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Help! Expressing!
- Thread starter Angelica
- Start date
i think they say ideally you need to wait 6 wks till breast feeding is well established. I did try tho when my daughter was about 3 1/2 wks and managed to get 90ml from one boob but had trouble getting her to take a bottle, she took about 1oz and wouldnt take anymore so i ended up putting her on my boob for the rest of the feed. I havent tried since. They do say having your baby near you or a photo of your baby helps and also leaning forward
smartie
1 Prince, 1 Princess
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People get different results with expressing. I was able to express easily using both a manual and electric pump but I know of others that struggle to get more than a couple of ounces at a time.
I first started when my LO was around 4 weeks but cant remember at what point in the day it was but i was engorged at the time so had plenty spare milk to start with.
I first started when my LO was around 4 weeks but cant remember at what point in the day it was but i was engorged at the time so had plenty spare milk to start with.
Samantha675
Maybe baby #3?!?
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I waited till Bren was 8 weeks or so before I tried expressing. I can now get 4-5 ounces from on breast in one go. You might give yourself some time to let your supply become establishd and then it will be easier.
I also find that massaging the breast helps me let down and flow easier.
I also find that massaging the breast helps me let down and flow easier.
moomin_troll
mummy to zane and corey
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i havent breastfed before as this will be my first but i plan to bf and i have read that u should wait arounf 6 weeks before starting to express and also try expressing while baby is feeding on the other breast and another tip is to be holding ur baby or looking at a picture to help ur body feel the need to produce more milk.
good luck i hope this works as im planning on expressing too
good luck i hope this works as im planning on expressing too
Margerle
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Because I have such a hard time expressing, (as a good many women do) - I sought the help of a friend of mine that expresses successfully now, but had a hard time in the beginning. You should wait at least 6 weeks to make sure your supply gets in good and regulates to baby, but after you notice this occuring you can surely start to build your supply slowly.
First -
if the equipment you're using isn't working, don't continue using it try something else. If you can try rental units for a while, do that. I had a $300 Medela Pump In Style high grade breast pump, with all the bells and whistles. I suffered to get 2 ounces every time. Once in 10 times I'd get 4 ounces.
She said she was the same way, and the longer she tried to pump using the machine, the more her body 'shut down'. She had to go to work full time after 6 weeks, and was trying desperately to get pumping!
On recommendation from someone she knew, she tried the Avent Isis manual pump - and has been VERY pleased, and she recommended it to me so I got one. WOW what a difference it was for me! I can get 3-4 ounces per breast now. But this unit isn't for everyone either. You have to keep trying to find one that you are comfy with and that works.
But she also gave me some further tips that I think helps loads too!
Secondly-
She said (speaking quite frankly) that expressing is a bit like having an orgasm. Some women can do it no problem, others need a bit more attention. "We're just the women that need a bit more attention."
So what we're trying to do is get 'let-down' to occur. That's when the storage areas of the breast open to let the milk down into the delivery pockets just behind and below the nipple. Fats coat the inside of these storage areas, so we want as much of that to be released as possible as well.
Pulling all the milk off the storage areas, coupled with the sucking is what makes you make more milk. Now that I'm at a place where I want to stock up, I make sure to get the breast as empty as possible.
So, to do this we need to entice letdown. Relax the tissues in the breast so we can get that milk.
She said, just like orgasm, you have to work up to let down. She told me to simulate a baby sucking at first. Nice shallow quick pulls. Baby acts like he's famished, and is drinking the foremilk quickly. Pretty soon he slows down, relaxes, and takes long draws from the breast. Maybe two quick sucks and a long, or a quick then a long... Whatever it is, try to simulate that when you pump.
Gravity can also help let-down. Lean forward and shake the girls a bit from time to time. This will help loosen pockets of milk, and will get gravity to pull the milk from the upper sinuses to the ones behind the nipple.
I've found that I sometimes pump the milk out of the sinuses behind my breast, and the upper breast is still hard and full of milk. Jiggling the girls a bit or just moving to the other breast for a bit gives gravity a bit of time to work.
Stimulation - she said I should try dragging my fingernails lightly a long the breast from the top toward the nipple. Then do the same applying slight pressure and massage that milk down, and loosen the fats in the upper storage areas, and under the arm.
Warmth - warmth is another way to get that milk moving. I use my manual pump in the shower. I can allow the stream of water to help massage the milk down, nad the warmth is relaxing to me and my breast tissue.
Of course looking at baby, holding baby, listening to a recording of baby crying. All of these things are psychological ways to get your body to let down.
Whatever works!
Her advice has helped me tremendously. And I can finally make a good storage for when we go out for the day and its awkward to feed, and for when baby starts solids, I can mix my stored breastmilk with cereal.
Hope that helps some - good luck!
First -
if the equipment you're using isn't working, don't continue using it try something else. If you can try rental units for a while, do that. I had a $300 Medela Pump In Style high grade breast pump, with all the bells and whistles. I suffered to get 2 ounces every time. Once in 10 times I'd get 4 ounces.
