When to express?

[mummy2jack]

Hi
I am BF at moment but want to start expressing and freezing some so i can have a supply for days out or whatever. I have done it a few times but just so FOb can give odd feed. My question is when should i do it? Jack feeds approx every 2-3 hours. Do i express after i have fed him or before he due for next one? If i express at the wrong time will there not be enough for his feed? Just a little confused with it. Also what quantities do you freeze it. I mean, Jack can take 6 ounce without it even touching the sides, lol, do i keep topping up what i have expressed til i've got 6 ounce and then freeze it?I have got some of those sterilised freezer bags, or do i do it in say measures of 3 ounce and then use 2 if neccessary

Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated cos i am a bit baffled by it all xx

 

[MrsMouse]

well my little man goes through the night so when he gets up in the morning he has one side and I express the other - I have always suffered with oversupply of milk (have had recurrant mastitus because of it) so have had to express since the early days I get 8 ounces out of one side in the morning so just freeze that as it is.

You can express and top up your bottle to an amount that is better suited to little one but you must freeze it before the first lot of expressed milk is 24 hours old.

What may help is to feed your little one on one side for 2 feeds and express the other side (as it should be full where it hasnt been used for 2 feeds), then swap. the fact that little one will completely drain one and you will completely express the other should increase your milk supply. That will help you get started with expressing, but if you want to get one big bottle done then pick a regular time of day to do it and stick as near as you can to it.

Hope that helps - sorry if its a bit waffley or long winded!

Good luck

I have so much in my freezer I had to pour away 2 and a quarter litres of it! I've now registered to become a breast milk donor so I dont have to do that again!

 

[mummy2jack]

Wow a breast milk donor?! I have never heard of that, think its wonderful tho! Whenever i have done it i can only seem to get between 2-3ounce from both and it seems to stop comin after bout 10 mins. Will this increase the more i do it? Ill do what you said with the only feeding him on one side for 2 feeds. I always offer both so maytbe thats why there doesn't seem to be much when it comes to expressing? I'll see tomorro, thanks xx
PLus how do you get your lo to go through the night? Or are you just lucky! lol