I can't express anything!

[WinkyWinkola]

Aaargh. I really want to get back into shape and leave 5 mo ds at the creche in my gym for about 90 mins a time but I can't seem to express any milk.

I've bought a Tommee Tippee express thang -Closer to Nature pump - I'm getting diddly out of it. I got half a millimetre out this afternoon after 40 mins of the damn thing pulling at me. My nipples are very .

Any tips on the best way to express?

After this, I'll have to persuade him to take a bottle of ebm and that'll be a challenge, I'm sure.

have you tried hand expressing? Or tried out any other pumps, borrowed from friends etc?
FWIW I got nothing out with a Boots electric, but the avent manual was much better

if he's in the gym creche, could you not feed at the beginning and then they could come and get you if he was really really desperate?

spb that's what I do
I reckon if he's clean and full they should be able to amuse him for 90m without needing to feed him

unless you are a slave to following a really strict routine which means he must be fed during that 90min, in which case I'd ditch it find a class at a better time

I didn't find that pump very goodb, maybe return it and try a manual one or manual expressing? Think some women do have difficulty though.

is it assembled right? the valve needs to be shoved in really firmly

I've just returned my Tommee Tippee electric pump as it kept bypassing milk into the air tube. I've now got an Medella Swing which is brilliant - it even mimics how a breastfed baby simulates the let down reflex before then taking big gulps.

Otherwise try dim lights, stay calm, baby in the room, don't watch the pump to see how much you're getting (makes performance anxiety worse!)

Good luck!

"the womanly art of breastfeeding" by LLL, available from all good libraries (apart from my local one, where I have it out) has an appendix on how to hand express, with pictures and everything.

I have that pump and its good for me (if you mean the manual one). I found that pumping after a feed was useless. I pump an hour or 2 after feeding and can get 2oz + in one go.

Agree that the valve has to be in properly. Also, try pushing against your boob IYSWIM. I find that a bit of pressure helps. And, only try when your relaxed. If you stress about it you wont get anything!

Hi, I couldn't express anything with my first son. I had a manual pump and I nearly threw it out the window. With my second son I used a Medela swing breast pump (my midwife advised me that the hospitals used this make) and it was fantastic. I would feed my son on one side and express on the other at the same time and then I could go out for a few hours knowing I had left enough milk.
I would definately recomend it. they are £99.99 in mother care. but there is one for sale (new) on stevenage classifieds.
I hope this is helpful

Have you tried doing some breast massage before you try to express? If you don't stimulate you breasts to help activate your let down reflex you may find it more difficult to express. Massage, then starting the flow by hand expressing ,then putting on the pump will often work better than simply putting the pump straight on. Also, when you are just starting off expressing it can be more productive to switch from breast to breast frequently, once you see that a let down is ending, switch to the other side and once that let down stopps switch back. You can sometimes get more off than sitting for 15mins each side (less painful too!)

You can also massage during expressing to help everything flow.

Last tip is warm towels placed over your breasts for 5-10 min before you massage / pump.

HTH

i had a medela breast pump and couldn't get
(hardly) anything out even under optimal conditions - full breast, baby nursing other breast etc gave a max of 1 oz

i've just accepted this isn't something that will work for me. i've got to 5 months already though and was only planning to bf for 6

Have you tried expressing in the morning? That seems to be generally the best time of day to get a half decent yield. It certainly is for me. (Medela Swing, btw)