Hi Nusha,
It's best not to mix the two lots of milk as it might go off. What you can however do is whatever you express in a 6 hour cycle, you can put together and freeze or use as one but I wouldn't go longer than the 6 hour thing. I used the AVENT system and they have these wonderful stacking cups that I expressed into and I was lucky enough to have an electric pump (which helps a lot) and usually filled these cups so I didn't have the little bots of feed to contend with. As to the question of how much milk your baby should have, please read below: I took this off my midwife, Conny Fraser's Babygrow website. It def helped me a lot. But most importantly remember to feed on demand - Your baby will let you know if she's had enough. good luck!
Day 1- 2 weeks: Baby will be very sleepy, but please ensure that he feeds at least 3 hourly.His stomach is only the size of a walnut, so he won’t feed for long , he will be feeding on the colostrum which is thick , nutritious and important.If he wants to feed more frequently allow him to do so.
3 – 4 weeks: Baby will start feeding more frequently, every 1½ to 2 ½ hours. Try not to get baby into a feeding routine, carry on demand feeding,even through the night. Do not wake baby to feed at night , he will wake to feed when he is hungry.
An early evening routine,will help with sleep issues later.
An example:
18:00- feed
18:30 – bath
18:45 – feed
19:00 – bed
If you can try to put them down when they’re sleepy but still awake, this helps them fall asleep by themselves. This takes practice , so don’t get despondent.
An example of how they will be waking at night(these are more or less times, remember to feed on demand):
An example:
19:00 Bed
22:00 Feed
02:00 Feed
06:00 Feed
At about 5/6 weeks:
They will drop the 22:00 feed first:
19:00 Bed
01/02:00 Feed
05/06:00 Feed
At about 3 months:
They will drop the 2 am feed:
19:00 Bed
05/06:00 Feed
Remember these are all a more or less time frame. If your baby wakes , you need to respond, even if it’s just for a cuddle.
Between about 5 and 8pm can be a niggly,’colicy’ time for some babies they tend to cluster feed (feed very frequently) and cry a lot, they are just gearing up for the night ahead.
If your baby has slept through the night a few times, remember he doesn’t need feeding at night thereafter, so don’t feed if he wakes up , otherwise he’ll continue doing so out of habit.
Between 4 – 5 months babies tend to wake up a bit more, don’t be tempted to start solids, sometimes one breastfeed a night might just be the reality, many babies only start sleeping through , when solids are introduced.
Don’t change baby’s nappy at night, unless it is badly soiled, try and keep baby in sleepy state, don’t switch on lights or talk and make eye contact.
Bearing in mind , they do go through growth spurts, at these times he will wake more frequently and need feeding:10-12 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks,3 months, 6 months.
Some essential breastfeeding items:
Lansinoh or bepanthen nipple cream(good idea to put on nipples regularly in the beginning, as nipples become tender even if the latch is correct).
A mini express machine, with bottles or bags to store milk in freezer(medela is a good make)
A comfortable evening feeding bra(carefix make a good range).
Storing milk
Don’t store more than 50 mls at a time , because when defrosted , it needs to be used , if not used, thrown away. Breastmilk is like liquid gold, you don’t want to waste if you can help it.
Milk can be stored in freezer for 3 months, best way to defrost is overnight in fridge, or stand bottle in jug of boiling water until comfortably warm.
Milk can be kept in fridge for 24 hours.
When taken out of fridge, can last for 6 hours at room temperature.