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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Expressing

13 replies

DesperateHousewife21 · 13/09/2010 14:52

Ive been expressing for a week or so although not every day.
I usually just do enough for DP to feed DS in the eve as his last feed before bed.

However its been pretty hard to get out the amount he needs, hes nearly 10 weeks old and I just about manage to squeeze 4oz out.
Ive been expressing out of one side today while DS feeds from the other and Ive just about reached 3oz but its been hard going and I get about 2 drops for every 4 or 5 pumps (hand pump)

I suppose I just want to know if this is normal, do other people find it quite hard to get enough milk out?

Is there anything I can do to make it easier and/or get more out at one time?

Thanks

OP posts:
MumNWLondon · 13/09/2010 14:55

Sounds normal, expressing is no fun and can be slow.

jandmmum · 13/09/2010 21:28

I find that hand expressing is quicker and more productive than any pump. need 2 hands though so can't easily do whilst feeding.

AngelDog · 13/09/2010 22:10

Different people are able to get different amounts out - some people can't express any at all.

Some people find the mornings better IIRC.

MustHaveaVeryShortMemory · 13/09/2010 22:24

Its quicker if you squeeze/compress the breast while you pump. Probably not possible while you're feeding from the other though.

browneyesblue · 13/09/2010 22:28

3/4oz sounds like quite a good amount, considering you haven't been expressing very long.

I've always found expressing to be a bit hit and miss, so experimented with different times of day. I used to be 'fullest' in the morning, but now find it easier to express in the evening.

I'm not sure how much babies eat at 10 weeks, but when I first started expressing it was for the same reason as you - so DH could give a feed. I realised later that DS was drinking far more out of the bottle than he really needed, and that I was actually expressing enough. Bottle feeding uses different mechanisms than breastfeeding, and he was automatically swallowing. DH found that by stopping every now and then to burp him, it gave DS a chance to stop feeding if he was full.

thecaptaincrocfamily · 13/09/2010 22:59

Expressing is never as effective as a suckling baby and I just want to say it does not represent how much you produce. Its just that the let down process is complex and pumps are a basic piece of kit which although try to mimic babies suckling, cannot usually immitate your babies unique pattern to get good let down.
Why are you expressing? Can DP not do other bonding activities like story/bath and cuddles instead of feed and then you don't have to express. It sounds like it is stressing you out! Sad

ClimberChick · 14/09/2010 02:39

4oz is loads, don't worry.

second browneyesblue, babies will eat a lot more than they need as they can't suck and not get milk out.

Typical requirements for a day is 25oz (19-30oz). We regularly give our LO how much we think she needs. If she doesn't complain afterwards then we assume it's enough. For example she normally has 10-12oz while I'm at work.

Also worth looking up how to bottlefeed and BF baby for tip to avoid overfeeding.

Original poster
DesperateHousewife21 · 14/09/2010 08:45

Thank you all for the advice :)

captain its nice for DP to give him his last feed so Im not glued to the sofa all eve. He does also help out with bath etc.

climberchick my HV said its not poss to overfeed a BF baby?

Well I read on another thread that another woman was only feeding her LO from one side through the night so the other side would be very full in the morning, I tried that last night and in just 5 mins got 5oz out! Although had a very uncomfortable boob this morning.

OP posts:
Woodlands · 14/09/2010 10:39

that's interesting. the last 2 monday nights i've gone out to choir practice and left 8 week old ds with dh and 5oz of expressed milk. both weeks he's demanded and downed all the milk very quickly despite the fact i fed him just before i left. might suggest next time plenty of winding breaks etc.

i only ever get 1-2oz from an expressing session, it takes all week to store up enough!

ClimberChick · 14/09/2010 22:31

OP I think I meant to say to avoid creating a bottle prefrence. Also I think the reference to not being able to overfeed a BF is related to directly BF (as they only drink if they want, otherwise can comfort suck). I believe one of the reasons FF tend to be bigger is people decide what amount is normal and tend to encourage the baby to drink it all and worry if they drink a smaller amount. So I figure the same applies to EBM. One feed a day shouldn't be a problem, but in the future you might be away for a day etc. and it's useful information to know.

Original poster
DesperateHousewife21 · 15/09/2010 08:12

Thanks climberchick I gave him the 5oz bottle last night but he only wanted 4oz anyway so makes me feel better knowing roughly what he has.

OP posts:
CakeandRoses · 15/09/2010 09:51

yy, 4oz is good if you've only just started doing it.

I could only express if bf on the other side if using a manual pump and it took quite a while, since I had DD I've tried an electric pump which is miles quicker and I don't have to bf at the same time.

girlsyearapart · 15/09/2010 11:28

i wish I could get 4oz Envy
dd3 looks like she's following the same allergic path as dd2 so was advised to stop bfing for a week and express whilst she had only the hypoallergenic formula instead of mix feeding.

In a whole week of expressing 2-3 times a day I had 9oz so not even enough to make her 2 of the 5oz bottles she drinks..

and that is with an electric pump

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