Breastfeeding & Expressing Help / Advice?

[Picahu]

Hello.

Please no judging, just after some advice / reassurance please.

I am currently exclusively breastfeeding my 8 week old baby and have also been expressing for the last week or so and have been storing this milk in labelled bags in the freezer. I am doing this so husband can help with the baby and I could perhaps leave the house or go to the gym alone whilst knowing baby could be fed, if needed.

Just wanted to know if I'm doing it right, as I've seen that people express ALOT more than I do. I usually get around 5oz in the morning and then around 3oz the other 3 times I express throughout the day. I also feed the baby at the same time and other times - I feel like this is enough times to express as I have to plan everything around sterilising, expressing etc and just doing it and feeding is draining enough. My question is regarding the amount I am getting, especially for the evening.

Also, if anyone has any advice on how to actually introduce a bottle to baby, would be appreciated - 1/2 or one a day? Or how do we do it?

I don't want baby to wean of breast and only take bottle.

I have an evening event in November that I will be away for a few hours. This is essential.. other than that I wouldn't need to give her a bottle but would be useful for dad to help (to have an hour or 2 away, gym etc).

Sorry for the babbaling long post - I hope it all makes sense and any help is appreciated. Thank you 😊

That's loads. Mine is 6 months and I'm back at work (not UK) so am pumping all day. I normally get between 80 and 140ml per session, less in the afternoon. I pump every 2.5h. You've left it a bit late for the bottle so you might have a challenge there. The best way to do it is to use fresh pumped milk (frozen can taste weird) and give a bottle in place of a feed. You'll probably have to do it every day to make sure his muscles are trained, and start immediately. You'll possibly have to try a few different teats. If he can't get it, there are tricks you can try like a gentle tug of war with a dummy to improve sucking strength.

Btw, you don't need to sterilise pump parts. If you keep them in the fridge, they just need a good wash every 12h.

Try lansinoh bottles, I saw a lactation consultant and she suggested I switch from mam to lansinoh and she took it a lot better. I think the feel of it and it’s a softer teat.