expressing - how often and for how long?

[RuckAndRoll]

Ds is 20 days old and unable to breastfeed due to problems with his tongue and jaw at birth. I've been expressing for him with formula top ups.
The midwife just said express as much as I can manage, so my question is, how often and for how long is sensible? I have a medella swing pump and a manual pump.

In the early days I did as long as the Medela Swing allowed until it cut out (it self turns off at about 20 or 30 mins).

I would put baby one side and pump on the other side - the baby on boob helped with the milk stimulation. If she was asleep then sleeping with her head on my leg.

Appreciate that doing one side not an option for you so I would try and have the baby as close as possible - staring loving at him will help.

Cover up the pump once you have it lined up/ going - staring at it drop by slow drop doesn't help (use a muslin) and try to relax.

In all honesty I really don't know how long you will be able to keep it up for - it must be so time consuming given you have to then administer the pumped milk or formula. I remember commenting exactly that to DH at the time (I pumped to boost supply and we only did one bottle of expressed milk each day to try and top her up). I also ate lots of flapjack and porridge (oat allegedly good for supply) and drank non alcoholic beer (bleurgh)

Good luck

Thanks.
I covered the pump up last night and read , felt a l8tr better!
Currently express after every other feed for 20-30 mins each side. Bloody hard work and means we have to be aware of how long we're going to leave the house for. Want to keep going but not sure it'll last

Don't worry, you sound like you are doing a brilliant job and from what I understand even just the colostrum in the first couple of days is worth it. You have already managed 20 days which is amazing. Maybe check on Kellymom or LLL but I think I recall you get more in the early mornings than late at night as your pro lactin peaks at 3-5am which stimulates the supply.
Well done