poor evening supply - expressing and hired electric pumps - are they worth it?

[boompi]

I am trying to increase my milk supply - ds 9 days old.My milk supply in evenings is very poor. Can only express 2oz off both breasts over 30min+ with my Isis. This is without ds feeding first. (If this sounds mad I did this last night to see how much milk i was producing as noticed ds getting very frustrated at evening feeds) So having to top him up from morning expressing sessions.

Are hired pumps worth it in comparison to an Isis?

Any other tips please ? I am eating and drinking well. Tired as can be expected with a 9 day old!

More experienced people will be along in a minute, I'm sure, but no pump is as efficient as a baby - I bet ds is getting way more than 2oz in 30min.
Fussing in the evening is really common and doesn't neccessarily mean you have a supply issue - have a read here.

Noooooooo - please don't panic!! They like to feed oodles in the evening (cluster feeding throughout the whole evening) - it builds up the supply naturally.

Just snuggle up with the remote, a nice drink n some biscuits and enjoy it

boompi, if you are trying to increase supply, just keep feeding the baby. Babies are soooo much more efficient at getting milk out than any pump, even a super-de-dooper hospital grade grade one that does the dishes as well! I would only use the pump to get milk out so someone else can have a go at feeding the baby and give you a break!psmile]
Cluster feeding in the evenings is very normal!

Congratulations on your new baby. I have to say that overtiredness is the enemy of breastfeeding, and it can have an effect on supply. Get an afternoon sleep, or even go to bed at 8pm if you need to, but do rest so that you can cope with the increased evening feeds. Everyone is right about the supply and demand mechanism, the more you feed, the more you make. 2oz sounds about right for 30mins at 9 days post-natal, a newborn won't manage more than 2-3 at a feed. Sleep when baby sleeps.Good luck.

Sounds like normal evening cluster feeding rather than poor supply. Ds did it & it's hard not to think you have no milk but my BF counsellor told me apparently they are getting small amounts of richer milk at each feed which helps them get a longer spell of sleep afterwards. I spent many an evening stuck on the sofa with ds feeding almost constantly. HTH

Thanks for advice. Had sim with dd and topped up with formula which was trying to avoid this time. So advice IS useful - just difficult when you have a 23mo toddler too!

Thanks for advice. Had sim with dd and topped up with formula which was trying to avoid this time. So advice IS useful - just difficult when you have a 23mo toddler too!

boom,

That is a great amount to be able to express at 9days. Stop worrying.. you are likely producing loads and your ds is likely having a Growth Spurt which is perfectly normal but extremely tiresome.. this is his way of increasing your milk supply naturally though.

Other ways of naturally increasing your supply are found here or you could buy herbal tinctures or teas to increase supply.

On the hired pump thing, I asked my NCT rep if it would be worth it for when I went back to work and she said that if I might not get anymore out with one of the larger hired pumps... now this may not be true.
But I felt that I would manage with my small elcetric pump.
HTH

Agree with the others it prob not a supply thing just cluster feeding. DS2 fed LOADS in the first few weeks, felt like he was always feeding, which I agree is v hard work when you also have a toddler around. But I just fed him as often as he wanted and he settled down after a few weeks.
Personally I wouldn't bother expressing, its just one more thing to do and is a bad indicator of how much milk you are producing which can be demoralising. IMO better to put your feet up in front of the TV, feed your baby and try and get your DH/DP or family to help with the toddler in the evening.

Pannacotta, I had you for dessert this evening. You were delicious but high in points!

boompi - the posts here have great info. It is absolutely correct that expressing is no indicator or yours or the baby's 'performance' and it is a big hassle and time-consumer. Fussing and frequent feeding in the evening is normal.

You can be confident your milk supply is fine if your baby is thriving (might be worth getting him weighed), producing wet nappies and several poos a day, and is keen and eager to feed

Boompi,

How are you getting on now? Have we convinced you that you DO NOT have a problem with your supply?

Yes - am convinced I have enough milk! Thanks to all.

Ds has put on loads of weight. From 8lb 14oz to 10lb 10oz in last 10 days!

My only difficulty is he is now cluster feeding in early mornings (4am - 6am) and later in morning too (9-11am) And evenings as before. Drinks for 5min and then naps or 'plays' for 30 min and back on boob. I cant get him to take more at a time or go for longer. I am going with it as he screams blue murder if i dont feed him but it makes getting out, looking after my dd very difficult. I will persevere.

I still express in mornings so dh can do one of night feeds.

OMG that is a lot of weight to put on! You sure you haven't started solids??!!!

This is a good link Cluster feeding

You could also try using a Nursing Necklace to keep his attention at the breast and possibly increase the length of feeds.

Wow, boompi, do you have melted Mars bars in your norks??? Well done!

Like the melted mars bars!

Followed a link from the cluster feeding link to info on frequent nursing - very useful. Its difficult to demand feed when so many experts are against it.