Advice please re: stopping expressing without becoming engorged??

[ChocOrange05]

Hi all

Since my son was 2 weeks old I have been expressing at 9pm so my husband can give him the 10pm feed in a bottle (so I can get some much needed sleep!). As I wasn't expressing enough for a full feed we have topped it up with a bit of formula (usually 2/3oz EBM + 2/3oz formula).

However expressing is a bit of a faff and takes me 30 mins every evening and whilst I have been happy to do it so far I was thinking of stopping once my son is 12 weeks (as I understand your supply is less likely to be affected then?) and using just formula for that feed.

On a couple of occasions where I haven't expressed (nights out) I wake up in the middle of the night with rocks on my chest and can't sleep, so I would like to know how I can stop expressing without this happening? Should it be gradually or do I just have to live with the pain for a bit?

If anyone can help I would be very happy - thanks!

Hi there ChocoOrange05

This can happen from time to time whether you express or not due to growth spurts, appetite change etc

I would just go cold turkey and stop the expressing completely. I expressed at first with dd2 (now 7 months) as she was prem but I also topped up with formula....I also found expressing a faff and stopped....now I bf and use formula when I have to....your body has a way of adjusting and it doesn't take that long

I go back to work soon and as with my previous dc's dd2 will be formula fed during the day as well as solids and bf morning and night and then all day on my days off I know I will be a bit engorged at first and will leak loads but it does settle...the body is a wonderful thing and soon adapts...persevere Good luck

You could just cut the expressing time by 5 minutes every few days, especially of you are prone to engorgement/blocked ducts/mastitis.