Expressing - basic questions

[bmil]

My daughter is nearly 7 weeks old and I am starting to think about expressing. I am not going back to work full time but I want to be able to leave her for the occasional day in the New Year and build up to giving her a bottle for one feed a day to get her used to it - if she takes a bottle at all.

She is feeding pretty regularly 7 times a day, only one breast at a time. My questions are very basic but it would be very useful if those in the know could help:

1. My health visitor said that morning was the best time and to start with and I should express what's left from the breast once she has finished feeding and top up with milk collected from breast shells - any thoughts on whether this is the best way.

2. Do I have to store milk seperately every time or can I express or collect in breast shells throughout the day and keep topping up a bottle in the fridge?

3. How much does an average baby - or in my case very greedy - drink at one feed?

4. Do I have to give her a bottle every day once I start or as and when required?

Any other handy tips would be most welcome.

xxx

1. whatever works for you - I do best expressing off one side while she feeds on the other.

2. You can keep topping up the bottle in the fridge during the day, then freeze it when you go to bed.

3. not a clue - dd does about 6oz of ebm

4. I'd say as and when, though you'd be wise to get dh or someone to try her with it the first time while you're still home to a) check she'll take it b) make sure you're not too stressed about it and c) that she likes the brand of bottle you've chosen.

You are fine for expressing at this age.

I was never comfortable collecting and accumulating drips. When I WOH with a young baby, I tried to express big amounts. The easiest way was to pump from the other breast at the same time as the baby is feeding. Then, it was pretty straightforward to get 6 or 8 oz.

No idea about how much milk to give - I used to send a couple of 4oz bottles to my childminder, but I don't think DS was terribly interested. He was pretty much into 'reverse schedule nursing', ie leisurely nursing at night.

You don't have to do anything with regular bottles. You never have to bottle feed at all. A hungry baby will take milk from a spoon.