Expressing at work

[seven201]

I'm a teacher who has recently returned from maternity leave. My baby is 10.5 months and is a frequent breast feeder when I'm there. She doesn't take a bottle well. This last week I've been expressing in my lunch break, but that's stressful as usually I'd be prepping for my lessons etc. I couldn't go a whole day without expressing as it would be uncomfortable. I've been expressing until the milk more or less stops (35-40 mins) then rushing off to teach. Seeing as she doesn't like bottles and could just have formula should I just do a 5 min express on each side then Chuck it away, to speed up the process?! This makes me feel guilty, but it shouldn't! Would that be enough for breasts to empty enough to not be uncomfy generally? I have a high lipase (so my breastmilk starts to turn a bit soapy tasting unless I scold it on the hob, so another faff there!).

Basically I just assumed I'd be expressing every lunch and it would be quicker and not as much of an issue and the milk would be used. But actually the baby gets plenty of breastmilk outside of working hours, so it's not needed for her benefit. So I've been OTT and need a re-think.

In expressing that much over lunch, you'll be encouraging your breasts to produce more milk at that time and therefore becoming increasingly uncomfortable.

At 10.5 months would your baby manage with just food and water when you're away from them during the day and then BF morning/evening?

I have a slightly younger baby than yours (9.5 months) and only BF morning/evening and then express once he's in bed for the bottle when I'm at work.

@TTCJJB thank you for this. Good point, I think it's time for her to breastfeed less in the day. Shorter pumping for relief but not to encourage supply. She is a horrendous sleeper and is usually breastfed to sleep many times during the night, so it's a big comfort thing for her. I assumed at nursery she'd have a bottle then go to sleep. But she's just chewing on the bottle and they're really struggling to get her to sleep - but that will change eventually I'm sure. She's usually a pretty good eater so I think she'd be ok without milk during the day.

Pumping for 40 mins and your baby is 10.5 is crazy imo. All that’s going to do is create a painful oversupply and continue your problem.
Express just enough to remove the full feeling, it should only be a few minutes. The goal is to get through the day soon without pumping surely? 40 mins is only going to tell your body to continue to produce lots of milk during the day.

@Mooneywoo yeah, probably is. I haven't had to pump since she was underweight when tiny as I had low supply. I didn't really think about it and just assumed I was meant to pump until there was little coming out. I'm only getting about 60-90 mls as never really got much pumping. I just didn't really stop and think about it until today, just thought it was what you did . Probably less time pumping actually as the room I express in is a few mins away and I have to faff around getting set up. Yes, that should be my goal! Don't really know what my goal was .

I feel a right plonker. Seems so obvious now!