Express feeding/breast feeding

[Kittenmum89]

I am due to have my baby in 4 weeks and my plan is to solely express and feed baby with a bottle from the expressed milk.
My questions however is anyone who has done what did you do to feed baby until you were able to express a decent amount ? Did you breast feed then express right after breast feeding until you were able to start keeping a supply in the fridge ? Or formula feed and still
express every 2 hours ?

I've not done it but you won't have to express nearly as much as you think you will. BF babies don't need to huge amounts of milk that a FF baby will need.

Have a read of "how much expressed milk will my baby need" from Kellymom.

I'd also recommend going to your local BFing Groups before LO arrives and talking to the Mums there about their experiences.

It would probably be a good idea to hand express some colostrum ahead of the birth so you have a bit spare and have practised doing it before the baby comes if you’re planning on doing exclusively expressing. Keep the syringes in the freezer and bring a few to the hospital labelled with your name on.
It’s often easier to latch the baby though. Depending on why you want to do this of course :)

I am just wondering now you managed with this. I am pregnant and really don't think I can breast feed. I have breast surgery and can't stand anything touching my nipples. I really do want to try and suffer to get some of the good stuff out for a few weeks without the baby breastfeeding as don't want them to get used to it so had thought about trying to express.

I solely expressed with both of my babies. I know this is an old thread but to help...

rent a hospital grade pump. I had the medela symphony double https://www.medela-rental.co.uk/shop/symphony-double-breastpump-hire?utmsource=google&utmmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=b2c-uk-rental-pup-na-ongoing-do-prospect-dept-conversion-na-brand&utmmcontent=&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADf-OgkQIL1geakVdZcj7jnc4cC42&gclid=CjwKCAjwvKi4BhABEiwAH2gcw42ESvaL2vByzNn7aBhpDX5gjKD2oax3jkY3zMoDBMTYKLDk9ow2bxoC550QAvDBwE

You need to be super hydrated and well fed. 3-4L of water a day. Lots of oats and dairy worked for me.

I didn't breast feed at all. I expressed as soon as I got my pump after birth and topped up with formula. By day 14, I had enough milk to solely give BM. I mix fed until then.

The Kelly mom website is good. I always went with the 6,6,6 rule. 6 hours at room temp, 6 days in the fridge, 6 months in the freezer.

@Vhp83 this may be an unpopular opinion, and maybe unexpected from an incredibly pro BF woman, but I would say just go straight to formula. The stress and time taken up by expressing then bottle feeding isn't worth it. Formula is more than fine! Give yourself a break with my blessing!!🥰

Baby was probably born in June/July. I think the OP will have figured out a way to feed her baby by now

@CadyEastman You must have missed the post this morning by another woman asking advice on this issue.

Sorry my apologies. I hadn't seen that at all.

Just wanted to add they I do usually try and check if someone has asked for help on an old thread. I had gone back on this one but had completely missed it. Sorry again.

@CadyEastman No problem!