Pumping vs hand expressing breast milk

[blackcat86]

My LO is now 3.5 weeks old and we have been combined feeding with me pumping whatever I can. LO was in special care and struggled with the energy to suckle but I understand the benefits of breast milk and am keen for this to be part of her diet.

Although I hand expressed before my milk came in and I could pump in hospital, I haven't hand expressed since. I hand expressed today as LO has a gunky eye and the doctor suggested popping breast milk along her eye lid as part of her treatment and to help comfort. I hand expressed as I just wanted a little bit of milk but was shocked at how much I was able to collect. I'm interested in people's experiences of pumping vs hand expressing and how you combine them if you do?

I found it difficult pumping milk. It would come out so slowly and was such a horrible task. I only kept at it because I really needed DH's help with night feeds. I hadn't even considered hand pumping tbh.

However, one day, my boobs were so engorged and I was exhausted. The pump hadn't been sterilised so I just started squeezing the milk out. I was so surprised at how much faster the milk came out. I haven't used the pump since.

I had a hand pump but much preferred hand expressing. Found I got loads more than if I expressed with the pump. It did make my hand ache but it was easier.

I usually got more with hand expressing as i could vary pressure and over different places.

The only breast pump I could get on with was a syringe manual one. Or by hand but I found the mechanical ones just mashed my nipples.