three and a half weeks down the line and BFing is going very good for us, apart from one thing - DH really wants to share feeding. think he's feeling a bit left out bless him. i don't mind expressing, especially if he does some of the 3am feeds %)

i just don't know when is the good time to start expressing. MW mentioned that they don't recommend expressing before 1 month, but didn't explain why.

also i have a show to go to in a few weeks time, and as much as i'd like to take Charlie with me, he'll hate being in such a bustle all day, so i'd have to stock up milk for that day - about 12 hours. how much am i likely to need? does it matter if i start stocking up now or does it have to be closer to the date, so that milk wasn't too different?

any advice would be greatly appreciated, i'm so confused (

thanks

lil umka

Hiya

Well done you for making it this far in. "they" generally say not to start expressing for 6 weeks for a couple of reasons 1) It allows your supply to establish itself without occassionally needing more then less and 2) it allows baby to get the hang of BF before being offered the easier option of a bottle. Often once they are shown this too early they can become lazy at the breast :)

This is all good in theory! Worked with my first like a dream. With the second however, 6 weeks was too late and she never would take a bottle. On the one occasion I *had* to be away for 4 hours, hubby had a very traumatised baby getting syringe fed EBM.

Have a look here at some pumping info http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html

Julie.xx

Hi lil umka

My DD is ten weeks old and DH and I have been out on our first 'date' since I had her.  I wish I had started giving her the occassional bottle earlier but I didn't start until she was nine weeks old and it took six days to 'train' her to take a bottle without screaming the house down.  'They' say not to give them a bottle until six weeks for the reasons given in the other reply but Jo Frost of Supernanny fame says that the bottle should be introduced between 4 and 6 weeks for optimum results.  She says that earlier than 4 weeks causes nipple confusion and later than 6 weeks and you might have difficulty getting baby to take a bottle at all.

You can start expressing once you are past four weeks and freeze any that you collect (boots do fab bags for this).  My 10 week old should have needed 5-6oz for a single feed while we were out but I did enough for an 8oz bottle and she ate the whole lot.  If your baby is feeding 3 hourly, you could express enough for three bottles of 6oz and a few extra 2oz bags just in case.  If you then feed just before you go out and as soon as you get home, you should be covered.  Also, would it be convenient for you to take your pump with you because 12 hours without BF could be a little painful.

HTH

Love

Denise and Rebekah