How soon can I express?

[Chloe55]

DS is 12days old and breastfeeding is going well. DH has gone back to work and is worrying that he won't get enough time with ds as he works fairly long hours. DS feeds every 3 hours, sometimes more frequently during the day and I normally go to bed after about the 9/10pm feed then DH brings him up to bed for his 12/1am feed. Then, he feeds again at 3am ish and again about 6am. DH wonders whether it would be possible for him to give expressed milk at the 12/1am feed and the 6am feed using a bottle - that way meaning he gets to spend all his time with him in the morning and last thing at night.

My worry is - is it too soon to express and will DS pick up bad nipplesucking habits? Will my milk supply decrease? Will he take to a bottle as well as a breast?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[suzywong]

your routine sounds great, plenty of food for your baby and a good supply line being established

To answer your questions, no your supply won't decrease, no he won't pick up bad nipple sucking habbits - when you postion him on the breast and he picks up the usual cues of touch and smell he will be fine, and he may or may not take to a bottle it all really depends on the baby.

Just remember your EBM must contain the thirsty quenching foremilk as well as the nutrient and fat rich hindmilk, so let your supply build up again and express, well it sounds like it would be 90mins after you feed, to make sure you are giving both types of milk

Good luck and keep up the good work. OH and don't stress over it if it doesn't work out, the BF is the most important thing if it's not logistically necessary for your DH to replace you at a feed.

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hmm, I've heard it's best to wait until four weeks before introducing a bottle. Also, feeding in the night is really quite important for keeping your supply up.

If you can, it's better to wait a little bit. No real harm in trying to express at this point (particularly if you're not suffering from oversupply issues?) but I'd be nervous about giving a bottle quite so early unless you have to.

[Chloe55]

Thanks suzywong that's really helpful. I think I will give it a go and if it doesn't suit then like you say the fact that I am doing ok with the BF is the most important thing - DH just wants to try and feel more 'useful', bad word to use as he has been a godsend but I'm sure you know what I mean. Would you advise manual expressing or a pump?

[suzywong]

NQC is of course quite right, I am talking nonsense, you should be feeding through the night for at least the first 6 weeks, Sorry

[suzywong]

Um...I would say a pump, never got the hang of manual expressing

[Chloe55]

I'd still do the 3am feed and any others he might wake for, DH just wants to do one or two if it's possible - I thought I had heard something about waiting till he is 4 weeks as well though, just wasn't sure if anyone had done similar to what I'm suggesting?

[Chloe55]

What about if he just did the 6am feed - do you think that would be acceptable?

[Chloe55]

Or still too early at 2 weeks?

[NotQuiteCockney]

I started giving DS2 EBM from a pretty early age, because there was a concert I really needed to go to at 9 weeks or something.

But we never really stuck to it.

I'm very lazy, and much more inclined to give DH a job like "change all the nappies while you're home" or "do the bath" that actually saves me work, iyswim.

[suzywong]

I would settle in for a good month of just you feeding. There are other ways DH can be helpful and bond; bathtime for example, get baby in the bath with dad and get skin to skin time.

And of course he can do more of the drudgery, that would be really useful

[Chloe55]

He does that too by choice!! God, I'm spoilt!!!

[Chloe55]

Thanks, I think I will probably wait a few more weeks before I start introducing a bottle then, don't want to upset the routine at this early stage.

[WigWamBam]

My lovely breast feeding counsellor told me to wait until at least 6 weeks before expressing to feed to dd. In her experience, expressing doesn't interfere with milk production, but giving feeds in a bottle does - particularly if given overnight. There's also the discomfort factor - I always found that if I didn't feed overnight I was uncomfortable and leaking everywhere.

Your dh doesn't have to be feeding your baby to be close to her.

[Racers]

Hi Chloe
Congrats and well done on getting bf going so well.
I would just add my thoughts. My DD did struggle with her latch after being given a bottle. I waited until 4wks before offering a bottle, just to really be sure that we'd got it right, plus I couldn't be bothered to work out the breast pump etc until then. Whether this was too late, and hence the latching problems (and pain!), or not, I don't know, but I'm sure there was a connection. I only used a bottle once or twice a week - again, maybe more regular use would be ok.
Also, don't forget that your DH can be involved when you bf - you can all snuggle up together and enjoy the time togther. I did a bit of expressing for parents/pils to feed DD but I wouldn't do it again, it was too much work and painful consequences. They can do other things to bond! I would do it for DH if he wanted, but I don't think he'd mind if we just all sat togther in bed etc. OTOH, you might feel it gives you an extra rest (I didn't feel like that, as the expressing etc was a bit of a pain).
I'm sorry, I really don't want to be negative, it's just my experience of this sort of thing wasn't that great and luckily my DH was able to be around at bedtime/bathtime etc and never felt he was missing out. I totally understand that your situation is different. Everything is worth a try and see how you get on.
Apols for long post

[Racers]

so long to type, you got loads more great advice!

[Mfer]

Hi - lots of good advice - will just add mine - which is that I am BF counsellor and generally recommend waiting until BF well established which is about 4 weeks after birth. There is some good advice on how to introduce a bottle of the Playtex Infant care website under the breastfeeding support section:-
www.infantcaredirect.co.uk/acatalog/Breastfeeding_Support_Products.html
Which actually makes alot of sense.
I have found that this system generally allows mums to move seamlessly from breast to bottle and back again - one other thing latex teats are more breastlike!! Hope this helps - good luck