Expressing questions

[Sprk]

I'm looking for tips on expressing. By the time lo is 6 weeks, I want to be able to express enough so dh can share the joys of night time feeds and the occasional bottle during the day - so I can do fun things, like grocery shop lol. With my first, I bought a very expensive machine, failed at bf and expressing because I just wasn't confident enough. This time round, bf is going well, so I'm feeling better about it (although a few minutes after each feed, I feel like I've been punched in the boob ). I have a tommee tipee pump.

When is the best time to pump?
Should I start now (at just under 3 weeks after birth) to help increase supply?
Should I use fenugreek?
I know it takes a few tries to be able to pump enough for a feed at one time....but what is realistic?
Any tips and advice? Pitfalls to avoid?
What if I feed Emily, then pump, just to find as I finish she wants an early feed? How long does it take to replenish the supply?

 

[ISH]

Hi Sprk, I used to express every 2 hours day and night, so hopefully I can help a bit.

The more you express the more you produce, so if your goal is to have a little supply in fridge/freezer, do start. I'd say any time is good, as long as you're relaxed (electric pump highly recommended as your fingers will get very tired very quickly). I didn't use fenugreek or any boosters, but supply went through the roof very quickly.

Cons: don't overdo it, as your nipples might look a bit worse for wear after a few months (speaking from experience!)

 

[Fospetil]

When the best time?
I've found the best time is on a morning however once you've done it a few times you may find that you can do it pretty much whenever

Should I start now?
Erm, personally, my supply doesn't work like that, my boobs are never really empty so I just pump and then if she needs more she can go on. She never seems dissatisfied by it

Should I use fenugreek?
If there's nothing wrong with your supply (and there probably isn't) there's no need

Realistic volumes?
At first you may only get 1/2 ounce however once your used to it you will get more! Make sure your relaxed, warm and give your boobs a massage first! Express abit by hand so you know it's ready to come out and get a good drip flow on the lowest setting before you increase the setting (I use tommee tippee one too)

Any tips/advice?
Don't stress about it! I did and then I stopped getting any out! If you don't express much it doesn't mean your supply is low! As long as bubba is having wet/dry nappies! Also if bubba seems hungry constantly that's not a bad thing, it's a growth spurt and they are trying to increase your supply! Don't be disheartened!

 

[Sprk]

Thanks for the advice With my first I made the stupid mistake of thinking that because when I pumped I only got an ounce out, that I wasn't producing enough to bf. this time we've got fb going fine, so I know I should be producing enough to go around. I think I'm just afraid of getting discouraged and feeling even more overwhelmed. Having said that, I plan to start pumping on Monday (busy week this week and just won't have the time).

One more question (and may be hard to answer) - my goal is to eventually produce enough to have a few feeds in the fridge/freezer. I know it's going to take time to get to that point, though. I was wondering he often I should pump. I can't do it far every feed (just don't have the energy anymore). Is it reasonable to pump 2-3 times per day, as long as it's around the same time each day?

 

[T84]

Expressing 2-3 times a day is very reasonable! Hoepfully in a few weeks when supply is in full swing you will get a feed each time hon, or at least over a couple. I expressed and bf the first 2 weeks then solely expressed as bf wasn't going well. It's a slow process but probably by week 4 I was getting a feed each time.

Remember it's supply and demand so whatever you do one day try and do the next but don't beat yourself up about it if you don't find the time. It really is hard going to do both, especially with a newborn. x x

 

[T84]

Oh and being genuinely serious here, not my finest hours, but when I was feeding baby, hubby would be expressing off the other and found this to be the best way of getting it. Or express from the opposite side to what the baby has fed from. I felt like daisy the cow for weeks! x

 

[Fospetil]

Haha t84! My oh laughs when I have Annabelle on one boob and pump on another! I only tend to express once a day because I don't need a night feed now so it's just if I'm going to the gym, if it doesn't get used it goes in the freezer! Someone mentioned a good tip to me the other day, of you plan to express more than one feed, label times you expressed aswell as dates because night time milk is better for putting baby to sleep xx