Pumping???? Advice please

[Beckmum4]

I have 5week old son and tried so so hard to breastfeed exclusively but just couldn't do it :( we now bottle (formula) and breast feed. I tried to pump but got nothing off :( I was really hoping to get +oz's but got few drips I really want to store my milk up for him so I can give him my milk in the day and slowly get rid of the formula bottles. Is there anything I can do??
I breast feed him 1st thing in am on off through day and last thing at night. In the day will be hit and miss depending how busy our day is (I have 4children) I'd love to have a slurpy of my milk I can give him when I'm busy and bottles are easier. My dream is to get to exclusively breast feed do I stand a chance??
Sorry to rant xx

When do you try to express? First thing in the morning was always the best for me supply-wise - I used to get about three times the amount I would in the evening. It works a bit like feeding direct too - the more often you pump the more you'll eventually get. But bear in mind some women can just never get enough from expressing - a pump will never be as efficient as your baby.

I'm sure an expert will be along in a mo, but are you using an electric pump? When are you pumping? How long are you trying for?

I think some women just really struggle to pump. It's no indicator of your supply - the pump isn't as effective as you baby.

Is there any reason why you can't breastfeed exclusively and give formula when you need to go out without your LO?

Forgot to add I have to use nipple shields now as he won't latch on without them. I started using them as nipples were split and bleeding due to a bad latch :( oh also he has a dummy.

He's a big baby and even on formula is only going 1-2 hours between feeds with breastfeeding I between to.
I tried so hard to exclusively b/f but he had a very bed latch and split my nipples I carried on but needed nipple shields in the end.
Now I can sit and feed him b/f for up to 30mins on both sides and with in 15-30mins he's screaming for food I try to latch him back on but he won't and we end up giving him a bottle (3oz) to top him up. Seems I just carnt fill him :(
I tend to pump at night will try pumping in ams after school drop off. Will that be to late in the day to do the am pumping?? He will most likely of fed a little first thing 7am ish but I carnt do it for long as need to get up and get kids ready and to school.

You should definitely get more in the morning than at night, even if it's not first thing. I used to express an hour or so after first feed and get around 8oz compared to usually about 2 or 3 in the evening. It's definitely worth a try! Also second prev poster - are you using a manual pump or electric? If you want to express long term I'd definitely invest in electric. I had the Medela swing which was great. Two stage cycle which mimics how a baby feeds.

Keep at it, I expressed almost nothing at first but after persevering can get 100 ml at a time. Ideally do it when or soon after giving DC a bottle, at least a couple of hours after bf. Get an electric pump and consider taking fenugreek to increase supply- helped me