
Should I try to express at a similar time every day so that my body is tricked into thinking it is a real feed?
Sorry lots of questions.

No it doesn't seem to work that way. With the feeding schedule you are on you should still have plenty of milk by the next feed time. Not sure of the science but what it feels like as a mum is that after every feed the emptied breast immediately starts to replenish. If you are sceptical next time you feed put him on the breast you used last and watch to see if he can satisfy himself with a full feed from it. If he does, you have your answer (and could in fact start your expressing then from the other one if it feels engorged) If he doesn't you still have the other one to top him up!

ajaney

Theres a few different ways to express, I tried a few & this worked best for me - my baby was a every 2-3 hours feeder:

Starting with 1st feed of the day (the 'breakfast feed' around 8am) I would feed baby from 1 breast & pump from the other. I would then switch. I would normally get 2 floz from this feed.

I would do the same for the next 2 or 3 feeds till I got 5 floz & freeze it.

I did have a Tommee tippee electric pump rrp £80 but often on offer for £40 (got mine from gordonschemist.com, seen it this price at mothercare & babiesrus)

I think you might need to try a few different ways to see what works best for you. Freeze in small amounts then you dont waste it - it can be quickly defrosted if you need extra.

HTH