When to start expressing?

[heather12911]

1st baby due beginning of June. Assuming no hiccups, planning on breastfeeding and expressing so DH can do some feeds.
Going to a wedding of a good friend in August, when DC will at the very youngest be about 7 weeks old. Will be at the wedding for several hours, my mum and dad will look after DC nearby so will need some expressed milk they can use.

I read somewhere that you shouldn't start expressing until the baby is 4 weeks old. Is this right? I am in no rush to start expressing but will need to be expressing by the time the wedding comes along and will need DC to be used to the bottles by then.

Any advice on when to start expressing/when to start giving DC bottles rather than boob?

Thanks

I started expressing within the first three days as I had a lot of issues with baby latching on. We did combi feeding for a bit and then exclusively breastfeeding. She's 10 weeks old now but will not take a bottle anymore - that's something to bear in mind!

I didnt start until after 4 weeks but DS will not take a bottle at all. They say not to start too early to avoid nipple confusion but I also think that time means they get used to the boob and not the bottle. I wouldn't want to have to stop breastfeeding though so would rather he didn't take a bottle than breastfeed.

1st baby. All being well you shouldn’t express until 6 weeks. It’s important for your supply. I can you have contingency plans for that day as I doubt you will want to leave the baby

Generally it's suggested to get bf established before introducing expressing or giving a bottle of possible so sometime after the first 6-8weeks.

Someyhong to consider for the wedding is you will still need to express for the feeds baby isn't having directly from you (both for comfort and to keep up your supply) so it might be easier to have baby with you and just feed directly pr have your parents bring them to you for feeds

Express when you like. I’ve started on days3, 21 and about day 10. All of mine would easily switch between boob and bottle.

It’s also worth knowing that you can bottle feed and reintroduce boob later on. We get fed a lot about it harming our production but boobs are amazing things and even once milk supplies have dried up you can reintroduce breastfeeding. I’d have never believed it from what you get told.

In terms of wedding I’d have started expressing after the night feed and again after first morning feed at least four weeks before to get baby used to bottle (feed him the bottle at night before you express) plus you can use the amount stored from expressing in the morning to keep as supply. Each time you express you will get more. To start with it’ll be more like a dribble hence the four weeks to build up to the actual amount needed.

You will need to express during the day otherwise your boobs will become full, then you'll start to leak everywhere and you'll feel like your boobs are going to burst! It might be easier to discretely feed baby than to sit and pump.

heya, I started at 6 weeks