Expressing help please

[ChelseaCat]

Hi everyone

I’m hoping to start expressing regularly to build up a supply of milk in the freezer so that I might spend a little bit of time away from my darling baby! Whenever I have expressed in the past, I always end up with engorged and sore boobs the next day. I guess I am probably expressing too much volume? I would be really grateful for any advice on how to build upThe amount of milk I have stored up in the freezer without ending up with horribly engorged breasts.

Thank you

How long postpartum are you?

I would suggest after you express; try applying a warm/ hot compress on your breasts to relieve the soreness ?

I can only imagine they are engorged because they need to be relieved/ expressed right ?

I’m sorry I’m not sure as I didn’t breastfeed but I would assume that’s why they would feel full - as they need emptying

How old is your baby/how often do you feed them?

You're supposed to let your supply settle before you start pumping - i waited 6 weeks ish - and in order to avoid ending up with oversupply i tend to feed the baby on one side and pump on the other, and then reverse next time she gets hungry. Let down is much easier, and it doesnt seem to be boosting my supply beyond what my body can cope with.

You could look at getting a silicone letdown collector like a Haakaa or NatureBond one. I attach mine to one side while I feed DD on the other. It’s not really a pump but affixes with a little suction so draws out some milk without messing with your supply. I’ve been able to build a really good freezer stash without having to do a dedicated pumping session.

Thanks for the replies.

He’s 11.5 weeks - feed 6/7 times per day.

I like that idea @PrincessSarene

Hi OP. I've been expressing since birth of my second DC. I did with my first as she was in NICU and had to do the same with no2 as he had jaundice. I've not noticed any issues with nipple confusion etc.
However I have had some problems with over supply as I've been expressing too. My HV advised at first to only express a tiny bit more than you would usually feed. I.e I started expressing just 30ml at first after my baby had fed. Now my son is having around 4oz in a bottle, I express an extra ounce on top of that.
When my son has a bottle and I have two full breasts I can now express 5oz, which goes into the freezer. I don't freeze the milk every day - I'm gradually building up my supply.
So in short, if my son doesn't have a bottle (I.e I BF him all day) then I'll just express an extra 30ml per day to increase supply a bit. If he has a bottle (I.e I miss a feed) I'll get 5oz out and freeze it.

Hope that makes sense! I think the key is to do it gradually, don't go full throttle at saving milk otherwise you will end up with really engorged boobs.

Good luck - it's works very well for me being able to pass LO over for someone to help with feeding.