I expressed and got barely anything!

[blissfullyignorantorinpain]

Hi all I'm really worried. I have been BF my son for over 11 months I'm due to return to work tomorrow so thought I'd express some milk, and I've barely got any out??? I'm so shocked and really worried that my son hasn't been getting enough? Is this normal? I don't know what my supply has been like as I haven't expressed since he was a newborn but I just assumed it was ok.

Expressing is not the same as breastfeeding. Very common for this to happen.

As far as I know breastfeeding and expressing are completely different. I’ve had times where I got nothing with the pump and could hand express an ounce in 2 mins after so I wouldn’t be worried about that. As long as he’s putting on weight and has weight nappies he’s been getting enough. If you want to build a supply I’d say express a little every day - this could be BS but the more I express the more I get- if I skip a few days I get way less. Or try the Hakka pump- you can use that whilst you’re feeding and it’s amazing.

Completely normal! Some women get absolutely nothing when they express but they feed their babies perfectly well, I would try again several more times yet though, there is a knack to it.

Wet nappies I meant and build a supply I mean a supply for the freezer- don’t be worried about your own supply.

I fed both of mine for ages and could never express.

If he’s growing well, sticking to his weight %iles, happy and healthy and peeing and pooing he’s been getting enough.

I've been having this issue!! Baby gets plenty of milk from me but expressing I'm lucky to get 2oz (absolutely maximum 4 Oz in a very lucky day!)

My tips -
I express once only in the morning. At night time I feed from right boob and only offer right boob from 7pm bed all the way through to morning feed. Then once baby is up and eating breakfast approx 8.30/9 my left boob will feel quite full so I then express. I use a double pump and if I follow those steps I can get about 3oz in total from both boobs. I also ensure I've upped water intake and have a hot tea and hold the hot mug onto my chest (through my clothes not burning me!) I also massage and give my boobs a jiggle. I then try and sit calmly and express for about 30 minutes and try not to watch the amount that's coming out!

(The next night I swap boobs so baby feeds off the opposite boob)

I also find that my 10 month old now refuses bottles despite happily taking them
Before and because baby is on good 3 meals per day I feed her before I leave and then when I get home, again at bed and at least once in the night.

I hope this helps!

Thank you everyone for your replies. They're very helpful.
Also leads on to my second question, how much should an 11 month old be drinking? He has 3 meals a day with fruit in between. When I go to work he'll go from 8am till around 6pm without any milk, I think he'll be fine but just wondering what others think?

He'll obviously be drinking water in between, and will have cows milk in his cereal in the morning.

My dd wouldn't take a bottle at 11months so I just fed in the morning, in the evening... through the night and she just had water at nursery.

I asked health visitor at weigh in recently and she was very blasé and said don't worry if they don't take any milk all day. I make sure that my baby has access to other rich fatty foods - nut butters, avocado etc (just makes me feel that she's not going too low calorie because ultimately if I was around she would take two more breastfeeds between 8-5pm)