If you are expressing for all your baby's feeds, then you will need to work out a regular regime for expressing your milk. To keep your supply up, you will need to express at least 6 times (or up to 8 times) in a 24 hour period. However, this does not need to be strictly every 3 to 4 hours. You can express from 2 to 4 hourly during the day and evening and have a 6 hour sleep overnight.
If you are experiencing breastfeeding problems, the times you express will depend on the condition you are dealing with. You can read more in
breastfeeding variations.
If you are expressing milk to store for your baby to drink at a later time, then you will need to coordinate your expressing sessions with your baby's breastfeeds. You may choose to restrict your 'expressing days' to ones when your baby is relatively happy and settled, and you are having a relaxed 'stay at home day'. The idea is to express small amounts of milk (20 to 80 mls), once or twice a day when you can, usually after your baby feeds (or in between their feeding times). This way you can slowly bank your stored breast milk over a period of days (or weeks), until you have the amount of milk you need, without disrupting your baby's breastfeeding schedule. The milk you express needs to be cooled and frozen, and can be stored for up to 3 to 6 months. This is discussed later in
storing your breast milk.
The times you express will depend on your personal preferences and your baby's feeding and sleeping routine. You can choose to:
Express soon after your baby feeds. You may find it convenient to express soon after your baby feeds, and they have settled. If you are breastfeeding from one breast per feed (alternating breasts each feed), then you may be able to express a little from the breast you fed from and more from the 'second breast'.