need to express for first time at 5 months

[hushshessleeping]

hi there, i am starting work 1day aweek in 2`weeks and need to express. am exclusively bfeeding at 5 months and haven't yet expressed - except when dd born - in special care for 2 days. i tried for the first time this evening but prob not a good time - not enough milk after her late feed. whe do you think is the best time of day to start? Any tips, i know it's late to start but dd is generally a happy bunny and i am hoping she takes to the bottle!! need to start this week as time is running out!! Also difficult to find a window when she's not wanting to feed - esp in evening!!

I used to express from one side while feeding from the other in the eve and morning I used to find i had a quicker result in the morning also switched to an electric pump which was much quicker for me. hope that helps loads of advice in archivies too.

Morning is usually the best time for most women. I used to try to pump before ds woke up or after his 1st feed of the day. It was certainly the most porductive time for me (~ 8 oz in 15 - 20 minutes. I think I had a lot of milk though) - evenings were slow and painful and rather pointless!

I tried a hospital grade electric pump but hated it - my Avent Isis manual pump was much better & more comfortable.

Good Luck

thanks!! i expressed about 4 oz this morning - how much should usually suffice over a period of about 6 hours - i have a very big hungry baby!! but never measured intake - at the mo she's feeding approx every 2 hours

Hi. I couldn't breast feed and had to express all of my little ones feeds. I tried a single electric bought pump (Medela) but it was noisy and not very efficient. I then hired a hospital grade Medela pump - what a difference, much quieter and very efficient, also I could do 2 breasts at once. Eventually I was expressing between 8 - 10 ouces each time. Unlike most others my most productive time was the evening! Maybe I'm just odd!! Good luck with it.

I left ds with dh about a month ago (6 months now), I left 5 oz. he only took 3oz in about 5 hours, they had a couple of good feeds to make up for it.
He also normally feeds every 2 hours.
You could try getting 2 oz every morning, and freeze the extra. You will need to check how long it can be kept in the fridge for, have heard up to 5 days, i usually freeze any after 3 though.