block feeding and the twice-a-week bottle - and, when do i stop?

[cyclamen]

I started block feeding yesterday at 4pm and it is definitely working. DD3mo is happy and awake at the breast for the first time in many weeks. My breasts are being totally emptied and I'm not getting rock hard engorgement and lumpy ducts between/after feedings.

How long do I have to keep up the block feeding? I was feeding her one breast at a feeding before.

Also, twice a week, I hand express about 2oz into a bottle for her because I have to leave her for 2.5-3 hours. Until last week, we would have to toss the milk because she wouldn't drink the bottle. Last week we found a bottle she likes and now she drinks it and is ready to nurse again when I get home. How do I fit the hand expressing in? Do I treat it as a feed and express from whatever breast I am on? Or do I get it from the fullest breast? Is it going to make my supply go back up again to do this? I have a pump somewhere jsut in case, but hand expressing has always been more comfortable and more effective for me.

[foreverinbluejeans]

If what you are doing is working I would keep it up until you feel like you have a good supply. I would not give her a bottle. She can go that long without eating. Think of all the 3 month olds that go 9 hours a night without eating. You could leave milk and then someone could feed her by cup or even drop the milk in her mouth with a drinking straw.

[3girls1boy]

I'm assuming by block feeding you mean keeping her on one breast for several feedings before switching? When I had to do this with my first, I kept it up until my milk wasn't gushing out like crazy anymore. Could you had express just after she nurses? You can combine milk expressed at different times if you always add cooled milk to cooled milk.