When/ How do you do it?

[NaeNae]

I am thinking about starting to express and freeze milk for Shae for when we start her on some rice cereal in a month or two's time.
She feeds every 90 min or so at the moment and only one side per feed except at night when I feed her to sleep (over 90 mins usually)

When would be the best time to express some milk? I have a little medela swing which is useful, but how much should I express at a time? when should I be doing it? how many times a day to start "stock piling it"

I really have no idea what I am doing or how I should be doing it and I know all logic tells me the more stimulation the more milk but I am feeling a tad anxious about possibly ruining my supply, IF I see there is not much milk I may worry ITMS

Its a really dumb thing and believe me when I say I am in no rush to start her on any solids but I want to be ready for when she decides its time ...... which leads me to another question .... how will I know WHEN is the right time to start introducing stuff? other mums in my MG are already into solids but their bubs are formula fed and I kind of want to delay solids as longs as I can ( because I don't want my baby to grow up )

How did you EBM and when did you do it??

How and When did your baby try their first solids??

Nae x x

[*Efjay*]

Best time would be to express while she feeds on the other side. That will help with let down & you will see much more milk then when you express with out her help.
Just always rememeber that what you can get with the pump is nothing compared to what she can get at the breast.

Good luck with it.

[Traveller]

I agree with Ejjay regarding the best time to express.

With introducing solids, I find it is easiest to bypass the baby rice and mushed food stage altogether. The guildelines for starting solid food like that were designed when babies were fed solids at 3 months and are not really relevant for a 6 month old starting solids.

At 6 months she will be able to hold her head up and chew with her gums, so start by sitting her in her highchair when you are eating and giving her some of your veggies to play with. She will be able to eat anything she can hold and chew without teeth, so brocolli is great (has a built in handle and all the goodness can be sucked off it), cooked carrot sticks, small chunks of cooked chicken, asparagus, etc. It will not be long before she is just eating a small portion of whatever you are cooking for yourself which makes weaning so much easier for you, not to mention more fun for her as there are less expectations on her input and she will not have to sit and be fed with a spoon (which a lot of babies hate, they like to touch what they are eating before they decide whether or not to put it in their mouths.)

Good luck

T
xx

[Kmn]

There will come a time when it appears as though if you had 6 boobs shae would still want more. She will be putting things in her mouth herself, and she will be curious about the things you are putting in your mouth. She'll let you know when she's ready.

[NaeNae]

Ok so I just spent the last 20 min very awkwardly holding shae yo one side and holding the bp to the other side for a measly 10ml thats it just 10 friggin mls Shae has not fed from that side since 4pm

if thats all I am going to get I am not going to waste my time and sit uncomforyably nor am I goin to make shae uncomfortable for 10 lousy ml, hell I am not even going to waste a snap lock bag for such a poor effort.

hard to believe I am not starving shae.

[Traveller]

Don't be disheartened NaeNae, like breastfeeding, expressing is a skill that takes a while to master. Store every 10mls, it all adds up! Or if not add it to your coffee, mmm milky sweet