Expressing milk - tips needed

[Ahorsecalledseptember]

Hi, my baby is nearly 3 weeks. Really wanted to breastfeed but it hasn’t worked out so I am trying to express as much milk as I can and top up with formula milk.

I’d like him to have as much breast milk as possible and I know my electric pump won’t substitute a baby latching on, so is there any way I can up my milk supply? Have tried oats already!

Drink loads of fluids and preserve. Getting a 100ml will feel like an achievement at first, but if you keep going the pump should stimulate the milk production and you'll end up pumping more than you need!

100 ml would be a dream - around 30 at the moment from both breasts!

Sorry feeding hasn't turned out as you may have expected OP. Breastfeeding didn't work for me either so I expressed for a year, with formula top ups when needed. The LLL (la leche league) have some ideas for increasing production (although I'd also bear in mind they are very pro breastfeeding so if you're at all sensitive about using formula then best avoided for a bit in my experience!) I found that expressing in the middle of the night and in the dark worked wonders for me, I think because I became quite stressed about how much I was expressing that ironically stopped me producing as much! So I'd distract myself with Netflix whilst pumping and found that tended to help. And congratulations on the arrival of your little one! :)

La leche were very helpful to be fair - I would love to breastfeed but unfortunately I think both baby and I are wrung out and exhausted by it having gone so wrong.

I’m happy to express, but it would just be lovely to be able to express enough for a feed. Then leave baby with dad while I sleep!

I’ve definitely noticed I pump out more in the small hours.

Put socks over the bottles you’re pumping into so you can’t see what you’re pumping and stress over how little/much there is.

Oats won’t do anything to increase your supply - nothing you eat or drink will - the only way to increase supply is to remove milk. Definitely pump during the night between midnight and 5am as hormones are higher then. Try pumping while holding baby/watching videos of baby/holding something that smells like them.

Also don’t beat yourself up about the amount you manage to pump. Exclusive pumping is HARD and you’re a star for doing it, remember that any amount of breastmilk is beneficial and you are doing an amazing job.

Thank you - I need to keep hearing that as it’s hard not to feel sad at being unable to breastfeed.

You're doing so well @Ahorsecalledseptember!

I was in a very similar position to you, desperately wanted to breastfeed but DS is a lazy feeder and after 2 minutes of going like billy-o on the boob he would lose all interest and wasn't gaining weight. I started to top up with expressed bottles but the time taken to actually breastfeed and pump and feed him the expressed bottles was getting silly so made the decision to exclusively pump. I will still breastfeed if we are out, or if he needs it for comfort but his main food source is expressed bottles.

In terms of building up supply, as a PP said the main way to increase supply is to remove milk which means a lot of pumping initially. I would power pump for two 1 hour sessions each day which definitely helped. I also drank one cup of Mother's Milk tea and have at least one serving of oats a day - whether or not this actually works I don't know but my supply is great now so not going to change! It's also really important to stay hydrated and drink much more water than you think you need.

I have been EPing for about 6 weeks now (DS is 9 weeks) and the pump schedule looks something like

7am - combined yield 8oz
12pm - combined yield 6oz
4pm - combined yield 6oz
7pm - combined yield 6oz
1am - combined yield 10oz

Sometimes I will only manage 4 pumps but most days I aim for those 5 sessions with the 1am session being the most important. It takes between 6mins - 10mins to drain each boob and I will massage/compress them during the pump to encourage removal

It's great being able to have DH help out with the feeds and build up a supply in the freezer for a rainy day

It does take hard work but it seems like you're determined! Good luck

Thank you!

My GP has prescribed domperidone (sp?) to try to increase lactation. I’d really like to be expressing more than I am. It’s fine in the morning but wanes over the course of the day.