Tips on expressing please!

[RGPargy]

Hi all!!

Firstly, sorry if this has been done 1,000 times before!

Basically, DP has started to give DD a bottle of EBM before bed, which they both really enjoy. It's only about 3-4oz but it takes me 2 or 3 expressions to get that piddly amount.

Does anyone have any tips as to how to get more milk per expression or perhaps my technique is wrong? I'm using an Avent Isis manual pump. I would LOVE an electric pump but funds do not permit unfortunately. I have a big boobage so am wondering if not enough areola (sp?) is going into the pump and therefore the massage cushions aren't doing their job properly.

Any pointers?

TIA!

[KelaS]

Do you leak much during the day? I have a similar problem, and have found that by using breast shells on the side I am not feeding on to collect what leaks out, I can get up to half an oz at a time - not much on its own, but it soon adds up, especially if you are expressing as well.

[notnowbernard]

HOw old is dd?

[RGPargy]

KelaS - no, i dont leak at all during the day! I might leak at night when i'm feeding and end up with milk dribbling down me from the side i'm not feeding. Good idea about collecting it tho. I dont have shells, but might just stick the lid of a bottle under one or something lol.

NNB - DD is 14 weeks.

[notnowbernard]

14 weeks was a good age for expressing for me, as milk supply well established and still on excl. demand-fed bm.

I always got a 'let-down' when feeding. So would feed from one side and attempt to collect from the other (or wait until feed finished)

Also would try and pump after a significant gap between feeds.

I found mornings better, seemed to have more milk then.

[RGPargy]

Thanx NNB. Just a little go again as it's been a while since i fed DD and got about 2oz out. If i pump in the mornings after feeding DD i get virtually zero!

[RGPargy]

Just HAD a little go.....

[terramum]

I leaked masses at night as DS never fed very much overnight & my boobs took months to figure this out so the best time for expressing for me was first thing in the morning, before DS had his feed as this was the longest he usually went between feeds. If I knew I needed some ebm quickly/easily I either set my alarm early or got DH to wake me up before DS stirred for his first morning feed...so I could express all the excess off.

[notnowbernard]

Could you try before the first feed? Or during/just after the first feed.

It was easier for me, I think, because both of mine only ever had one boob per feed. I never had to offer a second breast, IYKWIM

[RGPargy]

Hmmm

DD feeds around twice a night, 2.30am and about 4 or 5am, but getting up before her once it's Sociable O'Clock could be an option!

[RGPargy]

NNB - Ah that makes things easier if yours were just one sided lol. After the first feed doesn't work for me - i get nothing. DD is so good at waiting for her first feed in the morning, bless her, that i could express before feeding i reckon. Might try that tomorrow!

[jes74]

have you tried expressing without the cushion on the pump? it was suggested to me by a bf advisor when i had dd and needed to express due to her being in scbu and it made a big difference to what i expressed i also have big boobs and she reckoned the cushion actually stopped my let down. I express daily now with ds and that tends to be in the morning after his first feed.

[RGPargy]

I might try that as the cushion just tends to be just above my nipple and not where i would have thought it to be, although i could be wrong!

[calsworld]

RG - I' suggest the same as jes74 - I also would recommend trying without the cushion on. Just take it easy on your boobs - make sure you don't hurt them!

Its a while since i bf but I was struggling to get much - also with the avent manual. HV said that with big boobs (38H at that time) I may be better without the cushion and hey presto - problem solved. Also only worked if DS was in the room and I was looking at him! Best expressing was done with him in a baby sling pushed over to one side with the pump on the other boob! Bit cumbersome but very effective!

Practice makes perfect - and I think it also helps to do it at the same time each day so that your body knows what you want and when to produce? Good luck!

[calsworld]

Oh, and other good tip which sounds odd but also worked well, was to either express after a warm shower, or whilst actually sat in the bath. The warmth opens up the ducts and helps the milk flow. I guess sitting in v warm place might help too?

[RGPargy]

Thanx calsworld. I'll try it without the cushion tomorrow morning before DD wakes up and will see what happens.

[RGPargy]

Well i took my pump to bed with me last night so that i could express first thing this morning. When DD woke me up (after sleeping for 9 hours!!!!!) i expressed for around 10 minutes or so and got almost 4oz!! The only reason i stopped was because the pump was making my nipples sore - both with and without the cushion!

[debinaustria]

Congratulations on getting 4oz and also 9 hours of sleep!!

[calsworld]

Yay, well done! If you do the same again each morning, you should find that the milk builds up and you can get more if you need it. Just be careful not to overdo it or you'll be waking up with too very full boobs!!

[RGPargy]

I'm more gobsmacked at the 9 hours than i am at the 4oz!! lol!

I do wonder if DD had have woken up last night, whether i could have got as much milk out this morning?

But anyway, she was very patient waiting for her breakfast while i pumped away, bless her.

[calsworld]

Sounds like you have a very lovely little girl to wait patiently for you after a whole 9 hours!

Only thing with pumping right before she eats is that it means she's not getting any of the first milk, which is her thirst quenching watery bit, coz you've bottled it... I might also be talking rubbish but it might be worth having a read about that?

[KelaS]

Have you tried pumping one side while she feeds on the other? That is how I find I get the most out.

[RGPargy]

calsworld - oh bugger, i didn't think about that!

KelaS - Normally that's not possible because i have to use two hands to feed her - one to hold her and one to press an airway in my boob so that she can breathe!!

[KelaS]

yes, i have the same problem, but have found that if i lie her on a pillow i don't really have to hold her, leaving me a hand free for the pump. bit of a balancing act, but i can manage.

[RGPargy]

I might try that tomorrow morning.

[smallone]

DD had EBM every night from 4 weeks to 10 months and it used to take 2 or 3 feeds to express enough.

If you can manage to feed one side (rugbyball hold) and express on the other you get the benefit of the let down created by dd. You could get HV/BF advisor at hosp (?) to help you with this.

If you feed in the night try expressing then coz it used to flow out of me at that time. and the morning feed - something about not really being awake!

Have a read up about breast compression aswell coz it can help to get the last few drops out!

Drink tonnes of water,

Fenugreek tablets can help to build supply which will then be maintained by expressing/bfing.

If you think you've got nothing, try getting comfy in front of tv and wrap yourself up in a big duvet so you're nice and warm and express gently (sort of absentmindedly!) for as long as you can. Even if you don't get anything out you will stimulate more for next time. I found if I wasn't constantly looking at how much I was producing I would be pleasantly suprised when I eventually looked in the bottle!

Oh and my favourite tip (well it worked for me honest!) is a square of plain dark chocolate melting in my mouth while I expressed. Pure bliss - must be something to do with endorphins!