Struggling to express and also does expressing damage your nipples?

[Essie3]

Sorry, a 2 part question!

I had oversupply, but finally at 12-13 weeks it settled down. The only problem is, I'm struggling to express now! I don't want to go back to the 100ml-in-5-mins, soaking-through-breastpads-bras-jumpers days, but I am concerned that if I can only manage 10ml maximum it may cause problems when I go back to work when DS is 6 months. (Or will it? Anyone? I'm happy bfing and not thinking about what happens after 6 months! My ambition is to avoid ever buying any formula )
Any ideas how I can express again? The milk is there, I just can't get at it!

Secondly, does expressing damage the nipples? I'm only asking because mine are strange, red like steak or something after expressing. They settle down, but it's a strange look. I use a Medela mini electric pump.

p.s. not entirely sure why I'm worried about the nipples. Makes no difference - I don't have a career in porn or anything.

bump (sad or what!)

it shouldn't damage nipples.
fwiw I hate my medela mini. it sucks too quick, when you need it to be doing long slow sucks it's all like NOW NOW NOW, which isn't nice.

erm, getting more out. do you have a manual pump yuou could try so that you can mimic baby's natural sucking rhythm?
if not then make sure you start on a really low setting and gradually build up, it won't work if you start it off really strong.

look at a pic of baby, or try and express while gfeeding off the other side

Hm, NOW NOW NOW sounds like my son... I have been starting on medium. So that might be (part of) the problem.

If I express whilst feeding off the other side, will I not be able to put DS on the other side afterwards?

there should still be some there for ds if he wants it, you make milk all the time, and he'll be better at getting it out than a pump