Establishing schedule with BFing and Expressing

[Waterfoot]

Hi all

My baby is nine days today. Initially I wanted to just BF him, but we struggled with the latch. This led to baby losing significant weight and being readmitted to hospital and put on feeding schedule (expressing every three hours).

Now we are home we are doing a mixture of breast feeding (with help from nipple sheilds) and expressing. Baby is gaining weight and doing well.

I have a few concerns though...
I try and express every six hours for fifteen minute sessions (using Mandela swing pump) and breast feed between. Occasionally I miss a feed/pump as my partner gives baby the bottle so I can sleep. Will this method help to establish a steady milk supply? At the moment I have a very heavy supply and often drench breast pads and give baby a milk shower when feeding... I'd really like this to calm down!

Am I susceptible to mastitis/blocked ducts? Especially as I have a very large milk supply and am intermittently feeding/pumping without a steady routine.

If anyone has any tips or advice on how to make BFing combined with expressing workable I'd really appreciate it. I feel like it's going okay so far but not sure if I should have more of a strict routine for pumping/feeding.

Thanks in advance!

[Chickchickadee555]

Hi OP,
Well done on persevering through a tricky start to breastfeeding. It sounds like you've really started to turn things around.
Missing feeds as early as this is very likely to affect supply, yes. Especially if the feeds are at night. It can also leave you vulnerable to mastitis or blocked ducts. The best way to establish a good supply is to make sure milk is removed from the breasts very frequently.
These first weeks are so exhausting but it's best for the time being that you breastfeed directly as much as baby needs. Once weight gain is stable you should be ok to drop the pumping and topping up which will help lighten your schedule somewhat!

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Sorry to hear that you’ve had a rocky start @Waterfoot. How are you both getting on now?