Help I've expressed for the first time and no milk left to feed!!

[Mummyvicky]

Hi
This is my 3rd child, I breastfed both the others for 15 months each, but have never expressed.
I expressed 5floz this morning (and froze it)as MIL is babysitting this saturday night and i want to leave 2 bottles of breastmilk for her to give.God did it take me ages!!!

3 hours later baby is trying to feed and absolutely no milk left in either!! he is 16 weeks (but 4 weeks prem) usually goes 4.5 hrs between feeds.
Any advice ? he is sucking then screaming when nothing comes out!!! What can I do to get them to fill up quickly!! ?
Thanks!
Vicky xx

drink lots of water, rest and let DS suck (to encourage milk). It won't take long.
Maybe give him some cooled boiled water in the meantime if he's thirsty.

Let him suck. You haven't run out of milk - breasts are never empty.

16 weeks means it could very well be a growth spurt. Sit down, eat chocolates with one hand (no scientific or milk-producing value, just nice) and feed.

When you next express, try doing it as he's feeding (hold him rugby ball style - always got more when I did that).

or, express first thing in the morning, perhaps even before he wakes. the prolactin leveles are higher then, so you will replace the expressed milk more quickly. Don't worry, he won't starve!

Drink a pint of water, eat something and relax for 30 mins. Let him suckle if he fancies. it's probably just that they 'feel' empty more so than them being empty. I find I express most efficiently if I do it while feeding - I express on the first morning/middle of the night feed and once in the afternoon and get between 4 & 7 oz a day.

Thanks, I just let him suck and suck and he was getting a tiny amount of hindmilk- not loads but enough for him to fall asleep ! Phew !
I'm going to try the chocolate thing anyway now !!
He's so used to having bulging boobs spraying milk, he kicked up a fuss when he had to make some effort !!
thanks for the advice, I will express when he's feeding next time.

My hat really goes off to mums who express alot- it takes forever!! 45 minutes for 5 fl oz !!
Thanks again, I was really panicking there !!
Vicky xx

Also, your boobs do settle down after the initial mad hard bulging with milk weeks - they'll feel softer but be producing more milk.

Enjoy your chocolate

I expressed full time for DS2 for 5 months - became quite the expert. It becomes a lot easier with practice

Well done for getting 5oz on the first go, and for sticking with it for 45 mins. I only got about 1/2 oz at a time when I started but did get to build it up to 7-8oz after about 5 weeks.
I also got more if I had baby on one side though never got the hang of expressing left-handed!