I want to start expressing as I may go back to work at 8 months and lo may need milk, I'll be doing night shifts. So I thought about expressing and getting a supply up in the freezer.
So where do I start?!?
I got an avent manual pump but it does nothing! So I was wanting an electric pump? Any opinions on good ones?
Also what else do I need? Steriliser, bags to freeze the milk? Bottles and what bottles as ds1 never had a bottle.
Last question,,, sorry!,,, when do I express? I have a lot of milk so do I do it after a feed to empty the breast or something else?! I have no idea.
Thanks so much.

Also I have no idea how much milk I need to store, at 8 months ds1 slept through but still had 3 feeds a day then 2 feeds from 12-14 months.

Hello!

It takes a bit of practice, so good on you for getting in there early!!

I have the same pump as you and it works fine, got off 4 oz on it this morning, you just have to get the knack of it!!

So first thing, always have your baby with you when you are expressing, as this helps the let down reflex, your milk will struggle to come on suction alone. I feed off one breast and express off the other at the same time, it is less time consumming than having to do 2 "feeds".
When you start expressing you will probably only get 1 or 2 oz off, but you can put it in the fridge and then give it a go again later, you can add into the same milk with in a 24 hour period.
You can then put it into the freezer in storage bags (Boots) and then when the time comes defrost as many as you need eg he drinks 4 oz defrost 2 bags of 2 oz!
I find expressing on the morning feed is best as that is when you have the most milk as you have been relaxed over night so produced lots.
I use a stereliser, again the avent one and just the bottles that came with the pump, you only need 1 or 2 bottles as the rest is stored in bags.
I would suggest trying to get your baby used ebm in a bottle, we just do one feed a week when i go out to a slimming club, and then i express off when i get home to maintain my supply!
Another thing to let you know your miok seperates when in the fridge and when frozen, it can sometimes be a blue or greeny colour too, but it hasnt gone off, just give it a shake!
thats all i can think of for now! hope that helps!
be patient, relax, have the baby with you and dont expect bottles full first go and you will be fine!! x

i think she covered it all,

i will second the reccomendation of introducing EBM in a bottle though and keeping it up as babys can flat out refuse a bottle if given for the first time too late i started EBM with Elliott at 3wks and hes never had confusion problems between bottle and breast