BF & EBF how to combine both on a right balance

[Dozeyland]

BF my 5 week old DD, have had mastitis, open wound which is healing, one flat nipple and now DD & I have thrush :( - which is now being treated.

I am wanting to do some expressing along with my breastfeeding, just so I can build up a stock in my freezer for future use if DD is with someone else at anytime...

I am feeding DD on demand, but she usually goes about 3-4hours in the day and 4-5 at night. (this may change i know.)

So how would i introduce expressing in my daily routine - WITHOUT messing up my supply (making over supply?)

DD had a growth spurt last week so she fed a lot, now i have a lot more milk, and when she feeds they fill up so quickly after this. I tend to alternate boobs too.

any tips please?

Confused new mummy!

[crikeybadger]

Hi Dozeyland

Hope you're starting to feel better.
I've never feel expressed on a daily basis as it's too much faff for me (and I never go out !)

However, I would suggest you express first thing in the morning for best results. Can you feed on one side and express the other at the same time?

What sort of pump are you using?

[Dozeyland]

tommee tippee electrical pump.

i tried expressing at the same time as feeding but i feel awkward with my hands & feeding DD too.....

need to try though

[crikeybadger]

Yes, good if you can do both at the same time I guess or you'll find you are constantly either feeding or expressing.

Maybe someone else has some top tips?

[HermyaTheRedNosedReindeer]

It may not work for you, but I tend to express on the same boob after a feed and try to get about about 10ml off of that boob and then switch over to get 20ml off of the other. I know it seems like a small amount but I'm doing this every day ish at the moment and popping the milk into milk bags and popping them in the freezer thus slowly building up a little stash.

I'm also every few days using the days expressed milk to give to DS a bottle to get him used to taking one.

[HermyaTheRedNosedReindeer]

I've also had over supply issues, thus why it's such a teeny amount.

[ClimberChick]

Dozey I found when DD got bigger it was easier to express and feed at the same time, so worth bearing in mind.

I would try not to express more than a couple of oz's until your over the 6 week growth spurt and your breasts stop having that 'full' feeling when it's time to feed.

I found for me that I needed to express most days to keep up the supply. If I missed a couple, then I was back to just 1 oz and having to increase expressing supply. (Done just by being consistent doing it each day, after about 3-5 days, a significant increase to 4-6oz was observed).

One word of warning is that it's not unusual to express a lot less after 6 weeks as your body sorts out regulation. So don't take this as a sign of bad supply.

As for when best to do it, up to you. Evenings worked best for me, I found the pressure of trying to fit in an express in the day too much, especially with a non-sleeping baby.