She said she was the same way, and the longer she tried to pump using the machine, the more her body 'shut down'. She had to go to work full time after 6 weeks, and was trying desperately to get pumping!
On recommendation from someone she knew, she tried the Avent Isis manual pump - and has been VERY pleased, and she recommended it to me so I got one. WOW what a difference it was for me! I can get 3-4 ounces per breast now. But this unit isn't for everyone either. You have to keep trying to find one that you are comfy with and that works.
But she also gave me some further tips that I think helps loads too!
Secondly-
She said (speaking quite frankly) that expressing is a bit like having an orgasm. Some women can do it no problem, others need a bit more attention. "We're just the women that need a bit more attention."
So what we're trying to do is get 'let-down' to occur. That's when the storage areas of the breast open to let the milk down into the delivery pockets just behind and below the nipple. Fats coat the inside of these storage areas, so we want as much of that to be released as possible as well.
Pulling all the milk off the storage areas, coupled with the sucking is what makes you make more milk. Now that I'm at a place where I want to stock up, I make sure to get the breast as empty as possible.
So, to do this we need to entice letdown. Relax the tissues in the breast so we can get that milk.
She said, just like orgasm, you have to work up to let down. She told me to simulate a baby sucking at first. Nice shallow quick pulls. Baby acts like he's famished, and is drinking the foremilk quickly. Pretty soon he slows down, relaxes, and takes long draws from the breast. Maybe two quick sucks and a long, or a quick then a long... Whatever it is, try to simulate that when you pump.
Gravity can also help let-down. Lean forward and shake the girls a bit from time to time. This will help loosen pockets of milk, and will get gravity to pull the milk from the upper sinuses to the ones behind the nipple.
I've found that I sometimes pump the milk out of the sinuses behind my breast, and the upper breast is still hard and full of milk. Jiggling the girls a bit or just moving to the other breast for a bit gives gravity a bit of time to work.
Stimulation - she said I should try dragging my fingernails lightly a long the breast from the top toward the nipple. Then do the same applying slight pressure and massage that milk down, and loosen the fats in the upper storage areas, and under the arm.
Warmth - warmth is another way to get that milk moving. I use my manual pump in the shower. I can allow the stream of water to help massage the milk down, nad the warmth is relaxing to me and my breast tissue.
Of course looking at baby, holding baby, listening to a recording of baby crying. All of these things are psychological ways to get your body to let down.
Whatever works!
Her advice has helped me tremendously. And I can finally make a good storage for when we go out for the day and its awkward to feed, and for when baby starts solids, I can mix my stored breastmilk with cereal.
Hope that helps some - good luck!
i bf LO earlier- around 6pm 7 am expressing now
Haave barely managed 2oz from both sides
lo is due to wakeup in about 45mins so what will i have to feed her if nothings coming out right now??
This is when i have to give in to a formula feed!!
ps- lo is 4weeks & 5days today
Haave barely managed 2oz from both sides
lo is due to wakeup in about 45mins so what will i have to feed her if nothings coming out right now??
This is when i have to give in to a formula feed!!
ps- lo is 4weeks & 5days today
Margerle
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PUMPING IS NO INDICATION OF SUPPLY!
Some women cannot pump... in fact the AVERAGE WOMAN can only ever get 1-2 oz of milk from her breasts EVER. You aren't alone
I am/was the same way. I have to work a bit to get 4 ounces... and am successful doing it, but if I just hooked myself to an electric pump I wouldn't be able to pump more than what's behind my nipple (1-2 ounces) I just cannot entice letdown!
If you are feeding baby regularly, and allow her to suck at will, if she is getting enough wet diapers (10 or so a day) she's doing well!
You might be doing just fine breastfeeding! I don't know because I can't check your latch or see baby or any of the finer points of breastfeeding. But it sounds like you're diong alright, but that you are anxious about baby crying and assuming its because of breastfeeding.
Is that right?
I want you to read this:
https://askdrsears.com/html/5/T051200.asp#T051204
then go to this website and see if you can get this book in your area (order it, get it at the library, whatever).
www.thehappiestbaby.com
I have no doubt you are a great mama! Just have some confidence!
Lemme know how it goes hun...
Some women cannot pump... in fact the AVERAGE WOMAN can only ever get 1-2 oz of milk from her breasts EVER. You aren't alone
I am/was the same way. I have to work a bit to get 4 ounces... and am successful doing it, but if I just hooked myself to an electric pump I wouldn't be able to pump more than what's behind my nipple (1-2 ounces) I just cannot entice letdown!
If you are feeding baby regularly, and allow her to suck at will, if she is getting enough wet diapers (10 or so a day) she's doing well!
You might be doing just fine breastfeeding! I don't know because I can't check your latch or see baby or any of the finer points of breastfeeding. But it sounds like you're diong alright, but that you are anxious about baby crying and assuming its because of breastfeeding.
Is that right?
I want you to read this:
https://askdrsears.com/html/5/T051200.asp#T051204
then go to this website and see if you can get this book in your area (order it, get it at the library, whatever).
www.thehappiestbaby.com
I have no doubt you are a great mama! Just have some confidence!
Lemme know how it goes hun...
