Help with 1st time expressing!!

[Bella8]

Hi everyone,
I'm a new 1st time mummy with 4 weeks old bubs. I've been breastfeeding the whole time so far and have now gone out and purchased a NUK electric pump as I'm struggling with sleep and was hoping my DP could do a feed during the night when I need it. Also, I've been suffering from really sore and heavy boobs and was hoping this would ease the pain after feeding.

Anyway... first go I only managed 20mls. I thought 'well, maybe I need to get used to it' but the 2nd and 3rd go were the same.

I'm starting to wonder if:
a) I'm not doing it right
b) I haven't got enough milk to feed AND express
c) I'm doing it at the wrong time
d) I've got a dud pump
e) All of the above

At the moment I've tried expressing straight after a feed to 'empty' which has helped with the uncomfortable after effects. As I didn't get much out of that I also tried about an hour after a feed which had the same results. Then when it was time for his feed he couldn't get enough so I gave him what was in the bottle that I had expressed earlier!!!!!!!!!!

Any help would be great. It doesn't provide you with much guidance in the pack!!!

Also, if I can only express 20mls and keep in the fridge am I able to 'add' to the bottle after the next feed???

Thanks,
Renae xx

[becca74]

I havent expressed since DS2, but this is what I used to do for maximum milk....

it might be a bit of a juggle, but I got it to work for me after a bit of practice....

have bubs on one boob, and put your breast pump on the other one.....see if it works .....:detective:

[M O P]

I read somewhere it's better to express first then have baby finish the feed.
Not sure why it's not pumping much milk.

[cheeky.chicken]

Hi,

I'm afraid that it is something that takes a while to get the hang of and also to build up some stock. I too use to feed bubs on one boob completely and then express the other one. She wasn't an overly hungry baby and was satisfied with this. You should try to avoid expressing on a boob after a feed because there is only the fatty milk left and if you are trying to build up some bottles for storage its better to get the fore, middle and hind milk supply. I wouldn't worry about the 20mls either, it sounds about right. When I first started expressing it use to take me up to 4 days to fill a 125ml bottle for the freezer, it was very frustrating. Once I got into it I was filling a 125ml bottle in one session. Your milk supply is still building itself also and it will take sometime. I know you are tired but congratulations for breastfeeding and try to stick with it. Your milk will increase and you will be filling bottles in no time.

[SAMum]

It may be that your "let-down" reflex hasn't worked. I have returned to work with 12 weeks old bub and I am expressing every day, if I don't let-down then I struggle to get 60ml in 10 minutes but once let-down occurs then it spurts out and I can fill a 125ml bottle in a bit over 5 minutes! You can encourage let-down by expressing while your baby is in the room or looking at a photo of them, thats why it works when you have bub on one breast and pump on the other, becuase bub causes the let-down to occur.

[lovemybub]

I pretty much agree with what people have said before me. Your milk is still settling in at this stage, and I remember that I didn't get that much to start with either, but as others have said, I can get up to 150ml out now (DD is 10 months old now).

You should also be aware that expressing milk will stimulate your breasts to make more milk, so continually expressing might not have quite the relieving effect you are hoping for. The first time I started expressing, I did it after every feed, and was feeling more engorged than usual after about two days, so left of the expressing for a day or two.

Your milk should settle down over the next couple of weeks and you won't be feeling as full. I'm often amazed at how 'small' my breasts feel now, but they are holding so much more milk than they used to in the beginning when they were twice the size!

Other than that, the let down is the trigger. Make sure your as relaxed as you can be, maybe put on some music, and have bubs nearby or a photo to look at can help to. Also if you get a warm washer or stand under some warm water - I always used to let down in the shower :o .

Sending milk vibes your way ;)

[Rainbowbrite]

Expressing is something i've never been able to do. I'm still breastfeeding 16 months later but even now, i can try for an hour & get no more than 20ml.

[Bella8]

Hi everyone!
Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. Thank you for all of your guidance and help. Well, update... I took your advice and continued to express and tried to relax and 'egg on' the let down. Started to get a little bit more milk each time but only up to about 40ml.

Had an appointment with a CYH nurse. Fed bubs before I went so he wasn't cranky. Well, he was still cranky and when I got to my appointment the nurse got me to feed in front of her to make sure I was doing it right. Well, he managed to get a little more out but the nurse said 'he looks like a hungry baby!'. Seems he is going through a growth spurt and isn't getting enough milk..

Her solution was to continue to express to bump up my milk supply, take some herbal BF tablets and also have a tin of formula as a back up. I had really wanted to exclusively breastfeed but it was soon really apparent he was taking in a lot but still not enough. I started giving him 1/2 feed of formula as a top up at night and he has improved. When I got him weighed in yesterday he had put on lots of weight and the nurse was much happier (as was i).

I am still going to continue breasteeding and expressing as the other day I think I got my first let down experience!!! Only one side though.. is that normal????? It is almost every day now but only on the one side.. weird.

Anyway, thanks again for your help!!!

Rx