What can negatively affect milk supply?? I dont seem to be able to get as much when I express....

[GoodGollyMissMolly]

Can tiredness affect milk supply? I am very tired.
Normally in the mornings I can get approx 6-7 ounces altogether (From both breast's) yesterday morning and this morning I have only been able to get 3-4 ounces altogether.

I express on top of feeding DD on demand, it is only occasionally that DH gives DD a bottle without me expressing so that I can get some rest.

Whats normal?
How much should I expect to be getting when expressing.?
What else can negatively affect milk supply?

Loads of things can affect your milk supply, but tbh 3-4 ounces is still pretty good. I would just try again later and not worry about it.

I bf ds for 9 months but my xp'ing output was shite.

Expressing is a poor indicator of supply. Tiredness isn't necessarily a reason, it can just vary. I could never get more than a few ozs out at any one time.

Thanks ILikeToMoveIt, I'm just so paranoid about my supply being affected that I worry about expressing.
I keep feeling very selfish and lazy when DH gives DD a bottle of EBM and I think I'm worried it will cause me to loose my milk supply.

Thanks for replying, just feeling shite and tired and so unworthy at the moment.

Yes, Kellymom says that too LIZS. Babies are much better at removing milk than a pump. Look at Kellymom for tips on increasing supply.

Hi LIZS, thanks, I'm hoping that it just a small variation of supply, but cant help wondering if it isn't (paranoia, I know)

How old is DD? Don't think it's too good to be expressing regularly before about 6 weeks IIRC.

DD will be six weeks old in 4 days time, I have been expressing for a couple of weeks and DD occasionally has a bottle of EBM from DH when I need to get some rest. The rest of the EBM is in the freezer (I have quite a store of it )
My MW and HV advised me to start expressing and getting DD used to a bottle, but reading some of these threads now, it seems I should have asked on here first before listening to them!!!!

Molly, there were days with DS I could express two full bottles in ten minutes, other days I would get a driblle in an hour. He was always getting plenty of milk and as everyone has said it is purely the expressing not your breasts.
Breasts are like unstoppable milk machines, they fill up and fill up and fill up, depending on how much comes out of them, so as long as you're feeding/expressing then you will be making milk.

Don't worry, you're doing fine.

The advice is not to xp before 6 weeks, but really don't worry about it. You are demand feeding your dd and still getting milk when you are xp'ing, so it sounds like you are doing just fine.

You are not being selfish or lazy. I done just what you are doing and ds was fine. There was no nipple confusion and my supply was fine. It gave me a chance to fit naps in when dp was around.

The expressing probably wont have caused an issue as you say you have still been feeding DD on demand. It can affect your supply, but if baby is still feeding and you are expressing on top of feeding then it's probably not a problem.
Try not to worry.
It's missing feeds often that causes milk supply to falter, but even then it's totally possible to bring it back just by feeding more.

Thanks VictoriaSqualor and ILikeToMoveIT, I just worry too much, thats my problem!!!!
It makes me feel better knowing that pumping outlet can vary from day to day.

Got to go and feed DD now as she has begun to suck on her fingers

Sounds like you are doing fine. Expressing while building supply may, in some cases, tell your body that you need more than you do. However this does not mean it will necessarily cause a problem. I think im right in saying that but those that know more may disagree, it's just what my HV advised.

I could only ever get out an ounce or two when expressing, it was hardly worth the effort ! Don't worry about giving a bottle, I started ds on one at 2 weeks and he has happily taken either breast or bottle since then, which IMO has helped me bf for longer. You get the best of both worlds. You are doing well IMO !

Thanks Eddie and Chankins, I expressed some more in the afternoon and was able to get nearly 4 ounces, so now I am feeling a better about it.

I also managed to get a bit more sleep last night, DH stayed up with DD and I snoozed on the sofa and ge just woke me when DD wanted a feed. DH is now in bed to try and catch up on some sleep for himself.

I think DD is having a growth spurt as she has been feeding every hour or so for the last couple of days.