Breastfeeding - expressing milk.

[MillyStar9]

Hi everyone
My DD is 4 weeks old. For 4 days I've been using an electric breast pump to express milk (I want to build up a freezer stash). It is taking ages to get even a little bit and the pump is making my nipples sore. Do you think I'd be better with a manual pump or do I need to keep going so my body produces more milk and my nipples get used to the pump? It is a struggle to even get 30ml at the moment. Thanks.

Sorry, no advice but watching as plan to start pumping in the immediate future for DS to take a bottle when he’s 6 weeks.

I think the type of pump you use is important. Have you considered hiring a hospital grade double breast pump?

I think it was about £50 per month when I did it. It made quick work of pumping and stimulated milk production. If it doesn't work you child always return it..

I was able to go back to work full time and pump plenty of milk for the baby.

I think that might be my reserve plan @the8thmonth as that's what's suggested in my breastfeeding book I'm reading. I've pumped for 3 days and just poured it into one of the freezer bags and it says 90ml, my cup said it would only be 45ml so I am pleased with the 90ml. How much are you planning to leave per day?

I always found it easier to express at the same time I was feeding. I used a manual pump and DD didn't seem that bothered by it.

I didn't do a huge amount of expressing though.

I went back to work when my boys were between 6 to 9 months old, so they were weaning as well. I pumped 3x per day at work and it was about 100mls a time but could be as much as 150mls. The older they got, the less milk my body made. We continued to breastfeed at night, overnight and mornings. Finished when they were about 16 months old. I always just gave what ever I had pumped the previous day. I never had a large frozen stash. It maybe took me a week to get three bottles to begin with but after that just pumped when I would have nursed and handed to the nursery the next day.

I wanted to update on here to say that yesterday and today the expressing has been going much better. For the night feeds I let her feed off one side then in the morning I use the pump on the other side. Thanks for all the replies!