Longterm Expression - How long does it take to increase your supply?

[KirstyDaisyBBandFifi]

I am expressing as my 3rdDD (3 weeks and 2 days) had tongue tie and was unable to feed at the breast. She has had it released but struggles to latch successfully. Anyway I am now pumping 8 times a day and am getting nearly 500ml a day - I know this needs to increase to 750ml - does anyone have ideas about how long it takes to increase? She is still not at her birthweight although as started to gain weight. She is having top ups of formula occasionally - but i want to stop this as soon as possible.

Also - I had a Fluconazole tablet for thrush - it caused her to vomit so badly - does anyone know how long it takes to work through my system.... I am currently pumping and dumping..... to ensure that she doesn't vomit again......

Thanks for anyone who replies....

Hi I am expressing for ds who is 10 weeks. I have a spectra hospital grade pump which is fantastic and really gets the milk out. Just keep pumping, I pump 4 /5 times a day and get about 6 floz each time, the rest I supplement with formula

fluconazole can take ages to get fully out of your system but if the doctor considered it ok for you to take it and feed and its just her reaction thats stopped you I would try again after a couple of days.

I found the avent isis the easiest I pumped for 3 months using it. Tried electric and just didn't get on with them. If you're struggling you could ask for help in other ways such as domperidone

Sorry I can't help re how long the meds will stay in your system.

Re increasing supply can you express more frequently? Another tip is to mimic cluster feeding with lots of expressing in the evening. And make sure you express overnight, trying to always fit in a session between midnight and 3am.

Sorry this is brief have toddler climbing on me. Hope all goes well, I know from experience how hard it is to express plus care for baby so well done.

You can also try massaging your breasts downwards (aiming for the nipple) to help release oxytocin and pro-lactin (two of the bfing hormones), then expressing (pref. both sides at the same time with an electric hospital grade pump) until the flow stops then hand expressing a little.

These things can help increase yield as can the cluster pumping that KD suggests - you could try 10 minutes pumping then 10 resting/reading/bath/anything else that you fancy then 10 pumping, 10 resting, 10 pumping -it may not get more out immediately but it can help increase yields over a few days (a bit of time lag between increasing demand and increased yield).

Also, looking at baby/holding baby while expressing (google hands free pumping for tips on how to make hands free pumping tops/bras), listening/watching a video clip of baby, thinking about baby or even listening to a relaxation tape (this has been proved to increase yields in a study see here for details.)

This has loads of info on increasing milk supply and this is an EPing website so has lots of info on EPing and increasing yields.

You can contact Wendy Jones at the Drugs in Breastmilk helpline run by the Breastfeeding Network (she is a bfing counsellor and a pharmacist so knows her stuff!) for info on the Fluconazole.

Thanks to everyone for the really helpful hints - I will try cluster feeding tonight... I also am really looking forward to trying hands free pumping... I have pump from midwives so it should be possible. I have started cluster pumping.... I am on one of my breaks now... As you have said probably won't get anymore today but I will keep going... I am really determined to get an increase in quantity..... I am also so disappointed by myself that I took the fluconazole.... At the moment she is having to have formula..... I hate the fact that I am working so hard to get her milk and throwing it away.... Anyway thanks for the suggestions so far and I will let you know how I go...

Thanks truth that's really heled