Breastfeeding after exclusively expressing - advice needed

[BingoOnTheMove]

After 6 weeks of expressing and feeding via bottle I finally managed to get my baby latched and feeding with a nipple shield a few days ago. When I was expressing I was producing slightly more than she needed. But I only expressed 5 or 6 times a day whereas she fed 8-10 times a day. I understand you're meant to express when they feed to match supply but with a 3 year old to look after as well this was not possible.

My problem is that now she has started taking the breast I find myself quite engorged at times. For example both breasts were engorged and she's fed from the right side for 20 minutes but has now fallen asleep. So my left side is still very uncomfortable. When she wakes I will offer this side.

I know my supply will adjust to meet the demands of the baby but in the mean time should I be expressing to relieve the engorgement or will this mean I will continue to produce more than required? I'd rather stop expressing unless I really have to. And does anyone know how long it takes supply to adjust?

Thanks.

[BingoOnTheMove]

There were paragraphs, don't know what happened!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

She’s still very little OP and your boobs may take time to adjust. Yiu can always exoress a Little for comfort

[BingoOnTheMove]

Thank you. This is what I did last night, was a relief! Hopefully it's just temporary.

[Shriekingbanshee]

I found expressing too stimulating so I got more engorged. I would use the hot/cold method which just makes your milk run without the stimulation. Such a relief and soon adjusted. It was the only way to not be overstimulated they were like bags of pebbles!

[Teaandcrochet]

I've just had the same issue (although only 3 weeks of expressing before establishing the latch) I called the breastfeeding helpline for advice and they recommended just expressing enough to make yourself comfortable as engorgement can lead to mastitis, I.e. express the minimum you can get away with and eventually it will reduce. If however you want to continue to express as well as breastfeed then they suggested having a set time each day where you do a proper express. This has worked well for me and after a week I have gone from having to express through out the day and night to just a once in the evening so my partner can give a bottle last thing at night and I can get an early night!

[BingoOnTheMove]

Thank you for those replies, they're really helpful. I'll look into hot/cold method and only expressing a minimal amount. That does make sense. And might even consider expressing once a day and DH giving bottle as I'm scared baby will end up refusing a bottle and it'd be handy for her to take it if I'm ever out for a few hours.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Have you tried one of the silicon pumps? I have one called naturabond which was o ly about 12 from Amazon, it goes on the breast you're not feeding from. Not as full on as proper expressing but i find it does relieve engorgement, and i tend to get an oz each feed from it which gives me enough for a bottle in the evenings

[Shriekingbanshee]

The hot cold thing. I ran a sink of cold water and a hot bath (not scolding of course! But more than Luke warm) and dipped my stupidly enormous rock filled boobs alternately in each, but I imagine you can use a bowl of cold in the bath with you to save all the toing and froing, and the bath went white! Good for the skin apparently. How luxurious bathing in milk!
Also did hot/cold compresses on one of my whelping bitches when she got mastitis and swollen (with wrapped ice packs/wrapped hot water bottle). I prefer the soaking relaxing in the bath method though doggie notsomuch

[BingoOnTheMove]

Funnily enough I was looking at those pumps earlier so might invest. Although not sure how I'd attach it while feeding but I'm sure I'd get there with practice. I've noticed (thanks to the most useless breast pads ever) that I leak a ridiculous amount from the other boob while feeding so may as well try and catch some for the freezer stash.

And thanks for the advice re the hot/cold - doing that in the bath sounds good so might do that tonight. Can't even remember the last time I had a relaxing bath.

My boobs have actually felt better today and not quite as full so hopefully things are improving.

[BingoOnTheMove]

Also @shriekingbanshee love that you did that for your dog - bet she appreciated it!

[Shriekingbanshee]

Ha! Well yeah, she was suffering just the same as we do, but had mastitis, its clinically directed. I did it night and day for her but she still had to go into vets on pain meds and ab's, where that's exactly what the nurses there did too! Not that dissimilar to my method, but with heat pads which i didn't have. Hot and cold flannels too...and can't believe no-one has mentioned Savoy cabbage leaves stored in fridge yet!

[StatisticallyChallenged]

They're dead easy to attach - just position over your nipple and squeeze the bulb then release and they stick on. No holding required!

Good luck, the engorged feeling sucks!

[BingoOnTheMove]

I'd forgotten about cabbage leaves too. Apparently it totally works. But I have no cabbage. Am actually in a hot bath now with ice packs balancing on my boobs. It's so soothing.

And I'll definitely get that pump then if it's easy to use. Don't want any going to waste.

Thanks for all the advice - much appreciated.

[BingoOnTheMove]

@shriekingbanshee Poor wee thing, hope it cleared up quickly for her. Horrible when they're in pain. Good you had that knowledge to help her.

[Shriekingbanshee]

Aw thanks bingo am reminiscing at the thought of you in hot bath with the cold packs balanced and the milky bathwater, brings it all back, the relief!
Yeah, she was in a bad way so badly, sometimes they have to have mammary removal! Ikr nasty thought, she not so wee, as 30kgs plus the engorged boobs weight, she was so trusting when it was evidently so painful, which you realise quite how much when you've had it yourself (me on a minor scale though). Imagine having twelve of them to manage! She is still a wonderful DM to her now very outsize 'pup'!

[Shriekingbanshee]

Just thought, are you alternating? Not having hot and cold together but hot then cold then hot?

[BingoOnTheMove]

That's such a shame. Glad she got through it. I wasn't really doing it properly but still got relief. Actually feeling much better today and baby seems to be feeding much better so hopefully that's us on the way to being sorted. Haven't had the engorged feeling at all today. Funny how quickly your body can change like that.

[Shriekingbanshee]

Thanks for coming to share the good news bingo it happens the other way too, like after stopping and baby needs to start again (if poorly say) the suckling action starts it all off again. At exactly the same time of day as previous day's feed! It's nuts (and quite amazing all at the same time)!