Going back to work for a week at 5.5 mths, keeping supply going

[tasmaniandevilchaser]

I'm going back to work when DS is 5.5 mths, just for a week for a course. I don't tend to get engorged if I've left him for a few hours, so I don't think I'll be in pain but I am a bit worried about getting mastitis. Do you think it will be enough to hand express at lunch time for that week? Are there any good you tube clips or instructions for hand expressing? I have a very slow let down so expressing is a bit of a palava, I really don't want to take a suitcase of expressing equipment with me every day.

Any advice appreciated!

If it is for one week, you might want to hand express, if only just to relieve engorgement. Between carrying noisy equipment to work and hand expressing, I would choose the latter. Sorry, I never handexpressed more than a handful (pun) of times to relieve engorgement so cannot give tips.

To keep your supply up, the best way is to reverse cycle. When you get home, immediately put your ds on your breast. And do so as many times as you can muster before you sleep and overnight. Your ds is the most efficient expressing machine you can find. You get extra cuddles as well.

I think hand expressing is good, perhaps ask a breast feeding counsellor or similar for advice on the how to and maybe practice a bit before your week off, I found hand expressing more effective than a pump.
I was told by very kind mw when ds was in special care that it was a good idea to look at photos of him and maybe smell a bit of his clothing too!?