do I need to keep pumping between let downs

[skidaddle]

I'm doing lots of expressing at the moment in preparation for going back to work next month. I assume it is normal to get lots of milk in bursts with long periods of nothing in between? With the first let down I usually get about 3oz and then it is ages (5-10 mins maybe) before any more milk comes - do I need to keep pumping during this time to stimulate my breasts ready for the next lot or can I just sit back for 10 mins and it will come anyway?

Hope this makes sense and thanks

I think you need to keep pumping to stimulate the breasts and trigger the next let down. Otherwise your body will assume no more milk is needed. It's exactly as though the baby keeps sucking.

Though you could definitely try switching sides if you're not already doing that.

Regular side switching whilst expressing (i.e. different to what you do when feeding) was the most effective way of getting milk out in my experience.

oh I didn't know that Pidge, thank you, although I do often swap sides when I get sick of waiting for the next let-down.

Does 5-10 mins between let downs sound right? It seems like such a long time

sounda bout right to me

remmeber if you'll be expressing at work you'll get a hell of a lot more as your body is expecting to dd feed, rather than squeezing expressing session between feeds, iyswim.

skidaddle - personally I think getting a second let-down when pumping is very good going. I did used to manage it, but not reliably!! And 5-10 minutes is good going I reckon!

Try the side switching - literally a minute pumping on each side - I'm sure it's not just me making it up, I heard it officially recommended somewhere for expressing! Though someone is welcome to put me straight!

oh thanks Mrs B and pidge, that is so reassuring. Will try the swapping sides thing although I assume that is only when waiting for the next let down? otherwise there would be milk squirting all over the floor!

oh yes, once you've got the let down - keep pumping that side. I used to get a warning that the let-down was coming of about 30-40 seconds. A sort of tingling feeling, plus I would get massively thirsty.

Also triggering the let down on one side still affects the other side, so as soon as you've pumped off a reasonable amount of milk on the side where you felt the let-down - have a go at the other side, you may well find you have triggered some milk production there too.