Hand expressing...

JadeyB · Mar 3rd, 2012, 13:33 PM

Anyone just hand expressing?

Is hand expressing just as good as pumping for boosting supply?

My daughter is currently in the special care baby unit as she was born prematurely.

I am currently expressing every 3-4 hours. I have used the pump a few times, but now having issues. Have moved hospital and they only have the smaller breast shields which give me blisters.

Have orderd bigger ones for my own medela Swing but only got 40 mls out and milk keeps getting in the tube. I can get between 70-110 mls hand expressing!

Anyone have any super tips for hand expressing it seems to be going ok, the only problem I get is eye strain as I need to look at what I'm doing!

Xx

Lownthwaite · Mar 3rd, 2012, 15:32 PM

I used to hand express alot. 3 x a day when I was in work and at least once a day to build a freezer stash.

I use avent bottles as I found them to have wider tops than some other brands.

Once your milk lets down if you've got the bottle positioned well you don't really have to look at what you're doing. I used to watch tv whilst I expressed in the evenings.

I always get more milk in less time by hand expressing than using pumps.

If you are looking at increasing your supply though I would move the expressing to every 2 hours during the day and 3 hours at night - making sure you're expressing at least once between 1am and 4am.

Mar 3rd, 2012, 13:33 PM	#1
JadeyB Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,572	Hand expressing... Anyone just hand expressing? Is hand expressing just as good as pumping for boosting supply? My daughter is currently in the special care baby unit as she was born prematurely. I am currently expressing every 3-4 hours. I have used the pump a few times, but now having issues. Have moved hospital and they only have the smaller breast shields which give me blisters. Have orderd bigger ones for my own medela Swing but only got 40 mls out and milk keeps getting in the tube. I can get between 70-110 mls hand expressing! Anyone have any super tips for hand expressing it seems to be going ok, the only problem I get is eye strain as I need to look at what I'm doing! Xx

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Mar 3rd, 2012, 15:32 PM	#2
Lownthwaite Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: England Posts: 3,142	I used to hand express alot. 3 x a day when I was in work and at least once a day to build a freezer stash. I use avent bottles as I found them to have wider tops than some other brands. Once your milk lets down if you've got the bottle positioned well you don't really have to look at what you're doing. I used to watch tv whilst I expressed in the evenings. I always get more milk in less time by hand expressing than using pumps. If you are looking at increasing your supply though I would move the expressing to every 2 hours during the day and 3 hours at night - making sure you're expressing at least once between 1am and 4am.

Status: Offline

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