Expressing Breast Milk

[bumpy]

Thought it was going to be a breeze as managed to express 2ozs on my first go on Friday but tried again today and couldn't get anything from either breast - is this normal? I'm looking to express enough for a couple of bottles max a day. Also how often should I be expressing each day? Thanks

[sillywoman]

Yes, Bumpy - completely normal. Don't worry. Expressing can be quite disheartening initially, but persevere and you'll reap the rewards (though a couple of bottles worth a day might be setting your sights quite high). I found that expressing just after the morning feed (sometime between 7 & 9am) was my best time for getting the best quantities - also I think I've read that breastmilk is often richer in the mornings because Mums milk producing hormones are raised during the night(?). If you do it every day then you soon learn what's the best method for you, and gradually you're able to increase the amount you express and the ease with which you can do it.

If you don't get anything, then try again later in the morning, or tomorrow. Also, just as an aside, I found nipple shells very useful for collecting milk. I wore the shell on one side as I was feeding from the other, so it caught any milk that was leaking. I did this all through the day (only when I was at home though- they do look odd) I could then transfer that into a sterilised bottle which I kept in the fridge. At the end of the day I put the transferred the milk into the freezer for future use. This is probably against all sorts of 'rules' now, so it might be worth checking what current recommendations for storage are, but it did help me a lot.

[snowboarder]

Bumpy - yes keep going - you need to do it regularly and then your milk supply will adjust - and I think there's a thread on here about doing it when you're relaxed etc - however I can remember doing it stading at my kitchen table whilst eating toast.....I also used to try to do it at first after a feed as I was paranoid would express all my milk then none left for baby (would have been true as he never took the precious stuff from a bottle!!)

Also - putting aside any debate re Gina Ford's philosophies - quite useful things in her book re expressing - she's very into it...

[Fuschia]

I think expressing 2-4oz at a go is fairly normal (and easier if you have a double pump and a hands free bra!)

I used to express while watching TV or surfing. If you don't get a good letdown you won't get much...

The first few weeks my best time was actually evening at about 8pm then I used to go to bed and MrF would offer some milk at 11pm. Later on (I expressed until they were one) I used to do it late morning.

Good luck, try to relax if you can!!

[bumpy]

Ta, all very helpful. On a positive note he took a bottle for the first time this morning and at over 7 weeks. :)

[ClaireinSE22]

I found this website v. useful on expressing, storing etc etc;

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html

Good luck!

[BeccaL]

Well done on the bottle - keep doing it. Ours took one, so we thought she was fine with one. Tried again a couple of weeks later and she wouldn't touch them - continued to refuse until I went back to work at 5 months and she had a 3- day stand-off with her dad - no milk drunk on day 1, 1 oz per bottle on day 2 then realised that was all she was getting during the days on day 3 and didn't look back. I gave up with expressing early on because I couldn't bear to see it wasted! Good luck with it all

[catgirl]

I found it much easier when distracted - if I was sitting watching the pump I used to get next to nothing but if happily watching tv then I'd look down and realise the bottle was almost full. And as the others have said, if you do at the same time each day then your supply adjusts and it gets easier and easier. With my first baby I fed her in the morning and then put her on the mat to kick about in front of me while I watched the news on TV and expressed. Just try and find a routine that works for you but don't stress if it doesnt' work for you. I have several friends who breastfed but couldn't express - they gave their babies the odd bottle of formula instead of expressed milk which worked fine. Try not to worry about it too much. I know it seems like the be all and end all now but you're honestly not going to be looking back on his GCSE results thinking 'if only I'd given him expressed milk every day he might have got an A for maths instead of a B'. Good luck with it all!

[bumpy]

Thanks for all your help, have now managed to give him 2 bottles and have 2ozs in the fridge waiting for me to add a little more for my long awaited trip to have a massage - can't wait - will be bliss. :))

[ryedalema]

Bumpy - are you doing the Mothers Inc massage at the weekend?

[Smiler]

Ooh, the days of expressing - a friend still laughs about the time she came round for dinner and I, previously a prude, whipped out the breast pump after pudding!

I never managed to get vast quantities or manage it every day, but it was useful - stored it in the freezer and gave her a bottle of expressed milk every other day from around 3 weeks - sometimes I expressed for the feeds that were missed for the bottle.

Sounds like it's going well for you now!

[bumpy]

Hi Ryedalema - what's Mothers Inc maasage at weekends? Thanks

[ryedalema]

Ah sorry - here's the link:

http://www.mothersinc.webs.com/

Best bit about it is that they look after the kids for you. Not in a 'we tolerate kids running about' way, but an actual feed and entertain them way!

[bumpy]

wow, brilliant, booked myself in, thanks

[ryedalema]

I'm doing the 11am - you?

[bumpy]

9am for me as have to be in surrey for lunchtime

[ryedalema]

Have a lovely and v. relaxing time!

[bumpy]

All okay now and manage to express 3 to 4oz per boob each morning. Thanks for all your help. xx