why can't I express my milk?

[SparklyGothKat]

It was never a problem before, haven't expressed for a good 6 months now, but going out tomorrow and want to express some milk for Callum, and I can't do it!! I used to be able to fill a bottle in 10 minutes!! whats happened???

[cali]

Your body has probably got used to Callum's requirements now and it is always easier to express larger volumes of milk if you have always expressed.

I was the same but didn't express for about 6 weeks and found that I was only able to express 1/2 the amount.

You might be able to express more if you missed out one of Callum's feed and expressed at that time.

sorry can't suggest anything more

[SparklyGothKat]

I can't even express 1oz!!! I thought it would be easier now, now my supply is settled.. Its the first time I have left him with anyone apart from DH and I thought some of mummy's milk would help him settle...

[cali]

Have you tried hand expressing 1st and then using a pump?

It probably is just the fact that your supply is settled and it is more difficult to get a let down reflex with a pump than a baby.

Try 1st thing in the morning, might even be worth trying to express an hour or so before Callum's 1st feed of the day and see how you get on,

[SparklyGothKat]

he still feed at night about 3-4am and then feeds loads until 8am..on and off. He has a bottle of formula once a day so not the end of the world if he has another bottle of formula tomorrow, but its the first time I have left him with someone else!!!!

[cali]

ah, so not much opportunity to express before his morning feed then!

I'm sure he won't mind too much, hope you manage to have an ok time tomorrow

[Essie3]

I've found the same thing - not expressed for a week and struggled to get my usual 100ml with a mixed feed. It doesn't mean my supply is dwindling or anything does it?

[susiecutiebananas]

no essie it doesn't mean that at all It just means your baby is efficient at getting what they need. your body has adapted to their requirements thats all.

[dairymoo]

How old is your LO SGK? Reason I ask is that I recently left my DTs (13mo) for the first time at bedtime and left behind two cups of EBM. They totally refused it but settled fine anyway. They normally NEVER reject a bedtime BF so you might find that he'd be ok without it, or as Cali said, try and express at a regular feed time. (That's the only way I've managed to express any!)