Routine for BF & Expressing

[snowydrops]

DD2 is currently feeding approx 8-9 x a day. She generally gets 2 x bottles of expressed milk (usually 5pm and 10pm) and then the rest is BF which normally takes 45mins - 1hr. I express at the times she has the bottle (for now).

It's all fine as I wanted to establish a supply and she's only 3wks but as of Monday I have to get into some sort of routine...as I have DD1 back home with me (age 3) and unsurprisingly she does not want to sit around for 8 hrs while I BF and express!! She's a pretty active girl and I am adamant she's not watching TV all day.

So can does anyone have a 'routine' for a combination of BF and expressing? Expressing takes me 15-20 mins and I get 100ml a time which is exactly what she takes in a bottle at the moment and seems satisfied.

I don't like BF in public as I have v big boobs and DD latches on and off loads (she's v fussy) particularly in the afternoon / evening. I would prefer to keep the bottle at 10pm as she's sleeping really well. I usually BF all eve up until the bottle.

Anyone care to share how they do it at the moment? Thanks

I express first thing in the morning when my boobs are at their fullest and DH is around to look after DS (2). Usually DD has a bottle from DH at this time but if not I will feed from one side and express from the other. I get 120-220ml each morning depending on how much she's fed in the night and that normally covers the day's bottles, and once a week or so I'll have enough of an excess to put a bag in the freezer.

One thing that's made a huge difference to me is hands free pumping (assuming you have an electric pump). I got a pumping bra from Amazon or you can cut funnel-shaped holes in an old bra to hold the bottle in place. It lets me pump, feed and have breakfast all at once! I sometimes pump late afternoon as well but don't get much, normally only 50ml. On the (very rare!) occasions when DH does all the night feeds to give me a good night's sleep I will pump again before bed.

How old is your little one somethingwitty? Thanks for sharing your routine!

My LO is 6 months and wakes for a feed at about 4am after going down at 8ish. I keep the pump next to the bed and pump on the side she doesn't take at 4am which gives me about 100ml. If I wake up before her, which I've been doing, I'll also pump for 5 mins on the side she's due to take which gets me to about 150ml in total. If I need more, I'll pump when I go to bed as I don't dream feed, but I second pp that mornings are best. Also recommend porridge for brekkie as it seems to keep the supply high for pumping!

DD is 6 months snowydrops. Quite amazed we've got this far ebf as DS was mixed fed from 1-10months due to undiagnosed tt and recurrent thrush. I got DD checked for tt 3 times in her first week (midwife, Dr and baby cafe) to make sure she didn't have it!

Interesting as that's similar to me! DD1 also mixed fed pretty much from the start and I now think she was tongue tie but not diagnosed as DD2 appears to be (it's been snipped). I actually don't mind a bit of expressing as I'm so used to it from DD1 but this time around I have a lot less time. I think limiting it to night time and morning only would work though so I'll give that a go. How many times do you give bottle / a breast feed in the day then? I'm trying to work out how I can plan feeds a bit better as this morning we've been all over the place eg

7.30-8.30 - BF
8.30-8.50 - expressed 100ml
9.30-10 short BFtop up 50ml expressed milk as she seemed unsatisfied
11am - expressed 50ml while DD asleep
11.30-bottle of expressed milk (100ml)

So that's a lot of feeding and faffing....! Any tips? She tends to BF every 1.5-2hrs in the day and then it's for approx an hour and then often wants a top up too and it's driving me slightly loopy!

We have a routine of sorts but it's not the Gina fantasy I had when I was pregnant. I have the huge luxury of keeping my nanny on for mat leave which is a big help particularly at bedtime. I also unashamedly feed to sleep for naps for an easy life although it will bite me at some point (she goes down fine through rocking if someone else looking after her though). It goes something like:

5.30-6 DD wakes up and comes into bed with me in the vain hope of getting another hour's sleep
6 DH gets up with DS - if DD awake then he'll take her downstairs too
7ish I get up and pump
7.30 about 100ml ebm (less if she's had a good feed in bed).
9ish quick feed for nap
10ish offer feed when she wakes up (she doesn't always want one)
Noon offer one side then lunch
1ish Both down for nap
3-3.30 both wake up. Feed.
5ish offer 90ml sippy cup while DS has dinner, pour what she doesn't have into bottle and give her rest of it. Will pump if she didn't have a good feed at 3
Struggle to get her down for half hour nap at some point (normally only works if we're out)
6.15-6.45 bath and put DS to bed (nanny baths and looks after DD until I get down). If I were on my own I'd either leave her in her cot with mobile on (provided she can stay calm for 5 mins!) or take her with me on floor in DS's room
6.45-7.45 feed her to sleep - by far the longest feed of the day!
She'll usually wake up around 10-11 and again at 2ish, although on a couple of occasions has gone right through to 4 so I know she can do it! DH does a night feed at weekends and will often offer to do one during the week (he works long hours so I don't ask him to unless I'm really shattered).

Is your baby actively sucking for the full hour? If she's sleepy feeding you could try switch feeding to wake her up a bit. DS isn't into CBeebies but the iPad is your friend when he needs to be still while I feed if I'm on my own. I'm hoping that as she gets more onto solids and more comfortable with the bottle that feeds will become bigger and less frequent - DS dropped all but morning and evening bfs by himself as soon as I switched the 3pm feed to formula at about 7 months when he was on 3 meals a day.

Thanks for your reply. It's really useful to see where I might be at in a few months! Yes the iPad is in use a lot and c beebies but thankfully the good weather has allowed for lots of garden play this wk so I feel less guilty!

I would say DD2 is actively sucking on and off for an hour! If she feeds really 'actively' normally the 11am feed its about 45 mins...when there's less milk in the eve it's an hour and always switch feeding as she just comes on and off by herself (I think I have a slow milk flow so she goes to the other for a new let down). I saw the midwife yesterday and she has told me to limit feeds to 30 mins and offer expressed top up after because I can do. That way I can mostly BF and just do bottle at night but have a bit of a life but it entails taking a bottle everywhere...she seems to think DD will get quicker at feeding though and will need less top up. I think for now I'll stick the long feeds out when I can do and then cut them short and offer top up when I can't.