Breastfeeding but want to start expressing - how?

[AuntieMaggie]

DS is now 7 weeks and I'm breastfeeding him but I want to start expressing so he can have the odd bottle when I need to leave him with other people. How do I go about doing this?

Have you got a pump (manual or electric), or are you planning to hand express?

Either way, you just need to find a time when you can fit in expressing around feeding. You could do it in the morning after a feed, or some women can work out how to pump from one side whilst baby is feeding from the other. Or you could just try and fit it in whenever your baby is napping.

The website Kellymom has lots of good info about expressing - just google "Kellymom expressing".

I hav a Phillips Avent electric pump. its good.

just sterilise all the bits and away you go.

I prefer to express first thing in the morning as I get a lot in a short time. I do it if ds goes back to sleep or is occupied on his mat.

I was similar, ended up buying a cheap Tommee Tippee hand pump and although the reviews on here for it aren't great it only cost me £15 and has been fine for what I need it for. I tend to randomly express whenever and then put it in the fridge. I don't always get enough for a full feed in one go so don't worry about that, you can always express more at another time and mix the two lots together. It would be worth hand expressing if you can or borrowing a pump to see if your baby will take a bottle, I couldn't do either hence the cheap pump as didn't want to buy something expensive until I knew dd would take a bottle. In the end I'm happy with the hand pump so stuck with that.

I've just started with DC3 who is also 7 weeks :) I do it in the morning as that's when it comes out quickest! While I'm only doing it to get him used to it, I'm pumping 2oz every other day and DH is giving him 1oz in a bottle each evening then i take over with the breast again. That way it's quick to get and I don't get too upset if he doesn't take all/any of it

Also experiment with temp. DS appears to like it at room temp - some like it heated, some like it fridge cold, some don't care!

I've got the tommee tippee pump and it works ok (is 2 oz from one side ok?) But I have to use both hands and when I take it off I end up with loads of condensation/milk on me!