Expressing breast milk help!

[Dfjackson]

Hoping for some advice on expressing! Apologies for how long this post is please have a cup of tea at the ready or a stronger drink if your past breast feeding stage!! :)

My baby is 4 months old now, exclusively breast fed and my supply has finally regulated! It’s took so so long, I had an oversupply and still have an overactive let down but we’re coping better now. Baby has only ever fed from one breast per feed, gains a ton of weight every week and plenty of wet and dirty nappies.
I hoped to start getting a supply of breast milk for when I return to work mainly which isn’t until 9-12 months hopefully between Feb & May 2025.

I have a Medela double electric breast pump. I have tried the Haaka but to get enough for a full feed in the future I would need to do it at most feeds throughout the day, do the whole cooling process to get into one storage bag to freeze. So much effort for a tired tired mummy!! This also stimulates my supply to much and I would avoid going out the house as whenever I didn’t use the Haaka my breast would literally soak even the most absorbent nappy never mind breast pad! and also getting a lot of the watery milk only with the let down - I would like to express the milk as close to replicating what baby gets on breast (balanced foremilk and hindmilk or whatever it’s called).

So here for my questions:

Any mums started pumping so late on?
How best do I start? Once a day both breasts? Or attempt to pump the other breast whilst babies on but only once per day to avoid stimulating so much?
I know there is a difference in milk at times of the day so do I need to pump for both circumstances like for evening feeds evening expressing milk and for day feeds day time expressed milk?
I don’t have a clue how often baby will want milk once weaned :/

I would really like to avoid going into oversupply mode again as it was a terrible time and quite painful.

Also looking at advice on introducing a bottle earlier maybe? To try and get baby used to it and dad can maybe help with a feed.
My partner works shifts so would only really help with a feed on days off or when here in the evenings. Do you have to use a bottle at the same time every day? When he’s not here you see I would rather have baby on the breast :) but I know this is probably confusing my supply and probably confusing baby too!! But I think I need to get baby used to that bottle sooner rather than later right?

In terms of ‘getting used to the bottle’ my main worry is that she will not have a foggiest clue what to do with the bottle teat - her latch is terrible at the best of times due to the overactive let down which we have tried to manage (once the let down passes it’s fine)
Or could start to prefer the bottle over mummy? Or just refuse the bottle totally and then what do I do when I go back to work?
Baby doesn’t have a clue what to do with a dummy and likes to chew on it and play with it hence me being worried so much on the bottle teat.

I am one sleep deprived confused mama going through the 4 month sleep regression and cannot think straight or set a plan so hoping to lean on any expert expressers support!! :)

Sorry for the long post I only get 5 minutes to myself whilst changing my underwear! Haha.

Thank you!!

If you’re going back to work when your baby is about 9 months old it may be possible to just feed before and after work and at weekends. Baby may be fine with food and water from a sippy cup while you’re gone.
If you do want to pump for a couple of feeds for them and don’t want an over supply then you’d only need to get a couple of days ahead. Pump enough for a couple
of feeds to keep in the fridge. Then pump once or twice at work for the following day.
You can always skip bottles (definitely would if it’s 12 months) and give milk in a sippy cup. No need to worry about the time of day you’ve pumped. Use a pump and not a Hakka.

Agree with above feed baby before and after work. I wouldn’t drive yourself mad trying to pump a lot of milk. If it’s as late as 12 months then they can start taking a sippy cup with normal milk or just water while you’re not there. It’s so important right now but as they get older they will be eating alongside the milk so won’t be starved if you’re not there!

Should breast milk just be a top up of nutrients by 9-12 months? And comfort for baby? would baby be on solids 3 x a day by then?
Sorry to sound stupid I’m trying to not Google as much now and just ask other mums because Google makes me think I’m doing everything wrong!x

I would try now with a bottle to give you some respite.

How often would you give the bottle mixed with breast feeding? Once a day?
I am conscious I would need to express milk at the same time as baby is bottle feeding to make sure im stimulating milk so sort of feel like what’s the point :(
Confused mama here!

I thought that and for that reason didn't bother and my baby started refusing the bottle at about 4 months and doesn't settle overnight with his dad nearly so well.

Honestly I'd give a bottle every day if you have to pump while he's getting that feed then do. But if you just want to switch to formula for that feed then go for it.

I don't know whether it makes sense to do different feeds or just whichever one(s) someone else can help with consistently. Probably depends on what's happening with sleep

No, primary source of nutrition

Similar situation here, consistent over supply, EBF etc.
i went back to work at 9mo and pump once a day (otherwise I’d get too full). Baby has a feed in the morning and the evening, and I take 1 bottle of expressed milk in for nursery to give him. They also give him 2 solid meals and 1 snack in a 10-5 day.
I pumped and gave him a bottle at home very infrequently, maybe once or twice a fortnight, after 8 wks, so he was vaguely used to the idea. A fast flow teat helped (suspect closer to my own flow!).

Also - it doesn't have to be exactly the same time.
Body clock matters more than prolactin levels in the milk after about 3-4 months (source - Olivia Hinge)

Try breast compressions to maximise pump effectiveness. See also Kathryn Stagg and Lucy Pickett on Instagram for pumping tips.

Thank you all so much.
I think I will try and introduce a bottle around the lunch time feed with expressed milk.
My baby has been gagging at the breast a lot even before a let down happens not sure what’s going on so might wait a few days as I’ve been advised to block feed for a short time to get the supply to decease.. hopefully can express after it settles down and introduce an afternoon bottle. Do you warm expressed breast milk?
Thank you xx

Yes, normally warm it (we got a portable Inoby warmer which is so handy if you’re out and about) although my baby will also take it cold, especially back in the summer.