Tips on expressing please!

[RGPargy]

Hi all!!

Firstly, sorry if this has been done 1,000 times before!

Basically, DP has started to give DD a bottle of EBM before bed, which they both really enjoy. It's only about 3-4oz but it takes me 2 or 3 expressions to get that piddly amount.

Does anyone have any tips as to how to get more milk per expression or perhaps my technique is wrong? I'm using an Avent Isis manual pump. I would LOVE an electric pump but funds do not permit unfortunately. I have a big boobage so am wondering if not enough areola (sp?) is going into the pump and therefore the massage cushions aren't doing their job properly.

Any pointers?

TIA!

Just read the bit about your nipples being sore - it could be that your nipples are going too far into the pump. Are you using Lansinoh? Worth every penny in my opinion!

Smallone - thanx for the info. I might try and feed DD in bed tomorrow morning coz it's nice and cosy! I have never been able to master rugby ball hold and DD really objected when i tried it in the early days so now i'm quite happy to hold her in the standard cradling position.

Milk also flows out of me if when i get up in the night so perhaps i should try expressing then once she's had a feed. This morning's express sesh was plentiful too.

I know supply isn't a problem (for DD, anyway) so i dont think i will need anything to stimulate it. Good tip about the duvet and TV tho. I deffo like the idea about eating chocolate too!!

Lansinoh - yes, i have a tube but my nips were only getting a bit sore because my boobs were quite full and the nips were being pulled too hard into the chamber (that's my theory anyway!). I dont have sore nips any other time - just this morning, that's all.

Glad to help, hope nip problem doesn't rear its head again! Its just reminded me that varying pressure and speed when expressing used to help too. Good luck.

I find the key to getting most out is to relax. I do this by putting something fun and trashy on TV to watch while I pump. Somehow if I'm uptight I don't let down as easily, and let downs are like magic - you can pump away for ten minutes and get nothing and then suddenly you get a let down and poof, you've expressed 3 ounces in a heartbeat. Other good ways of getting a let down are to think about the sensation of your baby feeding, that sometimes works. Sometimes doing it right after a bath or a shower works too.

I generally express after feeding - I feed dd from one side then express the other, plus anything I can get out of the side I've fed from. But DD2 rarely wants the second side, so that works for me. I also really go for it with the breast compression, that helps both with encouraging let downs and getting the last little bits out..

HTH..

Thanx Taliac. Some useful tips.

Still finding it difficult to express after a feed. Is it really so bad to express BEFORE DD has a feed? It'd only be once a day after all, twice at the very most. I'm thinking of going down the electric pump route to see if that helps!

Well I'm no expert but I cant see why it would hurt to express before a feed once a day, assuming DD is healthy and growing well.. You could express one side, then start dd on the other side first if you're concerned though..

Yes I found an electric pump much better personally - worth the cash if you're going to be expressing a lot.

Have you read this? Really helpful:

www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/pumping_decrease.html

thanx for that taliac. Think i will do what you suggested and express one side and start DD off on the other side.

I want to buy an electric pump and have been offered a Whittlestone for £20 but i've not heard of them before so dont know if they're any good......