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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

how much milk do you get when you express?

31 replies

roboass · 08/03/2008 19:45

i only get 1oz 8 months in

also what pump do you use?ive only ever used a manual.
i have to pump 9 times for 20mins a time to get one feed

OP posts:
LittleMissMac · 08/03/2008 20:05

I get between 2-5oz per boob depending on time of day and level of fullness. I use the Medela Swing electric pump which is great, though I've nothing to compare it to.

That said, as DS never took to the bottle, it's pretty academic until I can persuade him onto a beaker...

As far as I understand it, everyone's different in terms of what they can express, and even if you find you can't express much, it doesn't necessarily indicate supply problems.

What time of day are you pumping (morning meant to be best, though I find evenings better as DS feeds through the night anyway)? Can you borrow or hire an electric pump to see if that makes a difference?

melpomene · 08/03/2008 20:07

I used to get about 80ml - not sure what that is in oz.

lazyhen · 08/03/2008 20:10

I get about 1oz no matter what time of day. It looks pathetic in the bottle... I have to save it all up in the freezer for it to be worth anything, but at least it can free me up a bit.

I have tried the Avent Manual but it was just too much hard work. Now have Medela mini electric and usually just do about 10 mins as it tends to hurt after that.

Original poster
roboass · 08/03/2008 20:39

yeah doesnt matter what time of day,just doesnt seem right to me.
yes ive heard those swings are good im gonna try on of those and if i can still only get 1oz a go in gonna forget it

OP posts:
JingleyJen · 08/03/2008 20:49

ooh I used to get 6-8 oz in 10 minutes..

bb99 · 08/03/2008 21:03

4-7 oz per side in about 15 min (always was accused of being a cow!), but I did use to drink a LOT of water about 15 minutes before - 1 or 2 pints...and am lucky to have strong mule kicking let down reflex! Plus only pumped when not shattered LOL.

Used to pump on opposite side to one just used to feed and then treat the pumping out as a feed and put baby straight back onto side he'd just left for next feed iyswim.

Used a manual pump, they can take a bit of getting used to.

Have you tried 'baby gazing' - looking lovingly at your baby as you start to / carry on pumping, it can sometimes help let down? Also a relaxed environment - one where you're relaxed can help. I could NEVER pump with OH in the same room! It just didn't work, even under a BIG T-shirt

fishie · 08/03/2008 21:07

never got anything and didn't bother persevering. i just fed before and after i went away from ds.

why are you expressing roboass?

mammatulip · 08/03/2008 21:18

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Original poster
roboass · 08/03/2008 21:21

you jammy sods!
4-7oz per side !

ive not heard that one about drink water 5mins before expressing, ill try that

baby gazing makes sod all difference to me but thanks for trying

just be,cause im 8 months in and about to throw the towel in on bf as im just pissed off with everything today

my arse is killing me
my baby never sleeps
im knackred
feel like divorcing my dh

and i though expressing a few feed would give me a break from time to time

OP posts:
mammatulip · 08/03/2008 21:39

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Lizzzombie · 08/03/2008 21:42

I didnt get on with a manual pump at all, and found an electric one a million times easier.
I used to get 7oz from each side easily, unless I had missed a feed and was engorged, then I think the most I got from one boob was about 15oz!!!!

Can you borrow an electric one from anyone to see how you get on with it?
I know some people really don't get on with expressing at all though. Good luck.

Lizzzombie · 08/03/2008 21:45

mamtulip - What is the difference between a medala swing and a normal medala pump? I used the normal one which was great, and I've seen the swing, but am not sure exactly what it does. Please let me/us know!

mammatulip · 08/03/2008 21:52

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Original poster
roboass · 08/03/2008 22:07

yes that looks like a good pump, if that doesn't work, i don't know what will!

OP posts:
mammatulip · 08/03/2008 22:24

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mammatulip · 08/03/2008 22:25

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Original poster
roboass · 08/03/2008 22:39

thanks mama tulip great link, there much cheaper on here aren't they? give us a sip of that wine i think i need it!.

OP posts:
Lio · 08/03/2008 22:49

roboass, I feel for you. I got 6oz ONCE when I had had an afternoon and night out and hadn't fed for hours and hours. And then I found out that a friend would get this much in 10 mins in between feeds Sorry I can't help, I never did figure out a way to get more.

mammatulip · 08/03/2008 22:51

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fishie · 08/03/2008 22:54

roboass when ds was 8m i was still co-sleeping and just starting to get past 2 hour (round the clock) feeds. at 9m ds was in a cot and being put to bed by dh, which he continued to do for another year, now we split it.

it doesn't sound like expressing is much of a rest for you! water won't really make any difference, although i gather the more relaxed you are the better.

(why does your arse hurt?)

Original poster
roboass · 08/03/2008 23:17

thanks everyone, im calming down a bit now
thanks for the wine and choccies

i think i may think about giving dd some formula tomorrow, but ill wait till the morning, as many times ive heard never give up at night

my arse has been hurting for 8 months since i got 4th degree tears giving birth
maybe bf is interferring in the healing ? i don't know?

OP posts:
mammatulip · 08/03/2008 23:32

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loucee · 08/03/2008 23:45

another vote here for the medela swing pump. I had the other medela single pump and avent manual with my DD but usually only got 1-2 oz unless I had missed a feed or two (in which case I would get 4 oz). This time round with DS I bought the medela swing as I wanted to introduce a bottle of expressed milk before bed (for a number of reasons) so I express at 9 or 10 every night and keep that milk for the following night). I get about 4oz from one side but it only takes 5-10mins.

shelleylou · 08/03/2008 23:50

i bf for 6 weeks and used a manual pump 2 express could get 7/8oz sometimes but only a few oz at others ds prefered 1 to the other mind

Original poster
roboass · 09/03/2008 09:08

another crap night with no sleep, i hate to give the formula companies my money the unethical bastards, but i think im going to have to.
i really wanted to make it to a year then just give cows milk, but still have 4 months to go. think dd will have to have a bit of formula before bed and in the night.
i will try with bf, i will try to get one of thoses swing pumps or other really good electrical pumps but if that does not work, something has to give.
what age did you put your baby onto cows milk.

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