Expressing breast milk

[lisa280718]

I am breastfeeding my newborn who is 8 days old, however I want to eventually express my breast milk and feed him that way. There are two main reasons for this, the first so Dad can be involved in feeding and I don't want to BF in public, at least until I feel more comfortable doing so. I am wondering how soon I can start expressing and any tips/advice on expressing.

I started expressing after 3/4 days so you should be fine to start now :)

O- And electric pump all the way! I used a manual for my first and it was horrid, made me dread trying to express. Have a lovely electric one now and it's so quick and easy

If you are looking for a pump, I’d opt for one with a closed system. As for feeding in public, going to Bfing Support Group really helped to build my confidence as everyone there are women who BF. I’m not saying that you have to BF in public, that’s just what helped me

You can start expressing now if you want to. I strongly recommend getting a double electric pump and a pumping bra, makes it so much easier. If you get a closed system one like a Spectra you can buy second hand and save a lot of money - I have a spectra s2 I got second hand and just bought new flanges etc. from pumpables. You should measure your nipples to make sure you get the right size flanges, I didn't know that to begin with but once I did and bought smaller ones my milk output increased and it was stopped hurting

I had been told by the midwife to not express until 4 weeks once breastfeeding had been established, however have read a lot online about people expressing a lot earlier, what are Mums thoughts on this?

It can affect your supply, possibly causing an oversupply or undersupply if you express before your supply levels have been established, and if you express and give some in the bottle now it could affect latch or baby's stamina to suckle (milk coming easier from the bottle can mean they don't want to work for it at the breast - not always though). So basically, there are potential problems with starting expressing now but many manage it just fine (but also others don't).

Pumping is not as good as breastfeeding for getting your supply right so switching to just expressing now could jeopardise your ability to breastfeed at all but expressing just once a day to build a freezer stash should not have an impact really.

If you can wait then wait. It's safer and easier to protect your supply than to try and correct an issue.

Pumping is a learned skill. I had visions of popping the pump on and coming away with full bottles like a dairy cow the first time I pumped, however, the first time I pumped, I got literally a couple of ml. By boobs were full but the milk did not flow.
When you start pumping, there's a few techniques which can help.... nursing one side whilst pumping the other is great.
Looking at baby or a pic of baby
Sniffing baby's clothes... all stimulates your let down!

My turning point was a block feeding trick. I fed from only one side all night and then in the morning expressed the engorged side I had neglected. That was my first 2oz! I then popped baby on to do the job properly because engorgement hurts!!!

From then on it was up and up. In my hay day I could express 15oz in a sitting (I deliberately upped my supply as DD was ebf, I worked mornings so left enough for her and I was also a milk donor.) now... not so much, DD's 19 months. I can manage 2oz ish with a lot of effort.

I swear by electric pumps (medela swing for me) but others respond better to manual. It's all personal preference.

how often should i express to build up a supply, do i pump after feeding, if baby takes both breasts per feed which breast do i pump from, if i only get small amount per pump session can i add second amount to the storage bag or new one for each time (if not frozen by then), can you transfer from fridge to freezer if not used by the recommend dates or does it need to go straight in freezer if wanting it to be frozen? Sorry for all the questions, new to this!!

I dreaded bf in public but it's been fine. Really easy and convenient. I only started expressing last week when baby was 5 weeks old but tbh I hated not feeding him myself. Felt odd.
Congrats on the baby