Expressing help please!

[Beingblonde]

I tried expressing this morning for the first time and was really disappointed with the 1oz I managed to get! I spent a fortune on a Medela Swing so foolishly expected miracles! I expressed the boob baby didn't use at 5am and I have 2 questions:

If I continue to express at around this time every morning, will the amount I get increase?

If I was to try again today and get more milk, could I add it to the bottle containing the milk from this morning?

Thanks in advance - I would really appreciate any replies!

x

The amount I get varies wildly, day by day as well as time of day. I've normally a good idea in advance though - if I feel fairly full or not. No problem expressing later and adding it to what you have. How old is the baby. a couple of ounces may be all you need for an occasional feed.

Thanks for the reply. Baby is only 5 weeks so I know I'm a bit early! I just want to be able to leave him with someone else at some point, and want him to be able to take a bottle so I thought I'd give it a go. I'll try to give him the tiny little bit I've got later anyway!

An ounce is perfect for giving the bottle a go. DD1 never took a bottle and I nearly lost my sanity. DD2 and DS both had bottles from around 5 weeks too and it has worked out really well. DS is nearly 5 months now and takes the bottle no problem. He's a big fella, and although he has been know to demolish 5 ounces, I'd say 2 or 3 would be more typical - and he feeds, very roughly every 3 hrs (fed on demand unless I pop out) I'd say he gets a bottle about 3 times a week - it was probably a bit less when he was younger, but at least once a week to make sure he didn't go off it. Best of luck.

I'm expressing at the mo (sorry if tmi!) for my nearly 5wk old...you will be able to produce more milk the more you express, so don't worry! First time I got the same, 1oz but now I've just got 4oz from one and hoping for similar from the other. I've only expressed a handful of times but trying to do at this time every day so dp can do a feed when he gets in from work. Think lo has had about 4 bottles in total now not everyday as not enough milk at first.

In my experience, 3oz has been enough for day time feed but evening lo has wanted more...cue baby being handed back after draining bottle! We saved up milk from seperate sessions at first but hope to make enough for one bottle a day...

Re timings, my lo had a bottle at 3wks as had to pop into work and was easier to take dp and bottle for lots of reasons (which I won't bore you with!) my lo has happily accepted a bottle but only from his dad so far (not from me as I'm hoping to keep the distinction between the 2 to avoid confusion of the nipple variety!

Good look,sorry for the waffle...hope this helps!!

When i started expressing I got less than an oz - can now get 5-6ozs if I express first thing - you just neeed to practice.