How often will I need to express?

[AngelDog]

I'm going back to work in a month's time, when DS will be 11 months. It's only one day a week.

At the moment he feeds about 5-6 times during 'office hours', although he will be happy with just 3 feeds in that time if we're out & about (but takes more at each feed).

Do you think I'll need to express all of these feeds when I'm at work, or am I likely to be able to get away with just expressing once at lunchtime? I'm trying to work out the logistics of not getting too engorged and I really don't want to leak at work!

It's been months since I routinely expressed and I can't say I find it particularly fun.

By this age I think it's really personal and you'll need to experiment yourself.

Supply will be fine, I reckon you'll be able to get away with one, especially with feeding him before you leave. You will most likely be ready to feed as soon as you get in though . I express once a day at work now (DD is nearly 8 months) but she still feeds 3-4 times a day on bottle or with me.

Can't believe yours is 11 months, I remember you going through the 4 month sleep regression, it's what prepared me for it.

I reckon once. By the time DS was that old we could be out and about all day and he would just have water and food, and then a big feed when we got home.

But, he was still feeding during the night so he was getting his milk then - sounds like you do more daytime feeding than we did by this stage.

Great - if I can do just one that'll be manageable around work.

I'm not worried about DS going without - I'll leave some EBM with DH for him to take from a cup, but I'm sure he'd live even if he didn't take any.

He usually feeds 3 times a night too - it was just once, but it's too useful a way to settle him easily so has crept up again.

He's really reduced what he eats since increasing night feeds, so I'm sure it can go in the other direction if he gets less milk during the day.

Climber, glad my obsession information aon sleep regressions was useful. We're in the lull between the two halves of the 9(ish) month sleep regression at the moment, so I can't be bothered am delaying working on his sleep till the next bit of the regression is over. But I will be glad when he wakes a bit less often again.