Breastfeeding and Expressing 🥴🤯

[HanAtk93]

I am due to go back into work in August and I am dreading it...

I have been exclusively breastfeeding my little girl from day 1 and she's now 5 months old. I would LOVE to continue when I go back to work but I have always had the massive issue of not being able to express!

How do I do both?! I have used an electric pump, ended up getting a hand held but I feel like I effect my little girls feeds when I try to express. We have had one day apart due to surgery after c section infection and although I expressed, it was just awful. My breasts went lumpy because it wasn't coming out properly and, to be blunt, my nipples felt like they were going to drop off 😑

I've invested in a manual pump, I got 1 oz in-between feeds and it seemed to mess up her feed after so I hated myself, the whole terrible mum moment thing, and I gave up...again 🤣

Please help 🙏🤣

There must be a happy medium somewhere....

At nine months she doesn't actually need daytime milk. she'll be fine with food and water whilst your at work and the odd bottle of formula if needed won't hurt. There is plenty of time for milk evenings / night / morning

Also I'm assuming you're not weaning yet, that's a great time to start expressing because once she eats a proper meal you can express the feed she'd otherwise have had without messing up the next one

When I used a pump, I would pump at times that I would normally feed. This meant we all stuck to the same feeding schedule really. I think it’s worth thinking about weaning though - if she’s 5 months now she’ll be 9 months when you’re back at work? I would imagine she’ll be eating by then. I bf until 6 months but he was eating 3 meals a day at 5 months and feeding in between. So I would think that by 9 months you will be feeding a couple of times a day? So you won’t need to express then. I expressed to try and increase supply or build up milk to store if I was out etc. I suppose it’s worth considering what you are expressing for? And that you likely won’t need to at 9 months. Maybe I’m wrong or misunderstood just my first thoughts!

She can just eat food and water whilst your at work.
When she sees you she will have a massive feed and reconnect with you after your shift.