I'm having troubles expressing anything to build up a supply so that I can leave Miss A every now and then to go to the gym, get my hair cut etc. Throughout the day she seems to snack on and off. At night she is having a last feed about 9am and then not again until around 3-4am. I was waking myself around 1am dripping wet but now things seem to have settled down and I'm not leaking anymore.
Should I express during the day after her feeds, even though she may be back on the boob 1.5 hours or so later (its very variable - sometimes she'll sleep for 5 hours instead!) In other words, my girl has absolutely nothing equating to a day time routine - eg at the moment she has been asleep for three hours, hasn't fed for almost four so I'm feeling very full and I know I could express a lot but I don't want to leave her with nothing for when she does wake up ITMS.
Lulu I found that tricky in the beginning as well sitting there thinking should I pump... Nah he ilwill wake up soon and then sleep for another 2hrs! Grrr lol so frustrating. I use to find the more "routine" time was in the morning and I use to pump on the second side after his morning feed. So the 7ish o'clock on. Cuz then we were up for the day and I usually had some supply left over (boob still felt quite firm). I only pumped once a day at this time at the start to get a freezer stash and then if I then was out and missed a feed cuz he had a bottle I would then express when I got home and essentially restacking freezer. I was really worried about taking to much milk out so always did it bout 30mins after a feed and only ever one side. The second side and then would offer the first side first again the next feed... ITMS?
I know they say it's better to pump before if u can so bub gets hind milk but I just found it too stressful wondering if I took too much out!
I think boobs eventually thought I had a whole extra feed In the morning and could pump out 90-140mls on a given day. I've just started dropping the daily pump cuz we have too muh milk in the freezer and hubby and I are thinking about TTC again soon and hoping it might help AF make an appearance.... We shall see!
I express an hour after little man has feed or if I am feeling full I express at the same time as he is feeding because I get great let-down. I used to worry that I would run out but figured out that if I did I could just use what I expressed to top him up - make sense?
I think the short answer is when you have time. With an unpredictable baby sometimes you just have to fit in when you can. Having said that, many mums find that they get the most milk after the first morning feed, or during the night (although I for one never had the energy during the night). Some mums who are more co-ordinated than me manage to express from one side while feeding from the other. If you can manage this it can work really well because the feeding baby will help you let down on the other side for the pump.
Another thing that can work is expressing straight after a feed starting from the second side, or even half an hour after a feed. You don't have to worry too much about your little one wanting a feed again soon after expressing as your supply will build up again quite quickly - often within 20 - 30 minutes - so there will be milk there when it's needed. In fact, you are never totally empty, there is always something there.
I have a good little supply happening in the freezer now! I just express about half hour after each feed during the day in those days I am home and able to do so.. Not always getting copious amounts but by the end of the day I usually have 150ml which is what he will take atm!! Mornings are great for my supply and like it has been said during the night if you can be bothered.... I don't, I'm straight back to bed ASAP :-)
Expressing - when?
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