Can't seem to express as much as before

[danielle26390]

I have been breastfeeding my 3 week old since she was born. However about a week ago we started to introduce bottle feeds with expressed milk for a few different reasons. I've had unexplained pain in one boob from day 1 and it's not down to tongue tie or a bad latch as these have been checked, so I've always expressed from that side and fed from the other side. I also was obviously doing all feeds and was exhausted so giving baby a bottle of expressed milk, meant my other half could give her a feed through the night and I was able to get about 3 hours of unbroken sleep. The other reason was that I was also constantly stuck to the couch with cluster feeding, especially in the first week or so and I felt as though our older child wasn't getting much of my attention as a result.
When my other half was on paternity leave, I was expressing on a morning and night and getting about 4-5oz each time from both sides and this stash has been frozen, however over the last week since introducing the bottles of expressed milk, I'm struggling to produce as much when I express. I'm still breastfeeding the rest of the time so can't understand why this is happening. Any help would be appreciated 😊

I don't want to stop expressing or giving bottles as we get married next month and my parents will be feeding the baby my expressed milk on the night of the wedding and the following day. I also feel it's good that she will be used to taking a bottle as I will be returning to work next year too.

I'm not sure on this one sorry although I have heard that putting a sock over the bottle as you express can increase the amount that you can pump. I think it's because you can't see how much is going into the bottle and it relieves some of the stress.

This article from Kellymom might help as well

Thank you for your reply 😊 it seems to have sorted itself out. I've been able to express around 4-5oz each time over the last few days

I exclusively expressed for DD for a year. I learned that:

Skipping any pumping session feed will reduce supply.
You’ll express more if you can see your baby (a pic is fine)
Oats help increase supply, so does fenugreek but it does make you smell of curry
Drink loads of water

@NavigatingAdolescence

I exclusively expressed for DD for a year. I learned that:

Skipping any pumping session feed will reduce supply.
You’ll express more if you can see your baby (a pic is fine)
Oats help increase supply, so does fenugreek but it does make you smell of curry
Drink loads of water

I've been eating flapjacks and have found expressing on one side while feeding on the other has really helped me personally 😊

Stress will reduce supply, as will tiredness. Prioritise rest.
Night sessions are more important than daytime.

I found it easy for the first 4 months or so and would get 8oz per side each pump. As it went on it got harder and harder to keep up the supply

• if you drop below 5 feeds/pumps a day it can really slide

Kellymom is a great website for pumping advice.

Good luck!