Where do I start with expressing?

[TheWeatherGirl1]

Hi

The baby is 4 weeks and I'd like to start expressing.
I have a hand pump and a fairly basic electric pump that I need to sterilise.
Boil them?
When is the best time to give the pumping a go?
I read morning, but the baby eats like it's going out of fashion , so not sure when wouldn't mess with his fairly heavy eating routine.

Thank you

There is a great website called Kellymom for information on breast feeding.

My electric pump has instructions that say it can be sterilised in a bowl of water in the microwave - so yours might be ok to do that way too. Or you could get a cheap metal steamer (for vegetables) to put on the hob?

The morning is better in my opinion, but as you say it's hard to find a good window when they're hungry. Why are you wanting to express? Is it for something specific or just to get some in stock? If you don't really need to, it might be easier to wait until your baby is feeding slightly less often. Although that's only my perspective - I am by no means an expert on this!

To be able to palm off another feed on to my husband so I can do something wild like go to the supermarket.
I can't wait to go to the supermarket.

I'll look at the website you've recommended
Many thanks

It's amazing how something like that can actually feel like freedom! Don't be too disappointed if you don't manage a lot in one go to start off with - it took me a few tries to get a useable amount out. I'm not saying that to be negative, just so you know and aren't phased by it.

Being able to get DH to do a feed is wonderful. Allows me to pop off for a solid chunk of sleep sometimes (ds is 5 weeks)

You could get a Haakaa pump to express from one breast while feeding from the other.

I also have a double electric pump (Ardo Calypso) which I use to express if and when DS is napping. Time of day doesn't seem to make a huge difference.

If you do manage to express, so your DP can feed the baby, do not waste your break by going to the supermarket! Use the time to get some sleep or do something for you like exercise or a massage

Send your DP to the supermarket or do an online shop!

I've heard haakaa's are good in terms of you putting in as little effort in as possible whilst still yielding decent results from what you manage to get. Reasonably priced too.

Thanks for your suggestions.
I've just looked at the Haakaa pumps, I've never seen them before but they look great.