How to increase amount of milk when expressing?

[SilverSixpence]

Hi, im exclusively breastfeeding DS who is 4.5 months. He feeds every 3-4 hours during the day but i'm finding it hard to settle him in the evenings as he seems to be very hungry. I am thinking of either giving him a formula feed before bed (see other thread) or expressing a good amount (5-6oz) and giving that to him instead. Currently before bed breastfeeds can last 40mins+ and sometimes have to give another one after an hour of not being able to settle him, which is exhausting!

I only ever get about 2-3oz when expressing (i use a medela swing), but would like to increase that amount - what is the best way? i don't mind doing an extra session of expressing but dont want to spend all day doing it! i read on kellymom that eating oats can increase milk supply, has anyone found this?

also, if i have more than one session of expressing a day, do i need to sterilise everything each time? it seems a bit of a faff...

I just kept the whole lot (pump with bottle still attached) in the fridge during the day. I found the easiest way to express was either to express one side while ds2 was feeding the other side, or to express once he had finished feeding as there's always a bit more there.
Are you sure it's that he's still hungry and not just that he likes the comfort of feeding?

I used to eat Oats with dd1 and found that it definately did help increase supply. With dd2 i took the Motherlove More Milk Plus and also tried the Special Blend and found they massively increased my supply within 1 day. I had to cut back on the dosage as i was getting engorged!

that sounds interesting, may look into that. also got nearly 5oz this morning so it seems getting it done sooner in the day is the way to go!

I tried that with DS at around 6 weeks but I found it made the evening (which was sometimes hours of feeding, and at least a couple of long sessions - until around 6 months) even worse. DS wasn't taking the milk from me when he needed it so there was even less there for him the next night.

When I stopped trying to give him the extra milk my supply started to increase again (slowly) and he slowed up on the cluster feeding?

Can you let him feed for longer than the 40 minutes, or try to offer him a feed an hour before bed time? Unless you're always going to do this (express or formula), the best way is always going to be direct from you. For me, evenings were reserved for feeding for some months. (Now at 10 months DS has about 15 minutes before bed and one night feed)

Anyway, trying to fill them up with a bottle, whether formula or EBM has never worked for me or anyone I know IRL! (sorry!)

Sorry Chairmum (great name btw!) what did you try with your DS? do you mean you gave him EBM at night? You're right, btw, I tried it last night and it made no difference! I don't think I have a supply problem, i feed him for as long as he requires.

btw, the expressing problem is sorted pretty much I find that it if stick to one breast overnight when feeding then express from the other first thing i get a good 4.5oz from one side!

Theoretically after about 6-8weeks the overnight sleep should be independent of whether babe is hungry or thirsty - tho of course if they wake up for other reasons they will expect a feed for comfort & cos it is pleasurable & will help them get back to sleep. So topping up with formula etc shouldn't have anything to do with how they sleep.
Expressing earlier during the day is always recomended because the milk-producing hormone replenishes itself on a daily basis overnight when you sleep (assuming you get to have some period of sustained sleep!) so supply drops during the day which is why cluster feeding occurs later in the day & babes tend to be unsettled during this time, sometimes called arsenic hour!
Also sterilising expressing kit is not strictly necessary if you only use your kit for yourself & babe was not premmie and is well. I have not been rigourous with sterilising the kit but do sterilise the bottles as milk has been sitting in them for some time. I rinse the expressing kit through with cold water immediately after using it & make sure it is dried off before putting together again.

SilverSixpence : I expressed in the morning and gave it in the early evening when the feeding was worst to try to fill him up. It didn't help in any way other than to make me feel I was doing something other than BF, which wasn't much of a consolation.

And thanks, I like it

Would agree with pillock; I used to express first thing....express off one breast whilst dd was feeding from the other one. I then used to go back later in the morning and top up the bottle. I was the milk queen (well, everyone has their calling!) and after about 2 months could do 6ozs in 10 minutes from one boob. I think mornings are def the way ahead.

I am sure you are doing this already, but make sure you drink plenty on waking.