Expressing tips for 5.5 m/o - I can't get any out!

[lollipopmother]

Uhhg, I've had varied success in the past with expressing, but it's got progressively harder. DD is now 5.5 months and I'm just starting to get back into the gym which means I have to leave DD with DP. Because she is ex-bf, demand fed and not yet weaned I will have to leave some ebm just in case I can't get a feed into her just before I leave.

The thing is .... I'm rubbish at it.

I use an Avent hand pump and compression but still come out with about an ounce a try. I know I should try and do it at the same time each day, so I will do that, and also I do try and get DD to stimulate the let-down but most of the time she's not interested. Is there anything else I can do? I'm not really sure that my supply could cope with me taking out extra even if I could, I think it's pretty finely tuned now as it were, I never have hard boobs or leaks or anything.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

My title reads very odd! I promise that I am not 5.5 m/o, I am significantly older!

Watch tv. The more you stress about slow/non flow, the more your let-down goes on strike. I'm typing one-handed while expressing, right now, so MN can help! Just try not to think about the pump and relax- dvd is good, too, or chatting with a friend.

Also: express as soon as you can after the first morning feed, because you usually have most milk after the longest sleep of the day. Tiredness has an adverse impact on letdown.

A sweet treat before pumping helps me. No idea why, but a few expressing women have now commented on it. Relaxation, maybe?

Drinking more only helps if you're a bit dehydrated - but worth a shot, just in case.

And... a good pump makes a big difference. Hand ones just don't work well for some people.

Thanks for your reply.

I do it in front of the telly but I have to admit to watching my boob more than the program, half because I can't seem to keep the pump on properly, and the other half to see if I'm completely wasting my time or not!

I hadn't thought of doing it first thing in the morning, I shall try that tomorrow. I did it last thing at night last night as DD only took one side at her dreamfeed instead of both, so I thought it'd be a definite winner, but I only got half an ounce.

hmm, i have never had much success expressing either. i got more out with a double electric pump when i went back to work and was therefore missing feeds rather than as extra.

i think a small number of women (me included) just can't trigger let down very well with a pump as it isn't that much like a baby sucking. But that does NOT mean they do not have enough milk for the baby when he/she feeds.

i am impressed and envious that you have enough energy for the gym with a 5mo! leaving your lo will get easier as she is older and on solids etc and you won't have to leave ebm.

I always found that expressing whilst you are doing the last feed before you go out (to the gym) worked a treat. I always express by letting the baby draw the milk in while the other nipple has the machine on it. As you are only going to be away for a short while you probably only need a couple ounces. If your wee one is used to the noise of the machine then they really don't notice- it's usually just another thing to grab.

Scrambledeggs - I've tried pumping whilst she's feeding but I can't get the pump in the right place to do it (it's a hand pump).

Weasle - My let-down is well dodgy! This evening it took (I kid you not) about 5mins of DD going on and off getting more and more frustrated before it was triggered, the chances of it happening for a breast pump is pretty much nil.

I did a bit more expressing today, I got another ounce so I'm now up to 3oz, big woop, not!

My DC3 is the same age and I express every morning, 1st feed of the day, she's on one breast the expresser on the other.
I find expressing whilst she's feeding faster and more productive.
I use a Medela electronic expresser by the way.