When to start expressing?

[JRTfan]

I'm being induced Saturday so baby is imminent! I want to breastfeed if possible however I would also like to be able to express and give a bottle. I have heard so much conflicting advice on this it's making my head spin.If you expressed and BF when did you introduce a bottle? I know I need to establish a supply 1st but I'm just thinking a few weeks down the line I would like DH/other family members to be able to give a feed. I will also be doing the odd day at work from 3 months ish so baby will need to be fed by someone else then. I'm not averse to mixed feeding with formula either, whatever is easier tbh.

Expressing is very hard work and takes ages. Get the breast feeding established and family can give formula feeds here and there. It's really handy to get baby used to both Good luck with your baby 💐

@whyhavetheygotsomany thanks it's all a bit confusing as I have a friend that expressed and BF from day 1 and some say if you replace with formula it affects supply so you'd need to pump that feed anyway..I guess everyone is different and will have to see what we can make work for us.

Best of luck with your baby and induction process! I had to introduce a bottle and expressing very early due to latching difficulties and it was extremely hard work. If you are not against mix feeding then I'd spend the first 4-6 weeks getting breastfeeding established then introduce some formula feeds.

@peonyjam thank you I'm hoping I won't have issues but prepared that I may do, I know breastfeeding isn't necessarily easy. I plan to EBF for the first few weeks but would like to introduce a couple of bottle feeds after a month or so..whether that be expressed or formula whatever works out better for me and baby.

I wouldn't try expressing until 8 weeks or so. By then things will have settled down a bit and with a bit of luck breastfeeding will be well established.

I expressed a lot with my first, because I went back back to work when she was 5 months old and wanted to build up a good supply in the freezer before I went. I didn't find it hard work and I only had a cheap hand pump.

I'd have thought that introducing formula would affect supply. I didn't do that so I can't confirm either way, but my supply was definitely affected when she started taking solids and I was producing less milk.

If you are not against mixed feeding, I wouldn't bother with expressing while baby is young - it's hard work. You could introduce a bottle at about 6 weeks.
I breastfed for over 3 years and when baby was small the amount I could express was quite small, when I went back to work it was a different kettle of fish and could express heaps, which I just dumped as he was eating solids and feeding (lots) when I was with him which kept supply up.

As you've seen, you'll get 100 different replies with different advice, which makes sense because every woman and baby and feeding experience is different.

While there's general recommended advice, such as wait until breastfeeding and supply is fully established at 6-8 weeks before introducing a bottle, it's general for a reason. It doesn't mean it's necessary or the best thing in each scenario.

The best advice I could possibly give is to do what feels right for YOU and your baby and the needs of the two of you.

You might find you have a very painful start to breastfeeding, a baby that doesn't sleep well and an emotional first few weeks and the idea of doing anything 'extra' is too much to deal with.

You might find breastfeeding comes easily to you and your baby, your have a plentiful supply from the beginning and it's easy enough to stick a Haaka on one boob while you're feeding from the other and easily build a freezer supply from which you can give bottles when wanted.

Both experiences are normal, and both are okay. Good luck with your induction, and your beginning of motherhood!