expressing milk - but when?

[weaselwithin]

I'm ebf my 5wo and heard that I need to give dd bottles of expressed milk now and again to get her used to it. I have an electric double expresser that I'd like to use, but I'm confused about when to do it? should I express when she sleeps (2-3 hours tops) to have milk to give her later? or would that mean she wont have enough milk when she wakes? or would it even increase my supply? I'm curious to try giving it to her in the middle of the night - is it more common to do this? might it help her sleep?!

any advice welcomed!!

[marmaladegranny]

My DD had same dilemma with her 10 week old. She has found that supply adjusts to suit demand so pumping does not limit the milk available to baby. First thing in the morning she seems to have a must larger supply and can easily express 4floz and then feed baby - from speaking to friends she believes this is normal pattern

[PretzelPrincess]

First thing in the morning is the best time for me. You may have to express a couple of times in the day initially to get one feed. But your supply will adjust, your baby will get enough.

[YouMakeMyHeartSmile]

I was always told that first thing in the morning was the best time, but to be honest I just did it in the rare 10 mins of the day when I had chance! Your supply will adjust to meet demand so don't worry about running out of milk.
FWIW I gave my DD a bottle of expressed milk every single day from 5 weeks to get her used to the bottle. All fine, until about 10 weeks when she just decided she didn't like it anymore. Wouldn't take a bottle again until she was 6 months old!

[LillyBugg]

I agree, I always got the most off first thing in the morning. I would tend to wait an hour after breastfeeding to then express which would usually give me another hour (hopefully) before having to breastfeed baby again. Sometimes I gave him the milk in a bottle but I mostly stored it.

Five weeks sounds early to me, I don't know what others think. I waited until 12 to ensure that breastfeeding was fully established before offering a bottle. But then I've had quite an easy baby who will take a bottle from anyone whether it is breast milk or formula. He doesn't care, to him milk is milk.

I would be careful about giving expressed bottles in the night at such a young age as it could affect supply. All the best breastfeeding hormones are at their highest during the night so if you're looking to give any kind of bottle I would try and avoid skipping any night feeds.

[AnnieLewis]

I was told that the best thing was to express for say ten minutes after your LO has finished a feed, on both boobs if she's taken both sides. That was your breasts have time to 'refill' before she is likely to want another feed.

Your supply will adjust to meet whatever you demand, so you will end producing more milk by doing this..

[justabigdisco]

Of course you don't NEED to express at all, you know!

[ShadowFire]

I always found it easiest to express milk in the morning.

Your breasts will adjust produce milk to meet the demands put on them, so if you express regularly you will produce more milk.

I'm not sure about whether you 'need' to give babies bottles to get them used to them though.
I have friends who tried that and still ended up with bottle refusers.
And then at the other end of things, you get babies like DS2, who was ebf with bottles not even attempted until he started nursery at 11 months (he could manage sippy cups fine by then, so whether he could manage bottles wasn't as important as it would be for a younger baby) - and liked bottles so much that the nursery staff told me he would try and grab the other babies bottles and drink them if the bottles were left unguarded for a moment.

[WishUponAStar88]

Congratulations :) I only expressed every now and then but found that the only way I could express more than an oz or two was to pump first thing in the morning at the same time as dd was feeding from the other side.

[weaselwithin]

thanks all. it seems such a hassle to express but I guess I'll get used to it. reason I want to is because I have a few weddings when dd 4 and 6 months old, planning to still ebf but bottles could be really handy for those days in case she doesn't come!