Do your boobs get better at expressing?!

[Amy_T]

I am trying to express to up my supply and be able to give baby a bottle. However I don't seem to be able to get much... I'll pump for ten mins, barely get an ounce (that's good) but put baby to me straight after and she'll gulp loads down. Do your boobs get used to the pump and end up giving you more?!

 

[seaweed eater]

Yes, definitely. I only started noticing multiple letdowns after I'd been pumping regularly. It helps if you do it at the same time every day, too.

 

[dan-o]

Yep. I seem to find I let down better if I pump when LO is asleep or playing, just cabt get the hang of pumping and nursing! Also wearing my nursing bra seems to help, as does lifting my breast. Compressions can get it flowing if its being stubborn too.

 

[monte3375]

I wish I knew the answer...the more I pump...I get mushy breasts

 

[Amy_T]

Thanks for the replies ladies, the combination of pumping more and making lactation cookies seems to be helping. I always get more from one breast than the other though!

 

[sjtttc]

I get more from one boob too. Quite a difference at the moment..left boob I get approx 30/40ml and right boob I get 110-150ml! I too get multiple let downs of the better boob. Keep up the pumping. I began doing it every 2 hours In between feeds but now I do it every 3-4hours.

 

[AC1987]

Mine got worse... but could be because my breasts doesn't seem to react well to the pump.. also my LO is older.

 

[Jendra]

I think in some ways you learn better pumping methods. For example, I learned it was better to pump my left than my right because my left would leak if I did the right first, meaning I lost milk. I also learned to pump each breast twice, because I'd trigger a second letdown. Also, I compressed my breast near the end to squeeze more out. And when I was done I'd manually express squirts of milk into the bottle because I'd always be able to get more that way.

I always had low supply, but I could get a few more ounces per day this way.

 

[Amy_T]

Ooh thanks for those tips, I'll look out for those things.

And wow 150ml from one side, that's crazy, I'm lucky to get 30!

 

[monte3375]

I can get 2 to 2.5 ounces a pump, but then I have squishy boobs remainder of day and frustrated baby.