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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

do you find it hard to express milk?

17 replies

mum2samandalex · 02/03/2008 22:36

just had a go (although not sure if ive put the breast bump togther right cant find instructions advent one if anyone has it) and ive got nothing not even a drop. i remamber having trouble last time so perhaps the pump is put together right.Any tips? I think last time i just gave up and if i had to go out then i left a bottle of formula it it was just a one off.

OP posts:

MegBusset · 02/03/2008 22:58

I have never found it easy tbh -- takes forever just to squeeze out a measly couple of ounces. I found that it was a bit easier if I had just fed DS a little from that breast to get the letdown going, also if I was in the same room with him and feeling relaxed.

IorekByrnison · 02/03/2008 23:40

I could never do it at all by hand or with manual (non-electric) pump. Electric pump worked well for me though.

expatinscotland · 02/03/2008 23:45

i found it easy to do with a manual pump at first.

but then i got the most results from an Ameda lactaline as I could pump off both boobs for that.

expatinscotland · 02/03/2008 23:45

i found it easy to do with a manual pump at first.

but then i got the most results from an Ameda lactaline as I could pump off both boobs for that.

chipmonkey · 02/03/2008 23:52

Some pumps are better than others. I find any of the Avent pumps good but got one of those Boots manual expressers one day when I had left my normal pump at home. I didn't get one single solitary drop with it even though my boobs were achingly full.
However, the other point I would make is that when I was with the baby and feeding fulltime I hardly ever got very much out with the pump. When I was away from him and for a few hours I always got loads. The first time I left ds2 for a few hours I got 10oz!! I realised then why he was such a big child!

seeker · 02/03/2008 23:56

I couldn't whatever I used. But I suspect it was psychological rather than physical because secretly I LOVED being the only person who could feed my babies.!

bluenosesaint · 02/03/2008 23:59

I've never found expressing easy tbh.
I used to be able to get between 2 and 4 oz in one 'sitting' but now i can't even get 0.5oz!

I guess i'm not the best person to give you tips on expressing

Luckily dd is now 7.5 months and can manage without any milk for the short periods that i am away from her ...

I have a Medela mini electric btw

LyraSilvertongue · 03/03/2008 00:00

I used an electric pump but never got more than about 3-4 oz at a time. My friend used to get 9-10oz. You need a really good let-down to get a decent amount.

Joolyjoolyjoo · 03/03/2008 00:05

I used to be able to express from one side while dd1 fed off the other- got a couple of ounces at each feed, and built up quite a good supply. dd2 and now ds, however, needed both boobs at each feed, and I now have no time to sit patiently expressing Despite having spent £70 on new pump, ahving lost old one in house move!! I couldn't get anything with the hand pumps- needed to be the electric ones for me.

bluenosesaint · 03/03/2008 00:06

I have a very strong let down (really quite painful ...but then i'm a wimp ) but can't express successfully

Original poster

mum2samandalex · 03/03/2008 13:38

so those of you that cant expres what do you do if you need to leave the baby-would it be ok to leave the odd bottle of formula if i need to go out i.e to get my hair done would it really affect my milk supply.

OP posts:

emma1977 · 03/03/2008 14:27

I have a good let-down when feeding my baby but absolutely pants when I try to express.

If I have to leave him for a couple of hours and needs feeding while I'm away, I leave him with a bottle of formula.

TheBestMum · 03/03/2008 14:43

I used the avent manual pump & found I only expressed a few ounces each time. Never able to express loads (ie. enough to freeze) & ended up expressing 3-4 ounces in the morning & 2-3 ounces in the evening for a 10pm top-up bottle but then became fed up of whole thing & gave him formula as the top up.
Never felt the same let down or volume in boob compared to when he fed himself.
Got fed up of constant squeeking of machine too!! Fond memories.....

expatinscotland · 03/03/2008 14:47

how about trying to express off one breast whilst the baby is feeding off the other.

you might get a bit more that way.

Scampmum · 03/03/2008 14:47

I found it hard until I started feeding with one boob and expressing with the other. Could still switch and she could get more out of the one I had expressed from whilst I could express (not so successfully) from the other. Had a medela mini-electric.

TheBestMum · 03/03/2008 14:49

How many pairs of hands did you have??? Oh, prob used electric pump?

Scampmum · 03/03/2008 14:54

Yes! had a 'my breast friend' and used to spin it round and have DD kind of under my arm.

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