Should I express?

[mandler]

Yes me again! I am finding bf such a challenge, and DH is losing heart I think .
Baby is 4 wks tomorrow and putting on weight slowly but steadily. His feeding is so erratic though, this week a couple of days feeding and crying all day, now he is sleeping soundly day and night and has to be woken for feeds. he is also sucking extremely vigorously and making my breasts ache. I can hear milk going in and him swallowing then after about 10-15 mins he squirms and nibbles until I remove him. I offer him the other one and he does the same...
Because he is working so hard for the milk I am so paranoid about supply that I am thinkng of expressing now. WIl this help increase supply so it is easier for him to feed?

[moondog]

Why are you paranoid?
It all sounds as if it is going well (althoguh as we all know,those first few weeks are hard.) The easiest way to make more milk is to feed the baby off the breast more often.

Nothing wrong with expressing but if you start getting into complicated scenarios involving expressing to take the place of 'normal' breastfeeds and/or to boost supply then it becomes very stressful and often goes pear shaped.

Having said that,now would be a good time to introduce an occasional bottle of EBM for yuo to take a break.

Have faith in your body. You've done the hardest bit,which was making the baby AND ALso the hardest part of feeding.