confused about expressing and feeding but keeping up milk supply

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

DS is nearly 4 weeks, we've successfully expressed and fed with a bottle on a few occasions, I then top him up with boob afterwards (these have so far always been the 9pmish feeds) so not affected supply.

But, I'd like to gradually phase in an ebm feed in the evening, for DH to do either when he gets home or the late evening feed - but have been told I still ought to express during this feed to make sure my supply doesn't go down, surely this negates the whole point of expressing so someone else can feed (so I can, oooh I don't know, sleep?!)...how do you get around this? Can I just express an hour or so before the feed?

Don't know the answer but bumping for you Perhaps it is okay once your supply is established?

IMO yes i would just express an hour or so before the feed, so long as your milk and feeding are established it would take more than one feed to effect your supply.

thanks both, am bumping again...how do you know milk and feeding are established? once your baby has settled into set feeding times?

again just IMO you have established feeding once you are both happy with the latch and you are confident and happy.

i once expressed about 6oz from one breast and 4 from the other and then fed DD a full feed straight afterwards, i was i told by my HV that while ever you have a baby to your breast your body will produce milk.

If you do this every day, then you don't need to express at the time of the ebm feed, your breasts will adapt to their new routine. You will be expressing earlier in the day I assume so the same amount of milk will be used over 24hrs, just at a different time. You might feel a bit uncomfortablt when you miss the feed for a day or two!

I don't really agree with kathryn, sorry....the OP's baby is not even four weeks. If the ebm feed means the baby goes for several hours without a feed, and the expressing has taken place earlier, then this is a risk to supply. Several hours without the breasts being used (fed from or expressed) with a young baby may mean less milk - of course some mums will get away with it, but others might not.

It's eally important to remember that it's frequency of stimulation that drives supply, not total amount of stimulation (or milk removed) over the same 24 hour period.

Mousey, you may be able to stretch your 'break' little as your baby gets older. An hour before the feed should be ok even now

Hi there - sorry for the hijack, but I too am a little worried about expressing/supply. Plan is for DH to feed 6 wk-old DD twice a week (7pm feed) with EBM. He's really keen to do this as a bonding thing since much of his spare time is spent with 2-yr-old DS.

Tiktok, should I express then even if it's only happening twice a week? Would rather not since I'll be looking after DS while DH feeds DD, but don't want to compromise milk supply.

whiteorchid - twice a week is prob fine for someone with a good milk supply, but you will be uncomfortable, no doubt about that (and you have had the hassle of expressing).

There are a gazillion ways a dad can bond with his breastfed baby - I understand his reasons, but he can bath the baby for bonding activity, and that gives you a genuine break!

thanks tiktok - i'm happy to express during the ebm feed for now (ebm will be from first thing in the morning as I've heard it's better and easier?!)...as a complete general sweeping statement, at what point would it be ok to not have to express at this time?

so far to be honest I've ended up feeding ds as soon as he's finished the ebm but for example i need to go to a meeting one evening next week and would prefer to leave DH with DS at home with some ebm to see them both through...