Expressing - Any Advice

[CupcakesHay]

I've got a 3 week old DS - and planning to try expressing either tomorrow, or wednesday. I've got a medula pump that a friend gave me.

I was wondering if anyone had any wise words or advice for me... - i'm a bit nervous about whole thing but want to get it cracked as I know it'll make my life a whole lot easier.

Main thing is don't panic if you get nothing or very little at first. You need to keep trying. Lots of people reckon waiting until 6w is sensible too unless you really need to get going now.

Then relax, try 5 mins a side to begin with. Often worth trying first thing in am when breasts are fullest. Some people manage to express whilst the baby feeds on the other side which helps let down but might be a bit tricky on day1

Yup, don't panic. And don't expect to get a full feed in one session, especially at first.

Warmth before pumping, massage before and breast compressions during pumping can all help output.

I found lansinoh to lube things up helped. Put all round the whole nipple so the cone thing works easily.

The actual nipple shouldn't touch the funnel tube afaik - maybe you needed a bigger size funnel PP?

be prepared for you to seemingly get little and your DC to take little. 3oz in most cases is a feed.

oh and eat chocolate at the same time

After giving it up for a bad job a few months ago, I just tried again yesterday (little guy is 28 weeks old now) out of interest to discover that whilst previously I was lucky to get 30ml, I can now get 100ml out of one side without even trying!

I guess what I'm saying is, you might not have much luck expressing this early.

Not that mine could figure out a bottle anyway, and now he's old enough that we're straight onto a straw in a cup.

If you do have problems,I found the Breast Cup things really useful,and kept a sterilised bottle in the fridge.During each feed I'd put one cup thingy against the other Nipple,and I could catch up to 30mls at each feed,I would pour this into the bottle and then when I had enough in 24 hrs I would freeze it.

I found the electric pump much easier though than the hand held one.

I tried expressing in W3 to allow myself a two hour break for a particular event. I practiced for three days first. For the first two I couldn't get more than 15ml, the third I managed 70ml but it took me the whole day. Over the three days DD cried lots and seemed generally starved, I was exhausted and stressed and the whole thing hard work. I am heartened to find it gets much easier later- I might try again in a few weeks (now inW6) but not unless I need to.

So I guess I just wanted to say don't feel the need to force it to 'make life easier'. It might actually just be easier to wait a bit longer first - and enjoy the bf.

Just to update - and thanks for the advice. Expressing going OK - i've been just expressing afetr feeds in the morning (at stupid o'clock!) as i find i get more then than other times...

And eating chocolate def helps - as does drinking lots of water