Expressing in the morning affecting my supply in the daytime - confused!

[munteria]

Hi there,

i am really confused!

I understood that expressing does not affect your supply - in fact it increases it. However, on the days that i express in the morning (as boobs at their fullest) then there is definitely not enough milk at the next feed for my DS, and it continues to affect the breast feeds for the rest of the day. i can tell as he doesnt last between feeds and gets agitated at the boob. I only express 2-3 oz from the second boob, then offer him the rest (after obviously he has emptied the first one). Am i doing something wrong?

Please can someone help.

I would like by DP do the 10.30pm feed (so i can get to bed early- as BF at this time takes an hour - and I'm up at 3am for the night feed) but i do not produce enough soley in the evening for this feed.

Would welcome any advice

There is always enough there.It's a simple supply and demand issue. Babies aren't meant to 'last' between feeds. If they need feeding, just plug 'em in and doing so regularly will ensure a good supply.

How old? If very young prob. not a good idea to try to cut out 10:30 pm feed as night feeds essentiual for maintaining supply in early weeks.

And hwat makes you so sure there is 'not enough milk' there?
Are you supplementing with formula because if so, that will definitely affect supply.

Hi,

thanks for your responses

DS is nearly 5 weeks old. I am expressing (empyting both breasts) at the 10.30pm feed to keep my supply up. I'm not supplementing with formula. Before i was feeding one breast only (for a long time) and he was happy and content, now i am expressing i have to give him two breasts at each feed, and he is aggitated towards the end as not enough milk (i'm sure of this)

It could be a growth spurt but he had one at 3 weeks old, plus this pattern has only developed since i started expressing in the morning. Before this he was feeding every 3 hours, and only waking once at night about 3.30/4am. Since expressing in the am he is waking up earlier in the night and more often. I am sure its because he isnt getting enough in the day now. I am desperate for some sort of routine as I have a toddler and suffer fron insomnia, so my daytime naps are vital.

?

hi munteria, i found that my attempts at expressing were frustrating until ds was 6 weeks old, and i'm sure i remember reading that the recommendation is to wait until then? after 6 weeks we found the milk supply increased massively - could express 8oz a day if needed. hope it gets better for you soon

Munt, I think 5 weeks is too early fro a routine tbh.
Can someone take the toddler and let you co-sleep with the baby?

Hi

I have help a few days a week with DD, but stuggle on the days i have her.

I need to look up co-sleeping as an option. i guess there are threads on the site on this. I was too scared to do it with DD but I guess with no.2 needs must!

thanks

munteria, if your baby wants more at the end of a feed consisting of both breasts, then give him a third breast or a fourth

This is no big deal. Babies' needs change. He may want more than he did as a newer baby. You have more - in your breasts.

Messing about with expressing and trying to chase a routine makes your life more difficult as far as I can tell - changing what you do and changing your expectations is easier than changing the normal needs of a 5 week old

thanks for your advice, much appreciatd.