Expressing question

[westy]

Hi ladies, i have purchased a electric breast pump so i can express some milk for my bubby so when Daddy gets home of an evening he is able to give him some EBM.

My question is when is the best time to express, before a feed? after a feed ? in between feeds ? in the morning? at night ? As you can tell i have no idea i'm guessing it would be best to do it throughout the day when there is more milk being produced ....my bub has been sleeping 8hrs straight at night for the past few days and i feel there is little left to express come the evening - so it has me thinking i'd be best to express during the day when he is feeding more frequently thus the supply is higher, is this right?

Thanks in advance any advice is greatly appreciated

[Fleur]

Hi Westy

If your bub is sleeping 8 hours at night I would do it after his morning feed. You will probably be fairly full then and have enough left to express a bit, also if you don't get the amount you want you can always express again later in the day to make up the bottle that evening.
Even if he does have a big feed you should have enough after half an hour to express a bit.

Just remember that when he has a bottle you will still need to express to keep up your supply.

HTH

[Feijoa Mum]

Hi westy

I asked this just last week as I had know idea either when the best time was. Trial and error though I found the best time for me was first thing in the morning. My DD is sleeping really well over night so I am at my most full when we wake for the day.
I attach her to one side and the expressor on the other and go for it. I get over 100mls off doing it this way
Another way that was suggested to me was to feed then wait an hour or so for the boobs to refill then try expressing. I didnt seem to have as much success as I do the other way though

HTH and good luck. Now if I could find a way for DD to take my EBM we would be laughing

[studymum]

You can express the opposite side during feeding, it helps with letdown and slow. I have always gotten more this way. You supply will be fine come the next feed and you just swap sides.

[westy]

Thanks for the replies ladies, i decided last night that i would wait until this morning and express when i know i will have it there to express ykwim? I got 100mls this morning which i ws happy about.

I'm not really sure on the do's and dont's of expressing, if i was to express some more later today can i add it to the ebm i got this morning or not?

[Fleur]

Yep, you can, as long as it's the same temp (don't mix frozen milk with fresh until it's defrosted, for example).

I'll see what I can find on expressing & storage of EBM for you.

ETA - ok this is from the ABA website

Storing, preparing feeds and hygiene
In most cases the mother will leave EBM ready in bottles in the fridge. Fresh EBM can be kept safely in the fridge for up to 5 days. To warm cold EBM stand the bottle in a container of hot water (not boiling) until the EBM reaches body heat. Test how warm the milk is by dropping a little onto your wrist. It is right when it feels warm. Do not overheat or boil EBM as this can destroy some of the nutrients in breastmilk. Do not use a microwave oven to thaw or heat EBM.

Frozen EBM may be in a bottle, storage bag or other container. It can be warmed quickly, or thawed slowly in the fridge. Do not leave frozen EBM standing at room temperature. To thaw quickly, move the bottle or bag of frozen EBM about in a bowl of warm water. As the water cools, add a little hot water to the bowl and keep moving the EBM around until it all becomes liquid. You may need to put the EBM into a clean feeding container. It is a good idea to ask the mother when the baby is likely to need a feed and thaw the EBM before this time. Store thawed EBM in the fridge for no more than 4 hours and heat as for cold EBM.

EBM, like other food, can grow germs, particularly after freezing and thawing. Bottles, teats, spoons, cups or other feeding equipment need to be well washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed well (air-dry or dry with new paper towel if not being used straight away). Personal hygiene is also important. Wash your hands well before you start to prepare a feed.

Breastmilk should not be frozen or heated more than once. Offer small amounts of EBM at a time to the baby. If the baby is not hungry you will not have to throw out large amounts of EBM. If the baby needs more, prepare another small amount.

this is just from memory - I will go back & check it :

Frozen EBM will keep for - 3 months in a normal freezer
- 6 months in deep freezer

In the fridge after being defrosted - 24 hours

In the fridge, not warmed or heated previously - for 3 days

Freshly expressed at room temp 6-8 hours.

Once it's been heated you have to chuck it.

[westy]

Thankyou so much Fleur for all of your help. The information you found for me was a great help - i am such a novice at this whole breastfeeding thing, but im loving it and am so happy that i have been able to BF this time around and have now been doing it for 8weeks ...yay

Thanks again i really appreciate your time and help

[Fleur]

Aww no worries hun, glad it was helpful