Nothing coming with expressing - talk reassuring logic to me!

[Flame]

DD2 is 19 weeks.

She has been feeding between 1 & 2 hourly since Weds (as opposed to 3-4 hourly).

I went to express tonight (going out tomorrow night), and normally have no problems - fill a bottle very easily etc. Tonight I have managed to get 1/2oz in total from both breasts

Apart from my slight "shit I need bottles for tomorrow" panic, I'm also worried my norks have gone on strike and that is why she has been trying to feed so much

Someone reassure me that they just aren't playing ball with expressing and I've not been starving my child?

More likely she is having a growth spurt so has taken all your 'spare' milk that you express off. Also as baby gets older your excess supply gets smaller as it wouldn't be very efficient for your body to make 38oz of milk a day every day when usually baby has 34ozs. It involves something called 'involution' but my brain is too tired for sciency stuff at mo

You never stop making milk but the flow gets slower if the milk is being made and extracted at the same time rather than made, stored and then extracted. So be patient and allow her to feed as much as she wants as this will tell your body to up production. If you can pump on one side and feed on the other give that a try as that often gives the best yield.

thank you

the extra feeding has def done something - looked down at her this morning and she has always been a slim looking baby - she now suddenly has gorgeous fat dimples in her arms and little chunky wrists

will try feeding/expressing in a bit. if it comes to it there is formula here. she wasn't amused by the one bottle of it she's had so far, but given that or hunger, she isn't the type to choose hunger!

Yes - if you weren't making milk, she would be miserable rather than feeding so much. If you could try to only feed her on one side for a couple of hours, and pump on the other, you may find that works.

How long will you be out for, tonight? You may want to bring your pump in case you get engorged and uncomfortable ...

yay they are working again

out for the evening, I should be ok without pump

You know about the 4-5months regression to newborn hell right?

Try thinking of things that make you go 'Mmmmmm' or all tingly when you express.

Hi Flame,

I have exclusively bf my twins to 24 weeks (so far).

Sometimes I can't get ANYTHING out when I express - and I never ever leak milk.

Both babies are doing great, putting on weight like good 'uns.

The amount you can express is NOT a good guide to how much milk you are producing!