How much milk do you express

[Cbd333]

I'm not sure there's a right answer here. But how much milk do you/did you express on week 1? I'm day 9 and exclusively express feeding dd due to tongue tie (we're waiting for appointment). I seem to get around 80ml / 2-3oz per feed but have to supplement with one formula feed each day as she is a hungry baby! Expressing every 2-3 hours during the day and also once overnight.

I expressed a lot more than that but I'm not sure thats a very helpful answer for you and I think the amount you're producing is not bad for day 9. Milk production peaks at about 6 weeks I think. Try pumping twice between 12 - 6am to increase supply. Do you have a hospital grade double pump? This makes a BIG difference. You can hire them.

@NaturalStudy thank you for replying - I'm not sure to be honest! It's an ameda lactaline personal double pump.

I have a midwife appointment tomorrow so may ask her about borrowing / hiring one from the hospital.

That’s much more than I managed at that point-I think I got 30ml! It really ramped up a few days later til I got about 130ml a time.

They need to refer you quicker if you're b feeding. Give them a push, I was seen within a week with both of mine and that was with the second being born in the midst of a pandemic

Do you have any peer breast feeding supporters in your area? They can refer very quickly

I would do another pump session at night.

No use me saying what I would get because I had an over supply. DD also had TT and we got it cut privately because we weren't prepared to let her lose enough weight to be readmitted which was what they wanted before referring on the NHS!

Sounds like a postcode lottery! Our area is normally a bit shit for stuff but I got both of mine in by about day 6/7. It's the cynic in me but b feeding figures are low in my area, so...

I'm in Shropshire where there is currently no NHS service at all (stopped due to pandemic) so having to travel to north Wales to see someone privately! Our nearest NHS is Dudley and there's currently a 4 week wait.

Can you increase your supply with a pump? I've managed To feed her with nipple shields tonight so hopefully that will help.

@Cbd333 I'd keep going with the shields in that case, baby is best to boost your supply even with nipple shields. That would be my personal preference. I used nipple shields in the beginning and I know of other people who did just because of the pain.

@Opalfeet thank you, the only frustrating think is I fed her for 40 mins with the shields last night then she immediately wanted more, I don't feel like she's getting what she needs from me - probably now too used to the easy life of a bottle!

You more you feed the more you will make

Its an endless river in there for the baby and first few weeks are hard, she may just want the comfort of the boob but you can't run out in 9 days pumping has no say on what she can manage to get out.

Keep at it you will be fine. You are taking the longer route with breast AND pumping though, you need a break also.

@Cbd333 that's normal for them to drink like that in the early stages as she will be trying to make you produce more. They're clever these babies. I remember lots of all nighters pulled and falling asleep because baby wouldn't stop. It does get better.

You're doing really well. I fed my first with nipple shields until 20weeks and then all of a sudden she pulled it off and never used them again. You can definitely get enough supply even with nipple shields.
It's normal to feed loads, especially in the evening. The way it was explained to me is they haven't just got to get that day's milk, they've got to put in their order for the next day too.

@Hollywhiskey you've just made me cry, I feel like I'm doing so badly so telling me I'm doing well has made my day! I lost my mum in December and I don't have sisters so it's been hard. Thank you for your kind words x

I'm up to 200ml for first express today, although this tends to go down to 70/80 by the evening. I only managed to fit in 6 sessions yesterday though so wondering how quickly your milk supply depletes if you don't express?

Sorry for so many questions!

Milk comes in at night, that's why babies tend towards feed lots at night in the early stages so could explain why you have more in the morning. How much you express isn't always related to his much milk you have, I think some women express lots and some don't. Hows the shields going?

@Opalfeet not great so I have paused on those for a while. We have a tongue tie appointment booked for Tuesday (had to go private in the end due to the 4-6 week wait for NHS!), the practitioner can correct it then and there if required so just holding out until then before making the next plan.

My husband is working away until Monday and so the next few days are going to be tricky with a 12 day old. 3.5yr old, cat and dog to look after and expressing schedule to maintain whilst recovering from a caesarean. Exhausted just thinking about it

@Cbd333 I wonder if the delay is partly covid related or just your trust that are a bit crap? I had to be referred to a hospital outside out trust as our hospital didn't do it. It was very quick, last time was just as covid was hitting though.

Anyhow, I'm glad you will be seen soon and hopefully it will help. They normally try to get you to breastfeed straight away if you can. Can you get your baby to latch even for a short while? Do you have any b feed peer supporters in your area? How did they send you home from hospital and what has been their advice to you? Sorry for all the questions. You're doing amazingly well to continue through and not give up so I really hope you get it sorted

@Cbd333 that sounds really tough too. Are you able to have 3.5 year old in nursery? This is the worst part, you'll get through it. Establishing b feeding is so bloody difficult without the extra pressure of expressing on top. Can you get 3.5 year old to 'help' too?

It's normal for that first express of the morning to be the largest and for it to even out throughout the day. Especially if theres been a longer 'break' between each express. 6 sessions is brilliant, you are still building up your supply. As suggested previously, I was advised to pump at least twice between midnight and 6am, as that's the best time to really kick start your supply, even if it doesn't seem like much your body is doing the job it needs. Sometime just giving your breasts a massage before expressing helps, to stimulate them and get as much out as possible! Double expressing is good too.
Expressing is extremely tough and you really are doing so, so well. You are doing the absolute best you can for your baby and don't forget all those crazy post natal hormones are not helpful! You have got this.

@Opalfeet the hospital have been amazing, really supported me and kept me in an extra night to help. I also saw the trust's lactation consultant but the tongue tie service is suspended because covid / staff shortages (it's the neighbouring trust that has the month-long wait).

Dd goes to nursery 3 days a week so that is something, although I obviously have mum guilt about that too at the moment as I'm just at home when she's there, although I know she has an awesome time when she's there. I think the whole thing feels harder because my mum died in December and I miss her and her support so much (don't have sisters and as much as I love dh, my brother and dad they're not the greatest for breastfeeding advice!)

Determined to keep going though so just looking ahead to Tuesday at the moment

Hi OP. At the end of the first week, a baby's stomach can hold about 45-60ml, so the amounts you're expressing on day 9 sound pretty perfect actually! Milk is still maturing at this time frame. By the end of week 2, a baby's stomach can hold anything from 80 - 150ml. You'll notice the amounts you express increasing little by little as your milk continues to mature during this second week. Your milk is still in the transition phase at this point.

You're doing fabulously, well done!

Sorry to hear about your mum, mine died a few years before either of mine arrived and it's hard that I can't share that with her. Don't feel guilty about your 3 year old at nursery. I feel like I lost a bit of one on one time with my current one year old because both were at home.

I'm now up to about 700ml each day (250 in the morning down to about 80 last thing at night). I haven't done the overnight for last 2 nights as I'm ill and DH goes away for a fortnight on Wednesday so I'll be with 4 week old and 3 y o. Don't know if I have the will to carry on expressing, starting to feel like a dairy cow and quite depressed by the fact I'm tethered to a machine when I could be spending that time with my girls.

I don't know if I'm looki

Pressed send too soon, I'm so tired

Don't know if I'm looking for support to carry on or support (and I suppose permission!) to gradually move over to formula. I'm just shattered.