Hand expressing - advice needed please

[rubyslippers]

Cannot get a drop out with a pump so am going to try hand expressing - any tips?

can i express straight into a sterilised bottle and leave it in the fridge until Saturday when DH will hopefully get DD to take a bottle?

when is the best time to do it - was gushing and leaking loads of milk but that seems to have calmed down a bit

TIA

I wouldn't leave it in the fridge until saturday, I'd pop it in the freezer. You can hand express into a sterilised container but it might take a while, depends what stage your supply is at. Mine flowed better from hand expressing in the very beginning but when my milk was established the pump was better.

Have you tried pumping from the other side while you are feeding or looking at the baby or in the bath. It's very important to relax IME and to pump for a while until the milk starts flowing.

Best time is in the morning when Prolactin levels are highest and milk supply is highest.

I would try the pump again if I am not teaching you to suck eggs! Maybe have a nice warm bath or shower and then pump the breast you have just fed from while you feed from the other or while you look at the baby and try to relax. You can store the pump in a clean plastic bag in the fridge and top up the milk during the day then put in the freezer when you have enough.

I wouldn't expect to be able to get a lot from expressing at first though. IME you need to express fairly regularly to get the amount up.

thanks for the tips - i appreciate it

i have no pump - i had borrowed it and returned it

have tried to get a hand pump today but nowhere had one in stock so will have to venture out tomorrow

with DS i could get loads out with a hand pump

Express into a bowl, not into a bottle - that way you catch everything better.

www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/breastfeeding/pumpingexpressing/expressingbreastmilk/ has info.

I have always found hand pumps easier. I have the tommee tippee one and have used the avent one also both are good but I think the avent one has the edge for me. The Tommee Tippee one is a bit strangly if you have large nipples (!) but you can get it from tesco in a pack with a portable sterilising box which I have found useful it also fits on their closer to nature bottles which my babies seem to prefer.