Breastfeeding and expressing question.

[LaceyKeo]

Hey all.

I had my baby girl over the weekend at 37+1. She's only 5lb 6oz.

I've been extremely lucky this time in that I've managed to breastfeed her. However. Milk's just starting to come in, and it's getting painful. She's so small, she's only taking from one breast per feed, which is leaving the other side full.

I want to express and build up a freezer supply anyway, and I have a good pump (same I used for DS), that I'm comfortable using... I just don't know when to do so.
Last night I fed girly, had a bath, and at some point there, milk started arriving, as I got out the bath and leaked everywhere, and both breasts were swollen.
I knew she wasn't due to eat for another couple hours, so I expressed (nearly 3oz).
Problem then is I don't know if when she fed after that, she got enough, as she wanted feeding again very soon after.

So... When do I express? Do I latch her on one side and express from the other at the same time? Do I feed her then express whenever I can from both sides immediately after?
I don't want full boobs going to waste and affecting future supply, but I also don't want to be expressing away the milk she needs.

Thank you for reading, if you got through all that xx

 

[Rose83]

Hi - you might have seen me post elsewhere. My little girl is 6 months and due to a seriously bad case of thrush that lasted two months she is completely express breast fed. However from the start she always hated left boob so I expressed that one every time. I used to feed her then express straight away to get whatever else was left. I did always worry that she wouldn't have enough if she wanted to feed again soon after but to be honest I think she always did and basically my milk supply just adjusted to the point where she could feed completely from the right boob and be fine. Once the supply is really in it just seemed to be there constantly! If you're in pain then definitely express some off, if you are leaking then make sure you express enough that you are getting to the good fatty hind milk otherwise you could end up with a freezer supply of milk that is just fore milk x

 

[TTT]

My breasts settled down after a few weeks and I don't get engorged or leak anymore. I am new to expressing so still learning the ropes but I have a good supply and am just expressing whenever I can find the time, normally in the afternoon when my husband gets in and can have lo and he's halfway between feeds is working for me so far.

 

[TTT]

I did have a foremilk hind milk imbalance and would have to express some foremilk if engorged before feeding lo.

 

[mrsbedders]

Congratulations on your lovely new baby you will always have as much milk as she needs. Even if you expressed from both breasts and little one needed feeding right after, your body would just make it as she takes it. I think in terms of expressing, do whichever feels more comfortable. Whether that be during a feed or after. Have you tried the breastfeeding network? They have a website so you can ask breastfeeding advice whenever online, or you can call the national breastfeeding helpline, they are amazing xxx

 

[LaceyKeo]

Thanks for the help ladies

I've found at the minute that it seems to work best if I feed from (left) boob, then once she's done, poke her for a minute to make sure she's finished, then express from both sides (yay for dual pump) straight after. That then gives me a couple hours or so at least to refill, and then next feed I feed her from the other (right) boob, and so on.

Her poop's gone to the yellowy seedy stage, but it has quite a green tinge to it. Could that be a fore milk thing? Or just a new baby thing?

It's relieving to know she'll always be able to eat.
My poor nipples, on the other hand... Xx

 

[mrswoody]

Your boobs will be swollen and sore for the initial few days of feeding as the milk has come in and your body is still adjusting to what baby needs. So it will just produce milk until it recognises what is required iykwim.
Sounds like you have a good system going.
Green poop could be too much fore milk keep an eye over the next few nappies and see how it goes. If it doesn't settle try expressing a little off initially x