I need to express to cover a day when I’m at hospital but nothing comes out using pump

[Rebelwithallthecause]

I have an operation in a few weeks and will need to express enough to cover for the day I will be away from baby.

She will be around 5 weeks old.

I am using an electric pump but next to nothing comes out.
Last night I managed 15ml

Otherwise I’ve got a plentiful supply. It just doesn’t seem to extract well

What do I do?! I’m wondering if I need to postpone the operation

When do you express? Some women find expressing first thing in the morning is when they get the most. Or try expressing at the same time as feeding. Make sure baby is close by, or have a babygro to sniff or a video/picture of them if they aren't with you. Try pumping on one side for ten mins, then swap to the other side, then swap back to the original breast again.

The Kellymom website has some great tips for expressing, the above are what I can remember off the top of my head.

I think a rough guide for the amount you ideally would have is 1oz per hour you plan on not feeding. It is tough though, I could never express that much milk but BF a 91st centile baby for 20 months!

Hi! Not quite the same but I started to pump exclusively around 6 months old. Actually, pumps are not the one size fits all it seems. You can buy different sized flanges if you have particularly large or small nipples (which is not the same as large of small boobs). It’s important that the flange fits comfortable and correctly around the nipple. Tbh a ibclc would be the best jets on tinask but a good BF volunteer may be able to assist.

But as it’s for a one off, have you thought about a Haakkaa/silicone pump you could use on one side whilst you feed from the other?

Or manually expressing?

Also trying breast massage, nipple stimulation, hot flannel compress or Straight after bath/shower.

Best wishes for your op

I was never very good at expressing but these are the things that helped which you could try:

• covering the bottle so I wasn't watching how much came out (with a sock!)
• doing it after a bath so I was warm and relaxed
• I filmed a video of my baby feeding from same view I would normally have when looking down and then watched that when pumping
• listening to a video of my baby cooing OR crying
• sitting in the normal chair where I would feed him
• OR use a haakaa pump on the other side while feeding him so I just caught the letdown. Would take quite a few feeds to add up to a whole bottle but was the easiest way.

Hope one of those works for you

I'd second a Haakaa pump. No effort pumping so you don't feel you've worked hard for 15mls etc

I would recommend a hakaa pump, you use it while feeding - pop it on the side you're not feeding from and give it a fe squeezes until letdown starts. They're around £10 so not going to break the bank but I always find it get a decent amount doing that.

I have a haakaa, didn’t think it would get as much as an electric.
I will start using it 👍🏻

I realise this isn't part of your question, but have you tried a bottle already? I tried introducing a bottle at 5 weeks and mine weren't having it! Also, will you be able to express on the day to relieve discomfort? (Depends how long you are away I guess). Also, I am sure you have thought of this, but can you have formula as a back up to reduce the pressure on you?

Otherwise as others have said, pump one side whilst feeding, try first thing, maybe even in the bath? (if you can do it safely). I often leaked in the early days on hearing my baby cry or thinking about them crying. Good luck!