why can't I express my milk?

[SparklyGothKat]

It was never a problem before, haven't expressed for a good 6 months now, but going out tomorrow and want to express some milk for Callum, and I can't do it!! I used to be able to fill a bottle in 10 minutes!! whats happened???

Your body has probably got used to Callum's requirements now and it is always easier to express larger volumes of milk if you have always expressed.

I was the same but didn't express for about 6 weeks and found that I was only able to express 1/2 the amount.

You might be able to express more if you missed out one of Callum's feed and expressed at that time.

sorry can't suggest anything more

I can't even express 1oz!!! I thought it would be easier now, now my supply is settled.. Its the first time I have left him with anyone apart from DH and I thought some of mummy's milk would help him settle...

Have you tried hand expressing 1st and then using a pump?

It probably is just the fact that your supply is settled and it is more difficult to get a let down reflex with a pump than a baby.

Try 1st thing in the morning, might even be worth trying to express an hour or so before Callum's 1st feed of the day and see how you get on,

he still feed at night about 3-4am and then feeds loads until 8am..on and off. He has a bottle of formula once a day so not the end of the world if he has another bottle of formula tomorrow, but its the first time I have left him with someone else!!!!

ah, so not much opportunity to express before his morning feed then!

I'm sure he won't mind too much, hope you manage to have an ok time tomorrow

I've found the same thing - not expressed for a week and struggled to get my usual 100ml with a mixed feed. It doesn't mean my supply is dwindling or anything does it?

no essie it doesn't mean that at all It just means your baby is efficient at getting what they need. your body has adapted to their requirements thats all.

How old is your LO SGK? Reason I ask is that I recently left my DTs (13mo) for the first time at bedtime and left behind two cups of EBM. They totally refused it but settled fine anyway. They normally NEVER reject a bedtime BF so you might find that he'd be ok without it, or as Cali said, try and express at a regular feed time. (That's the only way I've managed to express any!)