Hardly able to express anything - any suggestions?

[jumpjockey]

DD is 11 weeks, BF, usually feeds every 3 hours or so during the day, a vigorous suckle for about 5 minutes then stays on until she gets another couple of milk letdowns (about half an hour in total usually). I've been feeding her off one side only after advice that her windiness might be caused by too much foremilk as previusly I swapped boobs quite quickly, now she's usually quite happy just to feed off the one side at each feed.

I've been trying to express so that DH can feed her occasionally (eg I've got a meeting a work tomorrow) but have only been getting about an ounce and a half and that's even when she's feeding on one side and I'm using a hand pump on the other. She's not hugely keen on the bottle but we'd really like to have some set aside for emergencies etc.

Any ideas as to how to increase the amount? I usually keep going for about 10 minutes but the milk only really comes out at the letdown and not any other time. Have my boobs run out? Admittedly I rarely find a chance to express as she likes to be held or in a sling so not very easy to get access to the boob.

Oh and while I'm asking - if she's fed off L and I've expressed even a little off R, which one should she have at the next feed?

Thanks very much!

Is your baby around when you are expressing - some people find looking at photos of the baby helps, or the actual baby of course. Alternatively express on one side when feeding on the other. Your boobs are not lacking milk but the technique takes a little time. I found hand expressing much easier and more successful than using a pump.

You should feed her next time off the expressed side because less milk will have been taken by your expressing than the baby will have taken.

The other thing which helped me (seriously) was getting on all fours so I was like a cow. And having a picture of my baby in front of me.

Have you also tried pumping on one side while she's feeding on the other (sorry if that's what you meant in your OP - wasn't clear)?

It did get better

Thanks hm, I've tried hand expressing (when we were giving her colief, man that was a faff) but as that needs both hands rarely manage to get a chance... Will give it a try again though as things are always changing

and sm too - yes the thing I've been doing is having her feed off L and the pump on R, I certainly notice a difference in the amount that comes out when there's the letdown inspired by her suckling, it's just that in between the flow slows right down. Perseverance, I guess!

You can hand express with one hand once you get the hang of it and it's much easier if you are feeding as the milk will start to let down quickly and more easily (mine just sprays out regardless once you start things off and you just sit there with a cup!

In all honestly i only really got anywhere with expressing when I used an electric pump (I used the Medela Swing). The hand pump was pitiful. I was never great at it but i managed for a few months and I would just sit watching TV at night, expressing the milk for the following day!

Breast compressions can help as well.

I am far too multi-directional to hand express!

I did the same as IAteMakkapakka - the Swing is really quiet so I would sit for 1/2 hour - 40mins and just let it fill up, whilst watching TV (expensive tho) After a week or so it took much less time (about 15mins) ... still got loads in freezer, but dd has weaned herself from me a bit early

I favoured the electric pump over the hand one too. So might be worth trying?

I had success with Medela Swing -- until the motor started smoking

Another thing that helps, is my posture. I don't know why, but if I sit up straight, and no slumping, then the flow seems to be better.

Thanks all, I tried some hand expressing last night and it was better than before, still not a huge amount but certainly easier than I remember.

Will look into electric pumps as well, I think our local NCT hires them out.

breast compression and hot compresses do amazing things for me when i'm pumping.

i do find it impossible to get as much with a pump as baby gets in a feed though and find i have to pump 2/3 times for one feeds worth of milk

i did find using the electirc pump in hospital was more efficient as you can relax a little more whild pumping and it keeps up a good steady rythm.

Try expressing in the morning when you will produce more milk then later on in the day

After your LO has fed - try expressing then to increase demand.

I expressed to feed my twins 5/7 daily feeds were expressed and 2/7 formula. First thing in the morning I could produce 4 to 5 4 oz bottles using a hospital grade pump.

Electric pump I found far better,medulu I think I had but I wasn't very good at expressing and found I didn't fill up as much as I would have if dcs had a feed

I also express from one boob while little Ginny feeds off the other - I have a Medela Swing too but mine is incredibly noisy, I wonder if it is faulty? No worry, just bought a double electric pump off ebay to use instead. Tips on increasing volume when expressing - play around with the intensity of suction (if your pump is able), also play around with positioning, when my milk starts to run low I move my nipple around the funnel tube to get those extra squirts before I finish off on that feed. Unfortunately I don't have any tips on increasing number of letdown but will keep watching with interest to learn more for myself. lol @ spicemonster, that can't be easy to do!

think about your little one? weird to say but it worked for me!