Expressing in work for 11mo - will it affect my supply?

[MB34]

I've just returned to work 3 days a week and at the moment I am expressing both boobs twice a day (about 12pm and 5pm) for these days. I leave at 8am and get home at 6.45pm - I feed DS twice before going to work and when he goes to bed (7.45pm).

When I'm not in work, I've been feeding on demand (one boob at a time, not both in one sitting iyswim) and he normally wants it every 2-3 hours (but has gone 4 on occasion).

I'm a bit worried that expressing only twice during the day over 3 days will affect my supply so when I come to feed him on demand, my milk won't be so readily available. Is this the case or is my supply so established that it won't matter.

Any advice/experiences greatly appreciated. TIA

How old is your DS? I think that makes a big difference.

Also, feeding just one side per feed can affect supply. How come you're doing this?

I think it won't matter. I expressed at work 3 days per week from 7/8 months until a year old and fed on demand on days off. I never expressed loads and he didn't drink loads of expressed milk at nursery either.

He ended up feeding until 2yrs 3mths without a problem.

I wouldn't bother worrying about it.

To clarify, after 12 mths I stopped expressing at work but still managed to feed on demand on days off.

My DS is 11mo and I tried a few times to feed both sides but he always projectile vomited during the second boob!

Thanks for the replies, good to know that some of you have expressed and fed on demand - I'll see how it goes now and have a look on kellymom.

Thank you

I should think by 11 months your supply should be really well established.

Sounds like you have a great supply in the first place too!

I express only once per day and my DS is about the same age. I worry about supply too, but things seem fine.

How is your employer about your expressing? And are you getting a decent amount out at each pump?

Hi Workberk - I think my (male) boss is a little peeved that I express at work as we can get really busy and it's all hands on deck - he's not said anything but I can tell!

I express at 12pm in my lunch hour, 10 mins each side and get about 150-200ml altogether. Then at 5pm, again 10 mins each side and get about 50-100ml. Does that sound like too much/little/just right? How much do get out at one sitting?

I went back to work when DS1 was 11mo. I expressed once per working day for comfort, usually at around 2pm when I was starting to get boulder-like and bored by working.

After a few weeks I didn't even need to do that. My body got used to doing different feeds on different days quite quickly.

Demand fed for a further fifteen months - he self-weaned when I was pg with his brother and my supply dwindled to colostrum.

MB34 you're getting a fair bit more than I was. Sounds like a good amount.

MB34 it sounds like you're getting loads out and have nothing to worry about :)

I get 120-150ml per day, and that takes about 30 mins using a double hospital grade pump.

I think the feeling that your boss doesn't approve is only going to make you feel more stressed. I really sympathise. My boss doesn't even know! (he works in another office and I can't bring myself to tell him... I tell my colleagues I have a meeting!)

I think at 11 months you will be fine, I stopped expressing at 9 months (worked full time) and carried on feeding until 3.4yrs (could have gone longer if I hadn't had enough by then)