Expressing

[Clairencharlie]

I have a 4 week old baby who I am breastfeeding. I would like to start expressing so that my husband can do a feed or I can have a night off! I just don't know when I should do it...
Can I just express off a whole breast and pop it in the fridge for that evening? Will the milk replenish? Or should I take it bit by bit over several days and freeze it? If I skip a feed for a bottle will I become engorged? I just can't quite see how it works. Any advice so gratefully received!
Thanks

There is loads of good advice here on Kellymom

I found that expressing first thing in the morning was more productive in terms of quantity, but some women find they can express happily from one breast whilst the baby feeds from the other.

At this early stage it's likely that you will become engorged if you skip a feed, but yes the milk will replenish as it works on a supply and demand basis.

Have a read of Kellymom, there is lots more information there on how breastfeeding works and other common questions. It is my BF "bible" these days

and while I'm on, have you joined the postnatal club for your baby's age? there will be lots of friendly advice and support from women with babies the same age. I'm on the November thread and my DS is 3 weeks old.

and congratulations on the birth of your baby

Thanks, that is really helpful. I shall take a look at Kellymom now. For some reason I am just drawing a blank on how it works but sure I will get the hang of it. I shall take a look at the postnatal club too.

If you express you will produce more milk, not less! The more often milk is taken from the breast, the more it makes! Supply and demand

Expressing does not stimulate the breast in the same way as a baby. For instance, if you were to express all your baby's feeds, you would be likely to see a drop in milk supply.

You can express anytime you wish to, but as you are building up your milk supply with a newborn baby, you should not stretch the time between nursings by bottle feeding if you can avoid it.

If you really wanted your husband to feed a bottle of expressed breastmilk to your baby, you should express at the same time so that you don't 'skip' a feed, which kind of defeats the object of having a break in my eyes.

What about giving baby to husband after an evening feed, so you can get your head down and get a few hours kip before baby needs his/her next feed.

HTH