expressing - how to work it with supply?

[NumptyMum]

I'm having (still) a painful time feeding 3wo DD. It's reasonably OK when I'm at home, but when out with a toddler the stress increases either with him running about or with her not latching well (she's a chomper and v strong, not easy to guide). So after a v painful/stressful feed when in the very busy library this afternoon, I'm wondering whether I'll have to resort to expressing for bottles for feeds in the afternoons - but have no idea how that will work with my supply. Anyone out there have any idea on this? When would I express to get milk for an afternoon bottle feed? and if I don't direct feed her in the afternoon will my boobs be bursting? I'm hoping I won't have to resort to this but I'm sick of painful feeds and stress

anyone?

I haven't got there yet (only 19 weeks), but I know the Kellymom site has the best advice on bfing and expressing. Best of luck.

Thanks Japhrimel - I've had a quick look on Kellymom but can only either find info on types of pump or exclusive pumping OR pumping because of engorgement; but not on what time of day to pump and what will happen if I give bottle in the afternoon rather than feeding direct (ie will I balloon up, or will I have to commit to always using a bottle for that feed if I 'tell' my boobs a feed is not required at that time).

In an ideal world I'd LIKE to feed direct but it was so painful today and I need to balance doing things with my toddler so will need to be out and about, which at present exacerbates the trouble I have with latching DD... so I'm still in two minds about whether to do this, but would appreciate info/thoughts if other people have done this... anyone?

I've done a mixture after having a premature baby who came home breast and bottle fed with ebm.

for me the best time to express is between 8am and midday just after a bf so lo always has his milk first before the bottle. If then I give ds a bottle mid afternoon (well I don't but others have) its fine with no leaks bursting so long as I bf the next feed. At the beginning if I gave ds a bottle in the morning (to get vits in)I would then have to express or leak as I had more milk in the mornings. But then it settled down. You could also try expressing just before you go out or after you got back.

I don't know how that would impact on supply at this early stage. My lo was in hospital so long that supply was always fine when i started to breast and bottle feed.

hope that helps a little and it gets better soon

Thanks! Hope your prem baby is doing well now, well done for bf and expressing. Might try your suggestion tomorrow - I'm going to a very baby-friendly place with toddler DS so I'm really hoping it's peaceful enough (or DS busy enough) that I can feed DD direct without too much bother; at least I can feel more relaxed there about getting boobs out than in the library when near the printers with all the blokes waiting for their print-outs. However I'm sore tonight, so will have to see... plus DD has bad cold, really snuffly, so I think she's feeding more than usual too.

Sigh.

This has worked for me, I have left DS2 with my MIL in the afternoons.

I have expressed around 4oz in the morning when I have lots of milk. Thats the only time I can get any milk out!

I took him there at 1pm, fed him then, she gave him the bottle at 3.30pm and I fed him at bedtime.

Didn't seem to affect supply as didn't do it every day and over the course of the day the amounts was the same.

Wasn't bursting either although did feel a mild let down at around 4pm when he usually feeds.

IME though breastfeeding much easier when out and about as you'd have to warm the milk up.

Thanks for that MumNWLondon - I realise feeding direct is easier, it's just at present it's pretty painful so I'm considering other ways of managing when out and about... am hoping pain will resolve soon but had similar trouble with my DS and have nasty feeling it took a few weeks.

Hope it works out for you. My little prem ds is fine and for me sometimes expressing and then giving him a bottle is easier, so if that works for you in the short term I would just go with it, my ds will happily switch backwards and forwards and sometimes just has a mood where he won't take a bottle or won't take a bf. In that respect I'm lucky. Initially i got myself worked up about it, once I accepted he'd do what he wanted and all the milk was the same it was easier and sometimes I took bottles so I didn't have to feed in public. I don't so so now but do understand where you are coming from if it seems stressful atm. Also when you are out and about remember that ebm is not like formula, there no mixing water and powder and my ds is happy to drink it at room/outside temperature