Probably silly questions about expressing

[clarejane]

DS is exclusively breastfed and going about 3hrs bwn feeds. About once a week I need to express one feeds worth of milk for him. When is the best time to express?! I'm worried if I do it too close to a feed I will not have enough for him. And how do I know how much to express?! He is 2 months, born at 34/5, currently 8lbs up from 4lbs at birth. I'm thinking 5oz should do it but don't want the little fella to be hungry (or to waste milk...)

Thankyou!!

Bf babies take an average of about 750ml/25oz a day, so divide this by the number of feeds to get a ballpark per feed volume. Unlike with formula the amount doesn't change much from 1 to 6 months.

Remember your boobs are never empty/not producing plus babies are far more efficient than pumps, so there'll always be some milk for them.

Your milk production is highest in the morning so I'd recommend expressing after his morning feed. Volume-wise around 750 ml per day although some babies take alot more - mine was also 4 lb at birth and was on well over a litre of EBM per day at 2 months. I think small prem babies drink more to try and catch up. The maximum is supposed to be around 180ml per kg per day so if you aim for that you won't be underfeeding. As breastmilk is okay for 6 hours at room temperature you won't waste any. If he leaves some just offer it again a bit later.

Babies often take more than need from a bottle, so don't take it to mean they're starving just because they guzzle a whole bottle. They really have too much choice in the matter. 5oz should be plently

I try not to do it too close to a feed because. regardless of fact of boobs never being empty, if I have just 'drained' them with a pump there is so little milk flowing so slowly that dc gets very upset as cannot get enough. The couple of times this has happened because dc woke unexpectedly I gave bottle with freshly expressed milk. Ideally I try for an hour between feed/pump/feed, best time is morning.

Brilliant info and advice , thank you. The 25oz / day is really helpful....much appreciated!