Question about expressing and volumes etc!

[Runninglate]

I am BFing my 8 week old DD. About 3 weeks ago, I expressed a couple of times and it was about 125mls each time (which she drank all of when given by bottle). I have just started again and I've only managed a max of 100mls on two consecutive mornings. It's been about 10am - 11am both days and the same time of day as before.

Does anyone know why am I producing less milk and also - how much is required for 'one feed' in terms of DH thawing it out again to give to her at a later date??!?

She doesn't usually go on to a 2nd boob when BFing....

I'm confused!!

The amount you express isn't the same as the amount she has when you bfeed her. Expressing takes a while to get to grips with and can also depend on wheter you are using a pump or by hand etc. I used to express loads (about 8 - 10 ozs at a time - roughly 240 300 mls) but it took me a few weeks to build up to that much. Also, it helps if you are relaxed - sit down and read a mag, watch the tv etc or some people say to look at your dc (or a picture) whilst you're doing it. Sounds odd but it does work.

Keep practising and you'll you have enough.

Good luck.

I used to express from one side whilst feeding ds off the other and I could get about 5/6oz in about 10 minutes because I had all the right stimulation. Otherwise, very difficult to get more htan a couple of ounces at a time, but I only used to do it a couple of times a week...

100mls sounds quite good to me if you're not doing it regularly.
However, it will build up again if you do it a lot.

Feed sizes will vary massively but you need to think in terms of them drinking a minimum of 20 fluid oz per day in total (could be a lot more). The best thing is to freeze in a variety of quantities (some 2oz, some 4 etc) to minimise wastage - you can always put them together to add up to a bigger feed.

Hope this helps.

That's really interesting - I didn't know I was expressing less than I actually have. I presumed I was emptying! I was a bit worried as I'll hav to express every morning to send a bottle of with DD to the childminder every day once I start that. I was worried about how I'd manage to express enough to do it in one go!

By the way - do I just give the CM the freshly expressed bottle in an avent bag (or similar) with a freezer pack thing in it and how long will it keep it cool for???

It's not really a case of emptying or not, RL, as your breast will be producing more as well as emptying what is stored - if you keep on pumping you will just keep on producing (though it may be coming out more slowly than at the beginning of the session).

ok - so I just keep pumping even after it looks as if nothing more is coming out and if so, how long do I give it?

Sorry to be so thick

You'll find that a double pump is best because not only do you do both boobs at once, which saves time, but you produce extra hormones and get more milk.

Yes, you can put the milk in a bottle and use a freezer bag/pack thingy - you'll have to check the guidelines on your individual freezer bag to see how long it will last. My Lindam one keeps 2 bottles cold for 8 hours. BUT remember that EBM lasts longer even at room temperature than formula (8-10 hours), which must be kept cold because it breeds bacteria. So you don't need to be tooooo vigilant.

I would aim to pump for no longer than 20 minutes or your nipples might get sore. You might find, like I do, that it looks like you aren't going to get any more out but then you have another let down.

HTH
Nine

I had to express for my DS who wouldn't suck; was told 2 1/4 ounces per pound of bodyweight was what he needed in a day.

That was six years ago mind - don't know if there is a more up to date measure - but he did well on it.