17 day old ds3, expressing??

[CardyMow]

I have started trying to express for ds3 today - I only want enough to cover one feed, so that I can have a bath that lasts longer than 30 seconds tonight.

I have a Tommee Tippee manual pump, I expressed off the left this morning while ds3 fed off the right. It's the first time I've tried, I spent about 5 mins and got 1oz. I haven't expressed for years as ds2 was mix fed from 1 month, ff from 3 months, so last time was almost 9 yrs ago with ds1. I'm sure I used to get a 5-6 oz bottle in 5-10 mins with ds1 and DD (oversupply issues lol, used to donate to SCBU). Why only 1oz? No more was coming out either.

Will it improve as my boobs get more used to me pumping? How long can I keep the ebm in the fridge for? Can I add to the bottle if I want to express more next time ds3 feeds, or do I need to use another bottle? Do I need to sterilise the pump between each time I want to express in the day? How much milk will I need to get a 45 min- 1hr long soak in the bath when ds3 is 17 days old, and cluster feeding all evening? (so he would normally be stuck to my boob when I want to be in the bath)

Sorry for 101 questions but a) I can't remember from 8/9 yrs ago, and b) I'm sure any/ all advice has probably changed in that time! Can anyone help me please!!

loudlass - hope I can help.

One ounce is fine, it really is. I would say it's pretty standard for 5 mins with a young baby. People's response to breast pumping varies a lot - some people get nothing at all.

You can find answers about fridges and freezers and sterilising at www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk.

Can I just say, though, that life is complicated enough with a new baby - you are putting enormous pressure on yourself, and having to do all this thinking and preparation and it just isn't needed, IMO.

Feed your baby. Pass him to someone who is prepared to rock, jiggle, offer a finger to suck, cuddle, if he cries when you are in the bath. You might get a 30 min break that way. Keep your fingers crossed. If he absolutely needs you, bring him in the bath with you.

I can't think that is more hard work than what you are suggesting - all the sterilising, preparation, washing, getting the pump out and assembled....phew!

Just to add - he might not even take the bottle anyway. He might be wanting you in these cluster sessions, more than he wants the milk.

Perfectly normal :)

I can't take him in the bath with me, I have epilepsy, it's not safe. Hence needing a bottle. My one time out is a long soak in the bath, it's really needed for me. I also have very long hair, takes 25 mins to wash it, and ds3 is geniunely not giving me long enough - my hair is skanky!! . Hazards of having hair long enough to sit on. Ta for the linky though.

Just baffled me only getting 1oz as I was expressing by day 4 with DD as I went back to college when she was 8 days old and I was getting 4-6oz straight away.

Yes, understand about the no co-bathing. You'd need someone with you all the time just-in-case, I suppose.

Expressing 'production' varies a huge amount - maybe you were over-producing a lot with your first baby, maybe you had a different technique, maybe your body worked a bit differently then...who knows? Maybe if you try to express again this time you could get more than 1 oz. Just that 'only' getting 1 oz after 5 mins is not really significant as it's a perfectly respectable quantity :)

Maybe my boobs are just worn out! . DS3 is putting on weight nicely though, he's over his birthweight now (He lost 7oz), he's put on 5oz since Saturday!