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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Help me understand expressing, bottles & late evening feed?

3 replies

user1499609760 · 24/02/2024 19:16

My baby is 4 weeks. DH and I want to introduce a bottle of expressed milk as her last feed before ‘bedtime’, in as much as she has one currently. She is typically taking her last breastfeed anywhere from 10-11pm at the moment. Then she’s awake for another feed anytime between 2-3.30, and again between 5-6.30. I understand that I need to keep these ‘proper’ nighttime feeds in order to keep my supply up and that’s ok, if I can get a solid chunk of sleep from say 9pm-2am.

When should I be expressing for this bottle feed? I have a Haakaa pump which I’ve been using on one side while she’s been feeding on the other. Or should I be expressing separately from her feeds? I don’t want to compromise my supply, or her feeding. The information about expressing is a bit confusing for our situation, as most of it is aimed at parents using far more bottles than we intend to, so advice like express 8-12 times a day seems excessive.

I’ve tried expressing a few times now and get around 60-70ml per time. I’m just concerned about affecting my supply in some way, or leaving baby unsatisfied from the breastfeeds.

She took the bottle very well during our trial run so hopefully that continues, but we put too little in (around 70ml) and I had to top up with the breast. So we’ll try with more like 100-120ml, feeding responsively.

Any advice is welcome!

OP posts:
Tryingtohelp12 · 25/02/2024 20:21

I give one bottle of expresses per day since birth really (some formula early on but won’t take that any more)

I tend to express from both sides after he is down for the night (about 9pm) and agAin from the side I’m not feeding from in the night (usually about 4/5am).

is get about 6oz both times (my boob is very full by 4 am!).

no idea of that is right but works for me to get enough to give one bottle per day plus some for the freezer for if I am ever out for more than one feed.
Agree there isn’t a lot of info out there!! You will figure out what works for u ! Good luck. My baby is 9 weeks so still navigating.

hakka is good if your let down is too strong for baby but I would probs get a proper pump for efficiency /volume.

user1499609760 · 25/02/2024 21:22

Thanks @Tryingtohelp12. Do you use an electric pump or a manual one? I have the Haakaa but I’ve also seen manual ones that have a kind of handle/pump that may help with getting more out.

OP posts:
Tryingtohelp12 · 25/02/2024 21:35

i was using a Hakka until about 3 weeks ago because my baby was struggling with my let down and they are good. Now he’s ok with fast let down but refusing formula so got a pippeta which I like but don’t know how it compares with other pumps. I paid about 45£ for the duel one on a special breastfeeding day offer. I like that it’s hands free but have heard plug in ones are the most effective for increasing your supply if that’s a goal.

for me the goal is ensuring he will take. A bottle so when I feel ready to start leaving him that won’t be a barrier

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