Hand expression

[misspriss]

Will hand expressing instead of pumping be seriously detrimental to my supply?

I work full time. Currently I pump and usually hand express after pumping (for no other reason than milk still comes out and I am particularly picky about my amounts. I prefer to pump 2 or 3 ounces instead of 2.5, so if I pump 2.5, I will hand express up to 3...).

Sometimes I pump and it works great. Other times I pump, I feel the let down, and only one or neither of my breasts produce milk (usually if I am less relaxed, but it DOES let down!). This is especially true of my left breast, which has a tendency to produce less and have a slower flow.

Hand expressing always works. And it is easy. I just need a bottle and clean hands and a burp cloth/towel. No washing parts.

I am just worried if I try and hand express for an entire day, I might damage my supply. I have in the past replaced a pumping session with hand expressing, but I still have to wash and carry my pump parts for the other sessions. What I want to try is an entire day of hand expressing, but I don't want to mess anything up.

I also want to add my baby reverse cycles and I pump well over what he drinks every day that I work. He drinks 5-6 ounces per day, never more than 6.

Today went like so:

8:30 - 5.75 ounces. 4 ounces pumped, 1.75 hand expressed after pumping 2 ounces each s ide.
11:30 - 1 ounce pumped (had issue with pump) 1.25 hand expressed after pumping
2:30 - 3 ounces hand expressed after trying to pump, getting let down, but no milk came out, I was stressing out a little.

Total 11 ounces

Most days I like to get 8, so I can get his 6 and have extra, just in case he gets a hungry day. It doesn't matter if I pump 2 or 3 times, I still get 8 or more ounces. I can just pump 2x and get 8, but it is uncomfortable since he nurses much more frequently and I normally pump more frequently.

I would LOVE to just be able to bring empty bottles and hand express at work. I would probably keep the pump and parts at work (clean) just in case...or maybe pump/hand express on and off days, like MWF hand express, and TR pump...am I crazy or is it feasible? Should I even try or am I risking losing my supply (although some loss would be allowable in the short term).

 

[ThunderPearls]

I would say that you should try hand expressing and see how much you can get out with that alone. I understand milk is produced depnding on how much is taken out. So if you can hand express the same amount as if you were pumping then I dont see how it would change your supply.

You could always pump and freeze a mini stash incase the hand expressing decreases your supply and then give that to your LO whilst you build your supply back up with pumping.

 

[ThunderPearls]

Also just to add take your pump just incase you cant hand express the same amount and then you can use it afterwards so as not to lessen the demand and reduce the supply.

 

[misspriss]

I would say that you should try hand expressing and see how much you can get out with that alone. I understand milk is produced depnding on how much is taken out. So if you can hand express the same amount as if you were pumping then I dont see how it would change your supply.

You could always pump and freeze a mini stash incase the hand expressing decreases your supply and then give that to your LO whilst you build your supply back up with pumping.

Thanks for the reply!

I know I can get at least 3 oz on an afternoon pump, which is usually 1.5-3 ounces (I just did it!), and I can get almost 2 ounces AFTER pumping 4 ounces out in the morning....

I have a huge freezer supply. Well, not huge, but I freeze 2-4 ounces per day, 5 days a week. I donated all my huge supply and plan to keep donating what extra I keep producing...

I don't know why I am just scared to take the plunge and do it. I am going to try it Monday I think.

 

[ThunderPearls]

I understand why you are aprehensive! Given all the trouble I am having with my supply right now I really feel for other women worrying about theirs too!

I think if you are confident in your hand expressing skills and are already able to produce more than you need right now then it shouldnt be too much of a risk. But the second you notice a slight decrease in the amount then I would do a few pumping sessions to boost things again.

I am actually a big fan of hand expressing, If I hadnt hand expressed every day then my milk would be completely gone as I had such a low supply since I didnt establish breastfeeding and my electric pump did nothing :/ ... I still hand express after every pumping session to get the last drops out.

 

[seaweed eater]

My understanding is that all that matters is how often you're emptying your breasts and how much milk you're removing...the method doesn't matter. Sounds like you are a pro at hand expressing already so I don't see a reason why it wouldn't work!