Expressing milk

[Vics100pink]

Hi would like to express milk but am only getting like 1oz at a time. Which is not enough to sustain for a whole day, anyone got any motherly tips I'm an emotional wreck

Placemarking as me too!!!

How old is your baby? Kellymom is a great website for breast feeding advice. Some people find bf is an emotional things so looking at a photo of your baby and sniffing their clothes may help.

Six days

are you still trying to get baby to latch? expressing can be hard esp if are only expressing not directly breast feeding. what type if pump are you using

1 oz at six days is fine. You need to do it 8-10 times a day including once between 2-4 am. I am assuming you are not breastfeeding? If you are then you need to express as often as you can but obviously a baby is always more efficient than a machine.

1oz at a time is not bad. Once you have done that 8-10 times (which is the recommended amount of feeds a day) that's 8-10oz. Keep it up, it's hard work but once you get into a routine it will become so much easier.

Bit more info needed. Are you expressing to supplement breastfeeding? Want to exclusively express? Have a sick/prem baby? Is baby going to the breast at all?

You need to express every 2-3 hours day and night. Double pumping ideally for stimulation.

It's very hard work and an emotional time. Stress/ tiredness/ pain will all affect your supply. Try to relax and rest as much as you can and be proud of your efforts.
Best of luck!

1oz per session is a pretty normal pumping output. If you need to pump exclusively you need to be doing it every 1-2 hours around the clock to increase your output. It's gruelling. If it's more for the purposes of building a stash just in case, I'd advise waiting if possible.

Are you getting support with this? Is your baby feeding at all?

Paging @tiktok

get feeding and supply established. Then think about pumping

I.e. give it at least a couple more weeks.

Express with your baby close by apparently the hormones help you, it worked for me anyway

Keep going. Do it as often as possible.

1oz at 6 days isn't bad at all

I know she latches on but only on one breast, but I'm scared that she is not getting anything as unlike a bottle you can never tell how she is getting any milk or not

I ended up on a prescription for Motillium (domperidone) to increase my BM production when pumping for our son. Ask your HV.

Oh sweetheart, I know that feeling

I was so paranoid that I almost exclusively expressed for 9 months.

Does she seem content? How is her weight doing?

For your own peace of mind, make sure you're taking your vitamins and drinking lots. Fenugreek is also supposed to boost supply - you can get capsules from health food shops but be warned, you can get an aftertaste!

Personally I found that the more I expressed the better the supply. Eventually I could get 260/280mls from each side in the mornings

Oh yes, domperidone can help too! Forgot about that Eggy - thanks, I'll remember that for 10 weeks time when ds2 arrives

Thanks for that her weight is OK as I was told to get some formula to stop it going down too much, but I'm just unsure how you know she getting enough when you breastfeeding

I suppose if you offer her a boob then if she's hungry she'll drink, if she isn't then she won't?

How do I know she is getting any and the right amount I'm a new mum I'm so sorry I'm scared and sensitive

Oh Vics I understand- really, really I do. I was in exactly the same position.

If you feed her from one side, express from the other at the same time. Then when she pulls away you could offer her what you've freshly expressed. Then you can change the teat and store it.

When she's had enough, express from the side she latched on to. Hopefully the difference should indicate how much she's had.

I know how you feel, and I can remember the worry so clearly. It's even worse when it's your firstborn. Do you have any friends or relatives who have BFed who could give you some support?

you know she is getting enough milk if she comes off the breast satisfied

you can see she is getting milk by listening to and watching her swallowing and by the fact that she has plenty of wet and dirty nappies. you don't need to know how much breast milk she is getting.

For new breastfeeders hearing a baby swallow can be tough. It sounds like a little click or a tiny sigh as they swallow. You'll see muscles moving near the ear on the jaw.

It's so hard to learn to trust your body and your baby. If she's weeing and pooing enough and gaining weight then you're doing great

Baby should be gaining weight and having wet and dirty nappies through the day. Ask your midwife how many to look for.
It's so so so hard st the beginning but if baby is gaining weight/good nappy output and has periods of contentment after a feed then they are getting enough. Trust your body. You are doing amazingly.
Maybe try to access some support, NCT LaLecheLeague or ILBC are all good places to start.

It took my son (prem) 10 weeks to learn to breastfeed so I expressed during those weeks and it is so so tough. Even once he mastered feeding by himself and I stopped having to express, like you, I panicked that he wouldn't get enough. If it would help (it did me) write down how many wet/dirty nappies you are getting to help reassure you and go for weigh ins regularly. A steady weight gain will reassure you and the HV will be able to answer any questions you have. It's very hard to trust your body and your baby, especially at the beginning. But babies are clever and generally speaking ask for what they want.

Pumping wise - As others have said, the more you do it, the more you'll produce but 1oz is a good amount! My son is huge now so clearly gets plenty of milk from me but even now, if I express it's always an ounce at a time!! Babies are so much more efficient than pumps. Keep going, the majority of us find it scary and hard at first so you aren't alone. I cried and cried thinking I didn't have enough milk, but I did and I do and so will you. If you can crack it, it suddenly gets as easy as anything. Xx

Ooo and check that you've got the right size shield - it really helps keep things comfy and as efficient as possible. The size should be based on nipple size, NOT breast size. Check the website of which ever brand pump you are using to make sure you have the correct one. It made a big difference to me. X