milk dried up when expressing

[Wirrick]

Advice and tips needed. My lo is 14 wks and thankfully thriving on breastmilk alone, I regularly expressed with an electric pump until about four weeks ago and it really ached so as I didn't need to I've not expressed since. Then this eve I've tried again and nothing at all. Baby is taking on enough milk but is fussy when latching as he has started to cut his first teeth and think it will be easier for him to suck from a cool teat of a similar consistency to his teething toys than my nipple. I'm drinking fennel.tea, besides that I'm stumped for ideas......

Do you need to express?

I couldn't express an ounce and managed to feed 2 DDs to past 1 year with good weight gain before weaning. It just didn't work for me, a baby's mouth did.

There are several breast pumps available and maybe another would have the right action for you?

Until 4 wks ago I expressed fine, not often but enough for my hubby and grandparents to be involved in feeding time (and Lo is a hungry guy so no nipple confusion for him). Main reason for wanting to give it a go again is his teething and sudden unhappiness and sometimes refusing to latch at times. The bottles I have have teats very similar to his teething toys and he may find it more soothing to feed from them.

Not uncommon at all for expressing to be more difficult after a gap and with well-established bf, Wirrick. It doesn't mean you are not making sufficient milk 'direct'. The issues you describe with fussiness etc could be normal - but worth while contacting a bf helpline and speaking to someone about them. Can't see how expressing would be much help so you may feel it's not worth persuing - just feed direct :)