Starting to express breast milk

[Porgs]

I have a 6 week old baby and have been EBF with no issues so far. Would like to start expressing some milk so that I can occasionally have a few hours away from her and also build up to being able to leave her for half a day around July time.

Would love to hear others experiences of this. I don't want to risk being able to breastfeed but also want her to be happy taking a bottle too.

Hiya, congratulations on the baby! With my first baby I never could express more than a few drops, but combined breast and formula after a couple of months as I wasn’t producing enough (poor latch and lack of info). I’m currently 5 weeks and one day into exclusively breastfeeding my second little man! I’ve been expressing since a few days in “for a rainy day” but he’s only had one bottle, about a week and a half ago. He actually took to it straight away, although seemingly confused as to why daddy had a boob now. I can only imagine it’s fine once feeding and latching is well established. I don’t know if it’s helpful but I use Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature bottles and as well as the CTN pump I more often use the NatureBond silicone one piece pump, it’s amazing and 100% a must have. Takes the stress and discomfort out of pumping and I still get the same amount out as the manual, plus it’s so easy to clean with being one piece.

I hope I’ve helped!

I started expressing at 2 weeks and get anywhere between 3 and 7oz out in a 10minute session.

Me and partner alternate putting baby to bed either me breastfeeding or him bottle feeding her.

We've had no issues at all with her switching between breast/bottle/dummy, and she's happy to take a bottle from me now as well.

That nature bond one looks just like the haaka which I've found amazing it may only get 20-40ml per boob but catches all the let down you would have lost otherwise and requires no hands and if you get a few of those 20mls a day then you've managed to a full baby bottle worth before you know it.

Don't be disheartened whatever pump you use if you only get small amounts just collect them all the fridge then put together at the end of the day in a freezer bag and you'll have a stash before you know it.

I've also never found any problems with using bottle and dummy with the latch but found a huge problem as soon as formula is introduced with me drying up

Good luck!!

@heavymetalmama

Mine took bottles well from about 5-14weeks then it was suddenly unacceptable and took a lot of work, patience, tears and wasted milk to persuade him back on for one or two a week so don't assume it'll continue...

I expressed when my DS was newborn but now I just give him formula if he's ever not with me (isn't often) as it's just so much easier!
I had the tommee tippee electric pump and got really stressed with it as I would hardly get anything at all out! I then tried the Medela hand pump and it worked so much better for me! So if you're struggling try a few different things as it could just be the pump.
Also try and express in the morning as it's easier to get milk out first thing.
Building a stash of frozen expressed milk is great too!