WOW, I would love to know how you do it.

firstly well done - pumping is hard work, so however long you can manage it is a great start for your baby. sincerely hope you don't get any criticism.

to answer your question about stopping, i had to do a bit of both - i had always expressed until the milk stopped flowing, then when i was weaning off the pump i just started to pump less times each day (i never had a particularly rigid gap between pumps, just made sure i pumped a certain number of times a day, much more flexible) still continuing until the milk stopped. after a while it became clear this wasn't going to work - i was still producing the same amount of milk, so each pumping session was taking longer! so then i started to limit the duration of each pumping session. the whole process took several weeks for me, but i had been pumping for months, had a huge supply, and had had problems with blocked ducts and an abcess which i was worried about recurring, so my situation was very different from yours. the main thing i learned when i was expressing was that there are no rules - our bodies are all different, so the same thing won't work for everyone. try one way and if it doesn't work for you, try something else.

good luck x

Hi all - I posted this on the breastfeeding forum but only got one reply so thought someone here could help as I really wanted a few opinions...

Am a complete newbie to all this - LO is nearly 3 weeks old and breastfeeding is well so far.

I seem to have a plentiful supply and am wanting to start to express at some point to build up a freezer stock. I intend to do this so she can have an expressed bottle if we go out or I want an early night and so that when I stop breastfeeding (aiming to do 6 months) I can feed her my stored milk for a while longer so she still gets the benefits.

I have a few questions...

When can I start expressing?

What quantities do you freeze it in?

When do I do it - after LO has a feed?

If I breastfeed until she is 6 months and express and freeze for this time - how long could I keep feeding her stored milk for after this time? I.e could I pump enough to get her to 8 months or a year?

Any views on the Lansinoh AFFINITY DOUBLE ELECTRIC BREAST PUMP?

Hope someone can help x

Hi ladies! I think I'm going to be making my way to exclusively pumping. LO was a preemie and we are having a rough time breastfeeding - she couldn't eat at all in the NICU, and then they were giving her a bottle of my EBM when she could eat, and breastfeeding started out good but I just don't think she has the strength to do it now that she needs more milk. She's not gaining weight, and I can spend literally 2-3 hours with her on my breast at a time because she gets so tired and falls asleep, then when I take it out she wants it back in 5-15 minutes or so after. I'm physically and mentally exhausted. I'm hoping to just make it to at least 3 months (was hoping for 6, but I don't think I'm making enough milk now). I have been feeding her, then when she seems content I pump, and I'm only getting 1-2 oz, so I'm hoping to increase my milk by pumping also. If you have any tips or anything for me please let me know! I already have 200 oz frozen in the freezer, so if I can just start out by pumping what I need day by day, then I would love to increase my milk to put some more in the freezer!

Thank you .

I'm a new mummy and I've just posted about how to keep up with the expressing since coming out of hospital. My mini man is still in NICU due to breathing problems and he's on the final stretch he just needs to finish a full bottle and the feeding tube to be taken out .

Due to money issues at the moment and Isaac coming 5 weeks early I didn't have the pump at home.

Hope it works out soon and the soaking bed and leaking breasts are making me cry!

Aw I'm sorry your LO is in the NICU - we have been through the same thing! She was born 4 weeks early due to severe preeclampsia and spent 10 days in the NICU from breathing troubles. We are having money issues too, but I managed to find a cheap pump so I don't have that worry that you have Here if you meet income guidelines you can rent a breastpump for free, is there anywhere there that you might be able to do so? Good luck!

HI girls! Im so happy I found this thread! Ive been expressing for almost 4 weeks exclusively. My LO was in the NICU for the first week of his life so I didnt really have a chance to nurse him- So Ive been pumping away- I try to pump after every feeding, but sometimes I'll skip a couple times here and there, especially at night.Anyways, I think I got my period yesterday- My discharge is red and it looks just like a period would- I thought that since Im pumping I wouldnt get my period this soon- I gave birth 4 weeks ago tomorrow- Anyone had this happen?

How long ago did you quit your postpartum bleeding? It could be starting again maybe? I'm still finishing up mine right now

It never really stopped completely- But it was soo light from a week ago that I started wearing liners- Bit ever since yesterday its been bright red with some clots too (TMI) Just like a period- And Ive had a headache since yesterday- the same headache I would get when starting my period.

Hmm... it's hard to say then. Mine has let up and started heavy again before, and I have had a headache ever since I delivered, lol, so I guess I'm not much help