Expressing for at least 30 minutes

[Candlesoftime]

Hello! I can only manage to pump a decent amount of milk if I pump for 30 minutes - after 15 there is barely any milk at all - maybe 10ml? I have heard that 15 minutes should be enough and I'd love to manage this as pumping takes up so much time. Any tips?

In hospital and at home, I have struggled to pump regularly enough. I have never managed to pump the recommended 8 times in 24 hours - 6 is my best I think. I have done 8 feeds as a mixture of BF and pumping as this is less time consuming. In hospital ifelt it was difficult due to c section recovery and I felt I was seeing physio, infant feeding or midwives every couple of hours. As a person I have always really struggled with time keeping and doing physical tasks quickly. I'm finding a possibly colicky newborn and pumping almost impossible - she will cry all day long if someone isn't holding her and it's so hard to pump on time.

For a good pump, I am getting 100-120ml. I think the best ever was 150ml. That's only a couple of times a day though, at best, and only when pumping for 30 minutes. When my daughter is crying and I can only manage 15 or 20 minutes, I can get about 60 - sometimes only about 4ml. I know that if I pumped for the full 30 I'd get more.

Also, even after 30 minutes I'm still leaking milk and don't feel empty. Any tips???

Thanks 😊

Do you pump at night? I found it really increased my supply

If i could just add a couple of other things that might be relevant! I am using a double medela swing and I've experimented with different flange sizes. I try to massage beforehand and compress whilst pumping.

I find that a 10 minute attempt at BF first helps but I don't manage to do this every time, and it sometimes upsets the baby A Lot as she finds it really difficult.

I always do one or two pumps between midnight and six.

I really am trying to fit in enough pumps, haven't had a shower in days or anything much else apart from looking after my gorgeous daughter, pumping, eating and sleeping 😩 but any tips for this as well would be great xx

@Classicblunder Thanks, yes I do. Usually once at around midnight and once 2-4am. Sometimes it's a great one, sometimes barely anything?

Are you feeding at the breast as well or just pumping?

KellyMom has some great advice as it's a US site and women there have to express a lot more.

Make sure you're drinking lots of water and taking care of yourself as well.

I found a Haakaa style the best as I could express while feeding baby.

In general though I could never express very much. What you express is no indication of your supply though.

Do you have a pumping bra? I had one which meant I could pump hands free - e.g. while eating which helped a lot to get them in

I never got much when pumping at night but it really increased my supply the next day

No tips but just to say a friend of mine who breastfed for nearly a year very successfully could barely get anything out with a pump - she was hoping to send some in with her DC when she started with a childminder. I think for some women it just doesn’t work unfortunately. The most I got out with the pump, and I’m sure I was also there for 30-40 minutes was also about 120 ml. Sorry that’s not helpful advice at all, but you sound like you’re really struggling - no matter how tricky it is you should really still be able to take care of yourself and have a shower. Is it really worth all this stress and pressure?

I have exclusively breastfed two babies (one is 12m and still feeding) and I have never been able to pump a decent amount. Just to say incase you’re worried it’s indicative of supply.

@Twizbe @HotDogKetchup Ah thanks for that! My goal was always to just breastfeed. We have been worried though that she wouldn't be getting enough. I was planning to increase the number of breast feeds once I was happy that my supply was good enough. Food for thought, useful, thanks

Ah I see. I've never thought to pay attention to the day after, I will keep an eye out

Yes I have just got one and it has really helped! I even managed to hold her (a bit awkwardly though) whilst pumping with the bra on.

I've breastfed 3 babies and ebf for the first 6 months each time. I've never been able to express - I just can't get the flow going with a pump! My babies are always mega chubby though so I definitely have a good supply. Expressing just doesn't seem to work for some of us!

In that case ditch the pump and just concentrate on feeding baby from the breast.
I EBF my second and she was a huge chunker over 9lb at birth. Hardly got an oz out when expressing.

Baby is much better at getting the milk out.

Thanks everyone so much for the advice. I have just been doing a couple of pumps overnight and breastfeeding the rest of the time - and it's really great. My LO has been content after feeds and doesn't seem to hungry for 2-3 hours afterwards. So it seems my milk supply is good enough after all! I'm so happy. Thanks for the heads up. How this thread helps anyone else in a similar situation too xx

*hope this thread

DD was ALWAYS hungry again after an hour, it's just her, she's a pain and still needs constant feeding at 3. DS can go HOOOOUUUURRSS and at 12 months could easily drop down to 2/3 feeds a day but his sister was still feeding all the time at the same age. Same boobs, same supply (actually less with DS as he wasn't throwing it all up).

Trust your boobs, if they're gaining they're gaining. They might fuss, babies/kids are annoying a lot.