Expressing Milk

Hi All,

When Bubs arrive my husband will be off for one month and I would like for him to give baby 2 feeds a day - to let me rest

I would like him to do the morning feed at 7am and the night feed at 10pm

I will continue to give bubs expressed milk at these times once he returns to work (might convince him to still do the night one)

When will be the best times to Express milk

ps I am putting in Toddler time forum also just in case

I'm keeping an eye on the responses. I'd like to do a similar thing but someone told me not to use the bottle too early (1 month?) due to "nipple confusion" or something where basically you need to let baby get really used to the nipple before using a bottle. Does anyone have advice on when it's best to start this type of thing or is it very individual according to bubs?

I can understand wanting to express to maximise the time you'll get to rest whilst the extra support is available from your husband, but I'm at a bit of a loss as to why you'd continue feeding baby from a bottle (even EBM) when he has gone back to work, when you could just as easily put them to the breast? It would save you the time and hassle of more washing / sterilising etc, and your baby is the best breastpump there is On that note, just be aware that some women don't have as much success with pumping for expressed milk, but this is NOT an indicator of how much milk you are actually producing (ie: does not mean you are not making enough if there is only 30ml in the bottle at the end of a half hour pumping). It is usually suggested that the best time to pump is first thing in the morning.

Edited by HippyMama

Katep wrote: Oh, I will also comment that we introduced the bottle at one week with the little EBM I had, and she is fine on both breast and bottle, so I wouldnt let people put you off introducing the bottle early.

That is exactly what we did with DD as well and never had any problems BUT after seeing a friend have agonising BF problems after introducing a bottle too early I have had to eat my words I now think I was just *lucky* to have a baby who doesn't mind how she gets fed as long as she fed!

Completely agree with HippyMama - expressing doesn't always come easily to all women, so try not to be disappointed if it doesn't fall into place for you. Also it can actually be more work to express off for dedicated feeds. I went back to work from 3mths every Saturday so DH gives DD EBM which I express off over the course of the week - its actually a PITA trying to fit it in around actually feeding her!

And with all that - I personally do find it so much easier just to pop me boob out than fuss around with bottles - especially because I can't sleep when my baby is crying out to be fed while DH is trying to get the bottle sorted (on the very odd occasion hes woken up and offered to give her EBM
)

ETA - I usually only express off first thing in the morn with the boob she hasn't fed off

Edited by Mamma2N

Here's a really good recent thread on expressing - Fattartsrock has some great advice

Expressing