When is best time to express?

[proudmum]

I have a 2  month old on the easy routine, I would like to implement the dream feed - by using a bottle so that my DH can do it.  When would be the best time to express milk for this, and how much would I need for a full feed?  Any ideas? :?:

[SadiesMum]

Express in the mornings when you are fullest ie: before each of your morning feeds.  Our supplies tend to slacken off a bit in the arvos.  Remember demand = supply so the more stimulation you have the more milk you'll make!
As for amounts, you have me there, but you obviously don't want to drain the breast.
Perhaps check out breastfeeding association.

Goodluck

[proudmum]

Thanks Sadiesmum, good advice.  I will try tomorrow morning.   

[Erin M]

If you pump between your first two morning feeds, you should have good results.  I have always done that and it's worked out well.  (As long as you finish an hour before your next feed, it won't be a supply problem.)

In my experience, at 2 months, my DD took about 3 oz of EBM in a feeding.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

I would actually recommend pumping AFTER your morning feed, rather than before.  That way your lo will get however much he needs and you won't risk depriving him....  After he's done, wait about an hour and then pump. If you're single side feeding, though, you can nurse from one side and pump from the other. It's true that morning is the best time as your supply is highest after the long sleep (hopefully!) at night, so you should be able to get a fair bit.   As for the amount, every baby is different, but you could try 3 or 4 oz and see how much he takes (I'd be suprised if a 2 month old would take more than that and might take less).

[proudmum]

thanks for the great advice.  I have had aucessful couple of days pumping in the morning and it's easier than I thought.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Great! 

[sandiegomama]

Is it possible to pump within a week of having my baby?  If so, how much?

[mommytsa]

Yes, it is possible to pump shortly after having the baby.  My DS had latch issues and pumping was the only way to get breastmilk into him for the first 5 weeks (I was able to pump enough that he only had 2 bottles of formula while we were waiting for my milk to come in and my supply to get established). 

As to how much you can get, it totally depends on you and your pump and how well you respond to it.  I went to a support group for breastfeeding mothers, and many of them said that they could only get 1/2 oz to 1 1/2 oz total each time they pumped for 20 min.  Then there was me.  I could pump for ten minutes and get 4 oz off one side.  So the range of "normal" is pretty wide, but I wouldn't expect to get much more than an oz in the beginning. HTH!

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Just make sure to feed your baby first, before pumping, so that he gets what he needs. I think that in the first few weeks, if you get a couple of oz, that would be wonderful! Best time to pump still tends to be in the morning.