Expressing question

[ANiceSliceOfCake]

Hi. So my husbands just fed with out first expressed bottle. The plan is to help with night feeds at the weekend. Our test run went well and he took the bottle no problem. But now my boob is killing and I've had to express, which defeats the object! So what can I do?

[ThereGoesaTenner]

You can't expect your milk to go instantly, that will kill!
I think what I did when I stopped was expressed as well as formula. I gradually expressed less and less until I realised one day I was dry! I expressed when I hurt or when my son had a formula feed. You can mix, if you don't want to waste it, but with gradual wean (or of course you don't use it). I don't think they say to strap your boobs and wait for it to dry up any more as that will hurt like hell!
You need to get the milk out as I think there's risk of mastitis if you don't.

[Memyselfandthatotherperson]

Repost in infant feeding -
Lots of great advice to be had there.

[ohthegoats]

Express and freeze?

When I expressed enough for a bottle, my boyfriend would give it to her in a bottle, and I'd express a bit before I went to bed, and then when I woke up. Was enough to sort out the next bottle.

Sometimes I leaked at night, but then started sleeping on a towel, or wore pads inside a cropped top. A pain, but then breastfeeding just isn't glamorous! Worth it for sleep, and to see boyfriend's face while feeding her.

[ANiceSliceOfCake]

Thanks. I suppose expressing after my sleep is the only way then.
I was hoping to get 4 hours continuous sleep if my husband could do one feed but it looks like I'll have to express in that time to stop engorgment. I want my husband to experience feeding but it sounds like it will be a faff.

[blibblobblub]

You might find you're ok with just expressing to the point of comfort. So just standing over the sink and hand expressing a bit.

When DD started settling more on a night and dropped to one major early hours feed I used to wake up super engorged. I hand expressed a little and found it settled in three days or so. It's just a case of getting your body used to the times you normally feed.

[Defenderwife]

How old is your lo?

You could express multiple times for 5 mins or so each time between day time feeds to build up enough for night time feed. Number of times and lengths of pumps will depend on your own supply and the pump you have. You will need at least 4-5 ounces in total. Feed baby at say 10pm ish then go to sleep and when baby next wakes get dh to give the expressed milk. When baby wants next feed you feed him. If your boobs are sore or ready to explode and you wake before baby is ready - hand express to comfort.

[Dixiechick17]

I express aa little, just enough to feel comfortable and now have no problems with engorgement when she has her evening botte.

[ANiceSliceOfCake]

Thank you. He's 5 weeks old, he's great at breast feeding and I can express easily so no problems there. I'll try to express s little just for comfort then each time and see how that goes.

[BeccaMumsnet]

Hi ANiceSliceOfCake - We'll pop this over to infant feeding now.