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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

BF but want to express in eve for 10.30pm feed. will i get enough milk / affect my supply?

7 replies

munteria · 08/03/2009 15:52

hi there

my ds is 3 and a bit weeks. i want my DP to start doing the evening feed for so i can go to bed early and be up for the night time feeds. If i express in the evening after supper will i get enough milk for DP to feed him, or will i have to supplement with formula? and will it affect my milk supply?

I did start expressing in the morning but i felt it affected my supply throughout the day. plus DS is going through a growth spurt

i also have thrush which i am taking medication for so i need to keep the expressing as close to the bottle feed as possible

any advice much appreciated

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Sassyfrassy · 08/03/2009 16:02

Expressing in the morning shouldn't effect your milk supply during the day as in it taking away the milk that would be there otherwise. Milk is produced as your baby feeds and isn't really stored in your breasts. If you do mixed breastmilk and formula for the evening feed then that might affect your supply as your child wouldn't be stimulating the breast as much. Would it be possible for you to do the evening feed in bed perhaps, that way you could sleep/rest while feeding.

Crazycatlady · 08/03/2009 16:13

I'm not a BF counsellor and only 8 weeks into BFing my first baby but here's a bit about our experience in case it's helpful. Others (tiktok) who are real experts are worth waiting for on here to get their view.

My DD gets a bottle of expressed milk for her late (10.30) feed. I express this in the morning after her 7am and/or 10am feeds. However, I do always make sure to express at 9pm ish too, for several reasons:

1 - to stop my boobs becoming engorged and uncomfortable while waiting for the next feed

2 - to keep my supply up (so my body knows it still needs to produce the same amount of milk despite the 'missed' feed

3 - to build up a 'bank' of milk to freeze (although with thrush this isn't advised)

Expressing in the morning shouldn't lessen your supply for the day, if anything it should help stimulate your supply.

What was it that made you worry about your supply after morning expressing? It's natural for your boobs to feel less 'full' as the day goes on, but there should still be plenty of milk there! Was DS fussing at the breast at all? If not, I'd say your supply was probably fine.

If you would rather express at say 9pm you may find you get less, but a warm shower first and some breast compression during the expressing should mean you can pump enough for your DS to have as his late feed.

I have managed to pump pretty well at 9pm ish doing these things, although it has got easier now my milk supply is properly established (once we got past 6 weeks ish).

It'll get easier once you can store your milk for longer of course so there's no rush. Hope the thrush clears soon.

munteria · 08/03/2009 16:32

his

thanks for your responses

yes, my breasts did feel less full if i was expressing in the morning. also i have a toddler so it didnt really leave enough time between the expressing and the next feed to build up the milk again (well i felt i didnt). also when babies are going through growth spurts i thought the advise was to reduce the time expressing in the day?

love to hear from you Tik Tok if you are there?

OP posts:
munteria · 08/03/2009 17:26

also, should i wait a few more weeks for my supply to get established?

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TheProvincialLady · 08/03/2009 17:38

I would hang on a while if I were you, as expressing this early inteferes with the supply and demand system...you could end up engorged. Also, some babies can get nipple confusion if a bottle is introduced while they are still learning to BF. Do you feel that the effort of expressing is worth it for the benefit later on? I have a toddler too and expressing is too much of a PITA for me even though I get loads quite quickly.

SnowlightMcKenzie · 08/03/2009 17:40

Wait until the growth spurt is over then don't let your suplly reduce with the less demand. Instead express whenever they are full.

It is usual to need 2 expressing sessions to produce enough milk for one feed at the beginning.

munteria · 09/03/2009 17:11

thanks for all your advice - i will try and hold off for a few more weeks. I may post again then if thats ok. I am seeing a breastfeeding co-ordinator at kingston hospital this week re; my thrush & positioning. i will see if she has anything else to add

to answer your question Theproviciallady i was hoping only having to express once in order to get enough for the evening feed. but it doesnt sound like that would be enough

CrazyCatlady thats a great tip re: having a warm shower first. i will certainly do that when i start expressing!

thanks again!

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