I am *really* rubbish at expressing - can I have some tips please?

[Miaou]

Tbh I've only tried it a couple of times - I have nowhere private to do it and end up standing in our through kitchen/living room with the blinds down and the pump whining away like a moped - very offputting.

But I've just got a casual job that could entail working 10-2, and the vague possibility on the horizon of another one which would also be 10-2 (or 12-4) - great for me, not so good for ds (6 months). It occurred to me that I ought to get my finger out (perhaps my boob might be more appropriate - ah, that's where I'm going wrong then )and really give it a proper go otherwise I might end up having to give him formula which I really don't want to do.

Sorry, waffling now - can you give me some tips please? I never leak, if I pump then I get only a drop or two - if I continue to persevere, might this increase? Or am I dooooooooomed?

TIA

I didn't get on with electric pumps at all. I had images of dairies. Success started with an Avent Isis, but found hand expressing far more efficient. The good thing about the Isis is that you can absentmindedly watch TV or something whilst doing it (got about a litre watching Seabiscuit!), but with hand expressing you have to concentrate on where it's going!

Have you tried hand expressing btw? It may take some practice, but relaxation was the key I found.

You'll still have plenty of milk if you express before a feed. You won't run out. And it might help you express more in the long run. Good luck!

Thanks guys. I did try expressing before feeding in the end - I got about half an ice-cube's worth (yes, I did freeze it, every little counts ) - then went on to feed ds off the same boob 10 minutes later! Ds has a very strong suck and obviously needs it as the poor pump is struggling to get any out!! I am going to have another go just now before bed

I express using an electric Medela pump, after 7mo DS2's morning feed, sitting at my dining room table reading the paper and then I put it straight into his breakfast. Some days I get enough to put some into his evening solids as well, but if I don't then I just use water. I sometimes plan to pump before going to bed at night but generally find that I am just not motivated enough. If I had to do it manually I know I just wouldn't be motivated at all, which is what happened to poor DS1.
HTH Good Luck, Sim

another tip for expressing especially with a hand pump - mimic the babies suck pattern - so fast and shallow (not much pressure) to begin with and then when the milk begins to flow change it to long and deep (more pressure) - if you watch a baby feeding that is what they do.

When I first started pumping I got almost nothing (less than 1oz). I found that if I pumped reularly at a fairly similiar time each day (never managed to mpump more than once a day - too much hassle) after a while I got a bit more.

I tried a massive industrial nct pump, a medela pump and an avent handpump. At first nothing worked, then eventually the hand pump worked best but it was abit hit and miss. Sometimes got a few ounces sometimes much less. Also it always took at least 20-30 minutes which was a nightmare really.

I also never leaked much (often wondered why breast pads were necessary) and never (still don't) felt any let-down.

The key for me was consistency over a few days of even weeks. However I hate to tell you that my best ever pumpin session I got about 5oz and that was when I had missed feeds. More often I got 3-4oz.

Thanks everyone - I had another go at pumping last night after feeding ds and got 30ml (about two tablespoonsful!!). Found it loads easier doing it on my own whilst reading - not so self-conscious then . Will keep going at it!

Miaou, another thing I always found is that if you pump in addition to feeding you get less milk. But if you pump when away from the baby at a time when they would usually feed, you get a lot more. I get 6 oz a go when away from ds3 but never get much on days when I am with him all the time and the pumping is an "extra" feed. I have an Avent Isis IQ duo and find it brilliant but its a very expensive pump.

Miaou - I found that hand expressing was far more productive than using a pump. Here is a link you might find helpful. It is all in the knack

I use the Medela electric pump and it takes about 7mins to get 5 ounces- I feed from one side first thing in the morning, make myself breakfast, pop the wee one in her chair and eat and pump with her facing me. Proper multi-tasking!!! I have the setting at high the whole way through or it's not powerful enough. I definately have more milk in the morning and I use the breast that has the most milk and the most powerful let down. Good luck.

Thank you all for your advice, and the fab article MI! I have started expressing with avengence now - I am determined to get the hang of it! Anyway last night I expressed 3 ounces in about 15 minutes, which is the most I have done in the quickest time, so I am obviously getting better at it.

The next step of course will be to persuade ds to drink it... dh is going to try to give it to him in a cup next week