ds 6 1/2 months: need to get more milk up...hate expressing...argh

[Heathcliffscathy]

ds might have a dairy allergy. currently he is being fed 3x a day breastfeed, 1x a day bottle of formula and milk mixed in with food. i would like to replace all of the formula and wholemilk with breastmilk. my boobs seem to have totally adjusted to these 3 feeds (i don't even where breastpads anymore). i was always utterly crap at expressing and found the whole process thoroughly depressing...how do i get more milk up...i could never do the feed him from one side express from the other malarky...and i could never acheive let down which meant that i expressed for ages for an ounce...poo...any help?

I'll watch this thread with interest sophable. Hate the cow feeling and the squeaks.

did u use and hand pump or electric? i hear electric have better results.

Motherinferior is the expressing guru!

sophable, in your case I think I would start by just feeding as much as possible (say 2 hourly) as I think that will get your supply going much more effectively than expressing at this point.

I've been expressing regularly for ages (ds2 is now nearly 6 months) and I have finally got to the point where I feel comfortable in my expressing ability. My thoughts are as follows:

1. Try not to worry about the amount. Freeze every 1 or 2oz dollop - it does build up. until recently I rarely managed more than 2oz at a session and I still ahve a freezer full!
2. Persevere with the 'feed from one boob and express fro mthe other ' - I get loads more this way. Usually about 3oz when I do it at the first feed of the day.
3. Experiement with different rhythms of pumping, and with stopping and starting. Many times I've been on the verge of giving up, I put the pump down and....feel that let-down tingle! I find the Avent pump better than an electric one becasue you can very the pressure and the interval between pumpings - this seems to stimulate by breasts more effectively than the monotonous rhythm of the electric pump.

hercules - I think you'll find it much easier once you are missing feeds - I can get about 5oz at 2pm if I haven't fed in the morning. good luck.

soph - I haven't needed breast pads since ds2 was about 6 weeks!

I can't do feed from one side, express from the other with the Avent hand pump. I use a Whisperwear pump. It's not without annoying moments, but it's pretty darn handsfree and you're not tied to a big box. Also, if you have to express for ages, best to be able to do something else at the same time.