Expressing nightmare - help! When and how?

[gerbo]

Mumsnetters - I need a hand.......

I want to start expressing and don't know when/how to. I'm currently exclusively bf my 5 and a bit month old dd, and want to try weaning in a few weeks...

I'd like to be able to use breastmilk to mix with baby rice/Weetabix/mashed food but dread expressing! I had to do it in the first couple of weeks, every bloomin' 3 hours, to get my failing milk supply up and the thought of doing it again (and maybe messing up now comfortable feeding) gives me shudders!

Can you help? When is best to do it? (Once a day?)Here's the routine -

She will eat at 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm (then bed) and dream feed at 11pm. She eats from both boobs at each feed.

Maybe once after the 7pm feed? At 8/9pm? (I go to bed at 930 knackered!)

Should I pump both boobs? Till completely empty? Can you mix together 2 days worth of pumping so as to not waste freezer bags?

I have those Lansihoh freezer bag thingies ready and an Avent hand pump which I can use ok (did it at the beginning).

Desperately don't want to mess up supply again - and am nervous......Thanks - I know you will have good advice!!!

If you don't like the idea of expressing, you don't need to do it. I bf my LO for 1 yr and never expressed.

You can get some baby rice (Heinz) that you just need to make up with boiling water and you can use cows milk (if baby is over 6 months) on weetabix and to mash up food.

could you not express immediately after each feed of yor lo, put it in the fridge, and top up the same bag over a 12-24 hour period, then freeze that bag at the end of the day?

I did this, or something similar.
it doesnt seem to mess up a well established routine and you are already in full flow after a feed.
Also, just to add, even if you only express maybe 20/30mls of milk for the whole day, its more than enogh for baby rice, mash spuds etc.
I remember freezing every little drop and it all got used. you can mix one frozen bag into another when mixing in food.

oh but leave the dream feed, dont express after that one...you need your sleep.

can I just bump this, for a bit more advice?

my ds only ever takes one side at a time, so shall I... express the 'empty' side? the 'full' side (will that mess up next feed?)? both?

Hi gerbo. I have been succesfully expressing for around 3 weeks now. I generally express about the same time each day..mid morning as my supply seems at its best then. When DS has a feed from one side I express from the other straight afterwards. It doesnt appear to have affected my supply and he seems happy enough.

hmm okay might try that, thanks mmelody!