Best time to express?

[melonribena]

I'm trying to express some milk for my 8 mth old for when I go back to work.

I currently pump before breakfast but rarely get much, probably because he's a big night feeder.

Is there a time of day when I'm likely to do better?

[melonribena]

Anyone know?

[blackteaplease]

I think you might just have to try out different times and see how you get on. I always used to pump while eating breakfast as dd was a big daytime feeder, but couldn't ever pump the rest of the day.

Or maybe trying a better pump might produce more milk.

When do you return to work? Is it before 12 months?

[MrsNPattz]

I'm currently expressing daily as I go away for a weekend in May, and I seem to get the most before little man's first morning feed so that's not really much help sorry! I have read that seeing baby/thinking about baby helps, as does massaging the nipple area. Maybe you could try at other times and see if it makes a difference? If he feeds a lot at night maybe try last thing before you go to bed?

[NaNaNatman]

Hey,

The mornings are defiantly the best time to express for me.
are you using a pump or hand expressing? Could be you and your pump aren't getting on, or maybe try mid morning if LO has a nap?

I couldn't hand express... Or at least I thought I couldn't, that was until I left my pump at home while at work so had no choice, I actually prefer to hand express now as its more effective.

Hope that helps x

[melonribena]

Thank you. I've just bought an electric pump but frustratingly still get the same as my manual one.

I will experiment a bit more! Thank you for sharing.

I'm back at work in 2 months, eek!

[blackteaplease]

Ah ok, I was asking as obviously you could use cows milk during the day after 12 months and still breastfeed when not at work if you wanted to.

If your dc is a big night feeder and you feed before and after work, how much milk would they need during the day? I know that dd would feed 2 hourly right up til she weaned at the age of 2 but that was for comfort really, if offered a bottle she would feed much less than that and make up for it when I was there.

Good luck.

[plummyjam]

When I first started expressing with a Tommy Tippee manual I only managed about half an ounce per boob. On the third go I persisted for about 15 mins then the milk suddenly started flowing and I got 3 oz. I think believing that I could do it has subsequently helped the let down to get going and I've not had any problems since. I express first thing in the morning.

[melonribena]

Thanks again! I had a go at pumping an hour after his lunch feed (while he was eating his crumpet!) and got 2oz from one side in about 2 minutes!

I will definitely keep experimenting but I was already impressed with that!