Expressing... flow questions

[sam#3]

Hi all,

I have had to express from my right breast today as it has a large painful hard lump all down one side of the breast and my nipple has become agony so i thought i would try and give it a rest and hand express a feed out, has anyone else had this or do you know what it is??

What should it flow out like when you hand express? I dont know if i have good or bad flow, it drips at every time i squeeze it and then sometimes if i squeeze it in a certain place it will do a really fine needle thin spray... It takes me ages to get a decent amount out.

Does this sound like i have a slow flow or need to increse my milk amount or does this sound normal?

Thanks in advance xx

 

[bex]

I'm not really sure what the flow should be like. I'm expressing milk for Niamh as she is being tube fed and is unable to breast feed. I'm using a madela electric double pump and the milk only comes out in droplets. So from what your saying i would think your flow is fine.

 

[Mervs Mum]

I express with Medela pump like Bex and it doesnt flow. I've had the odd squirt whan latching her on and today for the first time (and unfortunately in public but thankfully only I could see.... ) I had the fine needle spray coming out continuously!!

I'm not sure about the lump but it could be a blocked duct??

x

 

[XKatX]

As long as your baby is feeding nicely and is happy, then your flow must be fine! When I express, sometimes it's drops and sometimes a spray. I've now discovered that if I express one boob, while feeding from the other, I have a strong flow. If he isn't around for me to look at, then it is just drops. It's amazing what a difference their presence makes!!

 

[Lucy&Pard]

I did it for a week to give one side a rest (it heals so quick when you rest it!) and I tried hand expressing - the only thing that worked as I got so little out even in the hot bath was savoy cabbage leaves left in my bra for 20 mins - then hot flannel and it flies out!

 

[sam#3]

Thanks everyone for the advice,
we had him weighed today and he now weighs 10lb 1oz!!!
I must be doing something right!!
It has put my mind at rest about my flow and the HV checked and i have massaged the blocked duct away and the lump is mastitis but she said i am clearing it up myself my nursing him a lot that side and massaging it a lot so no need for antibiotics, i dont feel ill so i didnt think it was that but i guess they know what they are on about?!?!?!

 

[hsollis]

The help I had in the first week was to always check for any lumps forming and then if they did to try to massage and work them out in the shower. I live in the Netherlands but am American so my Dutch isn't 100% but as she explained it -

The lumps can be thought of as butter blocking the way and if you can massage it out (and this can be painful) you should be alright. If can't seem to then see the doctor. But it is all normal.

She also recommended regularly just massaging during the showers as this will help BF go well.

She has been doing 'kraamzorg' or home help for new mothers for 13 years plus she had twins and BF for the first few months and definitely seemed to know what she was talking about.

My LO has no trouble BF but expressing takes me forever (and I use the Avent system) and comes out in drips. However if I squeeze, we get a couple of drops and then the fine spray. As my LO, is gaining (and is above the curve for weight), I think you're okay and normal as well.