Expressing- surely I'm doing it wrong?!

[okthen]

I use a Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature electric pump. I never get more than a couple of oz- and only from my right breast. It's like I can't get the angle right on the left, and I hav to sit in a fairly uncomfortable position even on the right, to get anything. Then if I shift slightly, eg to look at tv, it stops.

Have tried hand expressing but got barely anything and it hurt after 20 mns or so of almost fruitless milking...

Have tried pumping on one side while feeding on other but it's tricky what with the angle issues.

LO is 6 weeks old and when I breastfeed him it comes gushing out- squirting, even- and often soaks my shirt on the other side.

Where am I going wrong?

Some people just can't express! It literally can be something as simple as that.

Have you tried a manual pump? How many times have you tried? I heard it gets better with practise.

Have tried a few times a week for the past month or so. On one occasion I got 4oz- that was the night ds chose to refuse bottle so down the sink it went!

Really want to make it work so I can get a break occasionally.

It sometimes helps to express frequently at the beginning to get things going. I initially expressed 8 times in 24 hours (also at night time), basically every time after I fed DD for at least 10 minutes. Initially I could only express 1 oz, however that gradually increased over weeks up to 3 oz...kellymom gives some good advice on how to express. Good Luck!

Hi

here's what helps me:

1. lean forward slightly so that your nipple is pointing to the floor in front of you whist expressing.
2. lookat your baby or hold him whilst you express
3. apply gentle pressure to your boob by placing the other hand on top for a min or so and work your way around, or gently massage.

Hope this help you get a few more oz

Totally agree with sannesannes. I could only get a small amount at first but now can manage 4-5oz and expressing 8 times in 24 hours is what I did too.

You said that your 4oz went down the sink? You know you can store it in the fridge for something like 5 days?