expressing at work to maintain supply

[firsttimemum0000]

I've gone back to work today, reluctantly! My dd is 7 months old, is eating well and still usually has 5 boob feeds a day: 2 night feeds, 1 before bed and 2 during the day after her mid morning and afternoon snacks. I'm keen to be able to still bf her during the day when I'm not at work (only working 4 days) so I thought it would be a good idea to express a bit during the day to keep my supply up. But after expressing for bloody ages today I'd hardly got anything at all.

Will this still work at maintaining supply if I get bugger all out? If not what can I do to get more? Do I even need to bother? She was ebf for 6 months and we never had any problems. Are boobs adaptable enough that I can miss those 2 daytime feeds for 4 days and still be able to do them the other 3? how do you even know if they're not getting anything out anyway?! Sorry if that last one is a stupid question.

[YBR]

No expert here, but I get sod-all when I express, but DD2 was mainly BF until 6 mo and was healthy, wee'd, poo'd and grew. Babies are a lot more efficient than pumps!
Also if your breasts get full and uncomfortable at the times you'd normally feed your DD then its a good sign.

Other than that I'm wondering similarly. Having gone back to work full time and just BF DD2 morning and evening, I'm wondering how confused my boobs will get if I feed her more frequently at the weekends!

[rubyslippers]

i never expressed and fed for yolks even after i returned to work FT when DD was 8.5 months

your supply is well established and your DD will probably feed more when you're at home to make up for it

i wouldn't bother with expressing and just feed directly

[firsttimemum0000]

Thanks for replies. So do you think my boobs will still produce enough during the day on days when I am at home? The stupid microwave melted my breast pump parts today so I couldn't express. My boobs were pretty full but not badly engorged. I've ordered some replacements for delivery tomorrow so I can pump if I want to.

She had a mega long feed when I got home today and yesterday but I finished early both days and have to do a full day tomorrow. Which means it'll be her dinner time when I get home so I'll have to wait until bedtime to feed her. It's so frustrating having spent all these months finally getting a good routine only to have to change it now!

[rubyslippers]

things will be fine without expressing - really they will

feed plenty when you're with your LO and your supply will adjust