I'm getting next to no milk when expressing, pleeeeeeeease someone help me before Friday....

[nappynoonoo]

DD is 3 months old now and I am supposed to be going out on Friday with the girls, it's the first proper night out since before DD was born. DH is off work this week so I thought I'd take advantage of that.

I have been expressing since Monday approx 3-4 times a day and I only have 6 and a bit ounces to show for it.
I don't know what is wrong. I have always been able to get a really good yield. I used to be able to get between 3-8 ounces in one sitting, usually more in the morning and getting less throughout the day. (I have been lazy and not freezing the milk but letting DH feed DD while I get on with stuff) Now I am lucky if I can get 1 ounce in one sitting.

I am doing nothing different than I have been. DD is fed on demand, lately she has had approx 2-3 bottles a day from DH but I am expressing 2-3 times a day and feeding her myself also.

I am using a Medela Swing but get barley nothing, I get more with my manual Avent pump.

I'm really looking forward to going out on Friday, but it looks like it's not gonna happen now........

Nappy - what's wrong with your 6.5 ounces? Will that not be enough? It's about 200 mls....how many feeds will your baby need when you are out???

If you think you want even more than this, then you have a couple of days to get a couple more ounces.

It's a common experience to stop getting a lot out with the pump. You could try hand expressing which can be very effective. Or switch back to your old pump. Or, try a diff. technique - switch expressing, when you express on side one until nothing much happens, switch to side 2, and when ditto, switch back to side one, and so on.

You need to relax and think about something other than expressing.

I find if I feel I have to get milk out for a particular reason then I get less than if I'm just expressing to put in the freezer.

I found that if I was uptight or under pressure to get loads of milk, then it just didn't happen, so I think you need to go back to basics.
ie sit down in the most relaxed place you can find. Have a small photo of you rwee one in front of you and relax, and start pumping. I found that if I "switched off" in front of the tv for example and forgot what I was doing then I'd get loads of milk.

I really think the lack of milk is b/c you're putting yourself under pressure, so try to relax.

btw, have you tried dd with formula? one bottle won't do any harm (imo).

Tiktok, I think it's because I am so used to getting so much more. I will be going out at about 7 pm (we are eating out first) so will feed DD before I go out, she generally feeds every 1.5 - 2 hours in the evening and has approx 3.5 - 5 ounces. I think she builds her self up for her sleep, as she generally sleeps for 8-9 hours i the night. I will be drinking, probably lots so I would prefer to have enough to be able to feed her until Saturday morning.
How do you hand express??

trixy, flier it is true I do tend to get more yeild when I am just 'stockpiling' it. I need to chill out a bit by the sound of it. I am so looking forward to Friday and desperately want to go.

Have you tried expressing from one side while your dd feeds from the other. That was the only way I could ever get a substantial quantity of milk - dd essentially prompted the let down.

Thanks pooka, will give it a try

I have the same problem so will be watching this thread with interest.
Well I'm not going out on Friday, don't worry, you won't have a strange MNer tagging along that you don't know

lol stealh

At this rate I don't think I will be going out.

I may have enough for DD while I go for the meal, and only a small amount of alcohol, not copious quantities as I wished

same tip as pooka - aslthpough it does mean you can't mn at the same time

Could you not go out and just drink a small amount of alcohol? Or will you sit there feeling like sober Sue while everyone else is legless?

I can't do that, seem to need both hands on the pump and one on the baby
Unless I can try feeding him sitting up, he might not need my help then.
I'll let you know how I get on

MrsBadger, I could certainly try multi-tasking.

DD across knees on pillow, pump in one hand and other hand free for MN'ing

Stealth, I dont mind not drinking at all, but it's just the fact it's my first proper night out with the girls since I was about 4 months PG so I am REALLY looking forward to it.

I've just emailed my friend about it and she has suggested going to the pub which is only 5 minutes walk from my house, instead of going into the next town, so that I can pop back if I needed to. And DH has said he will bring DD to me and I can feed her in the car if I want him too (Awww bless him). Thats not fair on DD though.