Just starting to express.. Opinions appreciated

[Newmum78]

Hi all my dd is coming 3w old and I hav just started to express yesterday.. I got one and half ounce off one side and did it yesterday after first feed in the morning.. Is this average, small amt or wgtvonu think?? I hav the same today so it will take another one or two goes to get four ounce bottle so dh can give it to her... I hav one side small than other but stupidly hav been going off smaller side which will prob reduce supply even more as less normall got with expressing... O do I leave this milk in fridge I know it lasts for five days and then dh use once I hav enough... How do I even up supply on either side?? I'm not sure yet when last nite feed is. I think maybe around ten. But last nite she just kept feeding but I think we missed the cue to put her down ... All opinions very much appreciated.. We also gave her dummy and as she very sucky baby but im little incensed she getting confused as she bit more taffy about latching on. But I really needed the break !!

How much you express is never a true indication of how much milk you have so I would worry on that point. By far the best way to express (though it takes a bit of getting used too) is to tantum feed. So nurse your child one side and express on the other. By having your child there it stimulates your flow. Some women find it better to express in the morning or after a shower.

I never manages more than an ounce and gave up quite quickly. Some people can't express. Keep going for a while and see. You can freeze small amounts separately and put them together when defrosted to make up a full meal.
For a break, do you mean just feeding or generally? If just generally get dp to do everything one day except feed ( and he must bring to you and take away to burp) and you loll in bed all day.

What type of pump do you have? With ds1 I had a manual tommee tippee which was hopeless and I'd get max of 1oz slightly more of I had ds1 on one side while expressing on the other. I now have a medula swing electric pump and it is SO much better and easier, I can get 4oz out of my 'better' side at a time, the rubbish side only 1-2oz.

If you express after you've just fed there won't be much. I find it best either first thing in the morning or if I haven't fed for a couple of hours.

To even up I would start every feed on the small side as greater demand will increase the supply.

I have breast milk storage bags for the freezer and freeze it in 3-4oz lots. Ds2 will often only take 2oz of expressed at a time though (and he's 14mo) so you might want to try freezing it in 2oz lots to start with so it doesn't get wasted

Great tips, I mean a break just from one feed, dh does help loads so I'm decade on that way, and also just to give him some other way of bonding with baby. I hav the medala electric pump but It is my bad side so that maybe way not great amount. If u r saying feeding each time on poorer side do u mean empty it completely , then she not want other side and ill get engorged.? I feed on left and then express right so it should be full??

Oh btw. I hav 3ounce in one bag now..I know it lasts 5days. Should I keep in fridge and ill to four ounce or freeze this and start fresh bag? I defrost in warm water? What sort of temp m assuming just warm to give it to dd?

Not sure I quite understand what you're doing with the different sides but in my experience (and I'm not an expert!) expressing is not as effective as keeping your supply up as your baby feeding so if you're always feeding on one side and expressing on the other you are likely to get an uneven supply.

I would freeze the 3oz and start a new bag, that's a reasonable sized feed for a 3wk bf baby.

The Kellymom website has some good advice - I'd have a look at that if you haven't found it before.