How to keep baby happy while expressing?

[RibenaBabe]

Hi, this is my 1st message on here so bear with me!

My DS is 5wo and we've had a hard time with the breastfeeding. I have 1 inverted nipple and 1 flat so he won't go on without the nipple shield most times (occasionally does go straight on the flat). however it's agony (I've been to a breastfeeding specialist and she is happy with the latch) so at best can do it once a day, plus he doesn't seem to get enough of me and we need to top up with formula/expressed breastmilk.

So I have been pumping every time he wants feeding. When he was newborn it was feed with a bottle, he would sleep then I would pump. However he's having more wakeful periods now and so it's messing with my pumping. Do I play with him or leave him crying to pump? Any suggestions out to keep him happy while I pump?

[mangofizz]

I aim to pump 6-8 times a day, I do 5 mins at the end of each feed, which I get away with while he is milk drunk, or as soon as I have settled him to sleep. If he's been asleep for a while I sometimes do another 10mins.

If we have to top him up with formula (im crap at expressing, Ive been pumping that often for 2 days and am just up to nearly 3oz total now) my DH gives him the bottle and I pump. It is harder to get it done when im at home on my own though, I have to hold the bottles, so dont even have a hand free to operate the machine!

[RibenaBabe]

I'm struggling to express enough as well mango, I generally get 100 ml (3 oz) for the 1st pump in the morning then half that for for all the other pumps. Most of it comes from the left breast as the inverted nipple only gives me only 10ml (less than 0.5oz), though I'm doing both breasts for 20-30 mins each.

That's what's the problem is, as he's on a 3 hr cycle at the mo, takes an hour to change/feed/change, hour to pump which gives me an hour to feed myself, shower, or play with DS. It is easier at the weekend when DH is around to feed/change/play with him, I agree Mango.

[AnythingNotEverything]

I exclusively expressed with my first DS, and could only do it when he was milk drunk, so I expressed after every feed.

I know you didn't ask, but if it really is agony, the latch can't be right, whatever the lactation consultant said. I'd get a second opinion.

[RibenaBabe]

DS is sometimes quite awake after a feed, does it mean I'm not giving him enough? Not asking for more food just wide awake, and so I want to enjoy him while he's not crying and wants to play so it's hard to pump.

I think that it's so painful to put DS on the breast as the left one from the pumping and breastfeeding has gone from flat to sticking out. It's painful to pump but not as bad as putting DS on. The right breast I have to use a nipple shield on it as it's inverted, he won't go on it otherwise. That's not quite as bad tho I think he struggles to get enough breast. I think I've got too sensitive nipples for breastfeeding.

Also DS has just had a small tongue-tie cut, so I was hoping that would make the breastfeeding easier but it was still just as painful. I'm going to give it another week or so otherwise I might just stick with the pumping.

mango - have you been doing 'hands on pumping'? Which is mashing massaging your breasts while pumping, I've found does increase your yield!