Poor supply when pumping - what am I doing wrong?

[gingertom11]

My DS is 5.5 months old and EBF. He is a big boy, 19lb 14oz at our last weigh in and in between the 95th and 98th centile, which he has been on or around more or less since birth. I've never really enjoyed expressing, there was a period when DS was around 6-8 weeks where I would express everyday and DH would give him a bottle each night before bedtime, but I quickly came to the conclusion that rather than giving me a break, expressing was actually more stressful - finding the time to do it, sterilising, worrying about expressing a good amount etc. So I stopped the daily pumping, and just did it now and again to have a bit of a back up supply in the freezer when it was needed.

How are you expressing? Hand pump or electric? I couldn't get on with hand pump so got an electric pump I stead. With DD 1 I could express easily with electric pump no problems. With DD 2 the only time I can express is 1st thing in the morning when I'm at my fullest, any other time of day it's not worth it.

I ebf'd ds for 6 months and continued breastfeeding until 18 months and I could never ever express! DS was a big boy (born on 75th and jumped to 91st centile in first 6 weeks where he has stayed ever since) so I obviously didn't have any supply issues. Just could never express! Sorry I'm no help but you're not alone in being unable to get the hang of it!

Posted too soon... as time has gone on, every time I pump I seem to be producing less and less. At one time I could get a full bottle (5oz+) per breast, now I can't even get 1oz. I know this could be down to stress/oxytocin/negAtive association with pumping so I try to be as relaxed and happy as possible and hide the bottle so I can't keep checking how much I've expressed but it doesn't help. I'm wondering if there's something amiss with my pump (Medela swing) because when I take the pump off and manually squeeze, milk squirts out in all directions, put the pump back on and nothing (though my nipple is drawn in to the pump etc and everything looks ok). I'm also now starting to worry that DS isn't getting enough milk as his weight gain has tailed right off (he's only gained 2oz in 2 weeks). HV doesn't seem worried and says it's down to him being more active, rolling over etc but I'm not sure. Any advice on pumping/help/reassurance about weight gain would be greatly appreciated!

I used to find that either having DS next to me or looking at photos and videos of him really helped with pumping - it helped with the hormones, I think. Do you have DS with you when you pump?

I agree, pumping can be really time consuming. Have a look at KellyMom Website to make sure you're not doing more sterilising than you need too, hot soapy scrub ever 24 was the advice last time I looked. You obviously have the milk he needs, I don't think the guidelines are to weigh more than every two months when a healthy baby is this age?

I know this sounds silly but check you pump is definitely working. My friend thought the same and then realised pump was broken

Thanks for your replies so far. I'm using an electric medela swing and yes I usually have him with me when I do it. I used to do it every morning first thing when fullest too but inevitably DS would wake up mid-pump and I'd have to stop and that only added to the stress! I do sometimes think i overthink and worry about it too much and I should just chill out!