when can i express without affecting supply

[yentil]

i am so happy to report that my 2 week old dd is successfully BF. I am so happy its working out thus far (never managed with DD1)but DH is feeling a bit left out. he has now taken charge of DD1 (aged 4) and I am 'in charge' of DD2.

this feels strangly unnatural. so he suggested that i try to express so he could feed once in a while. I am also missing DD1 as don't feel like i have time to spend with her.

I know its early days but i didn't manage to feed DD1 so this is all new and really shocked by how much time is being spent BF (also treating thrush so things taking that bit longer). from the threads I have read this is normal at this stage (cluster feeds / on demand feeding etc) but really want to try to express sooner rather than later. any suggestions? TIA

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

There are other ways for your dh is spend time with dd2, like giving her a bath or taking her for a walk.

The time spent bf'ing will lessen in time but it does seem quite full on at first doesn't it?

Milk supply is normally established at six weeks, so maybe wait until then?

Or if you really want to express, express straight after a feed so your dd gets all she wants.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Oh, and I meant to say congratulations for getting this far with bf'ing It feels such an accomplishment doesn't it?

[NoGoodNicknamesLeft]

ooh and if you only get half an ounce after a feed, don't worry - freeze it and build it up until you get what you think is around a feed's worth.

[yentil]

yes it feels so surreal having 'failed' the first time round. i will have to explore other ways my Dh can spend time with her. but to be honest i don't feel like i can leave her with him because she shows no mercy when ready for a feed

[NoGoodNicknamesLeft]

och, yentil, there's no such thing as "failing" by formula feeding, dd1 is a healthy happy kid, right? so no worries. 2 weeks old means it's all very new - things'll settle in time and the roles of dd1 care-giver and dd2 care-giver will become more blurred. as a bf'r, you are unf. tied to dd2 by your tits, it's one of the cons of bf'ing, but it'll level out soon enough.

breast of luck!