When & how to start expressing

[LeeMiller]

My DS is 6 weeks old and ebf. Bf has mostly been straightforward with a few issues relating to fast let down, he also prefers the left boob (the slower one) over the other and will sometimes refuse the right, especially when it's full. Feeding is frequent in the day for short bursts, with longer feeds and gaps between them at night. He also wants to feed/comfort suck when he has trapped wind, and has so far refused a dummy (introduced at 1 month).

I love feeding him, but thinking ahead to the next couple of month when I need to start working again, it would be good to know that he could take a bottle if necessary so I could leave him for a few hours (I wfh flexibly but need to meet clients sometimes and hope to leave him with a relative).

If I want him to eventually take a bottle sometimes, when is the best time to try introducing it? Should I wait until I need to work (by which time he may be feeding less frequently and unpredictably anyway ) or start now? Does the fast letdown issue mean he would be likely to prefer the bottle as it's easier to control? And what is the best/easiest way to start pumping? I've heard there are pumps that you can use while feeding on the other boob. I would hate to mess up my supply or for him to rejecting bf, so would rather keep feeding on demand if that's a serious risk.

Sorry that is so long!

I used an Ameda Lactaline which can be used either as a single or double pump so you can use it whilst feeding if you want to orcat work if you need to.

You can start to pump and introduce a bottle now if you are planning on introducing a bottle and maybe building up a stash

I've never mastered using a pump-pump while feeding but until baby was a size to kick it off used a haakaa gravity pump on non feeding boob. They stick with suction and draw milk out. There's a few different kinds on the market. (Though haakaa seem to have an offer on this w/e where you get a free stopper and breast pads if you order a pump and 30%off if you enter a code "30%off" at checkout. )

@jilted- how did you manage with the pump - Bra with holes to hold the shield in place while baby was feeding on the other side?

how did you manage with the pump - Bra with holes to hold the shield in place while baby was feeding on the other side. I held it in place but agree there may be easier pumps for this.

It was my DC2 too so but this time I could cook, MN, hoover and even sign for parcels whilst feeding, much to the and of the delivery drivers

More coordination than I could/can manage!

Thank you! Didn't see my notifications so sorry not to reply sooner. In terms of building up a stash, how long does it keep for? I was wondering about hiring a breast pump first to see how I get on with expressing.

Any tricks to get him to take the bottle and also to avoid nipple rejection (not sure of the right term) - are there specific bottles you'd recommend? Should I leave the room and get DH to try bottle feeding him?

Hi,

My daughter is 6 weeks old. As LeeMiller I am looking ahead as I am going back to work after 20 weeks and my husband is taking over care.

We have borrowed an electric pump from the local breastfeeding support group to get us started but have had little to no advice as to how often, how long and when to express.

We expressed once and got around 150ml (from both sides combined) but then my breasts just engorged and although my daughter is still feeding she is barely making a dent in the milk I have swelling up constantly.

I am just really confused. I want to continue for her to have breast milk when I go back to work but the thought of how we go about it is just confusing and frustrating. I feel like we don't know where to start and whether we might be better just going to formula.

Please help, any advice gratefully received.

No advice @KAT1903 but lots of sympathy. I already have issue with engorgement (fast letdown and over supply I think) and I'm worried abou expressing for precisely this reason. It's hard to find any specific guidance about starting expressing and combining it with bf.

The best time to express is in the mornings as that's when you have the most milk. A set time (not always possible!) will signal to your body to produce milk at that time and yield a better result.

Oversupply is an issue if you express too early on but by 6 weeks PP your supply is settling down. I would give a bottle regularly so they are used to it. It can be harder to introduce a bottle later on and some babies will refuse.

This leaflet from the breastfeeding network tells you everything you need to know about safe storage of BM. You can always call them too for advice.

I had loads of milk and used to donate to the milk bank at my local hospital. They gave me lots of good advice and are always looking for donors so might be worth getting in touch.

I was advised my midwives at breastfeeding support to pump directly after a feed when the baby has finished. I’ve found this gets the best results too unless he has had an enormous feed then it’s vety slow going. I find it better to do little and often like this so there isn’t pressure to fill a whole bottle in one go.

Thank you all! Going to try in the mornings, before she is up if I can. Probably won't be able to every day but will try and make a start.

Much appreciated!