Struggling to express

[Dont_Panic]

So my baby girl is 3 weeks old and she hasn't been gaining weight, so the suggestion was made to combifeed. I was heartbroken to have to give her formula and I really want to get my supply up so that I can continue to breastfeed her (and hopefully go back to exclusively breastfeeding!). Problem is, I can't seem to express. The electric pump just isn't working for me, I pumped for an hour and got about an ounce...I'm trying to hand express and I'm having a little more luck with it, only problem is - it's going everywhere! I just tried to express straight into a bottle and I'm not kidding, on my right breast I've squirted it into my eye, over my phone and my hand is sticky from covering it in milk. Is there an easier way to collect the milk from hand expressing? Also, what am I doing wrong with the electric pump, is there some kind of knack with it?!

I'm desperate to get my supply up, or at least maintain what I have so I can at least give my baby some breastmilk, but it's getting so frustrating! My boobs are absolutely killing me, they're engorged and I just don't seem to be able to get the milk out! Gagh! x

 

[Soph_UK]

What type of pump are you using? I am using a medela swing and they are great, didn't have a lot of luck with hand expressing... Is yours electric or manual? I don't think there is a knack to it, but I do find on the electric ones that it needs to be up on high (this is a little more painful but very effective!) also I have one boob which since I had mastitus isn't very fruitful and I get 80% of my milk from one boob....

I am also having to combi feed and did have guilt but I am happy Étienne is at least getting some breast milk goodness! And having as much formula as he wants to fatten him up!

 

[Tootsmaloy]

Do you feel your milk come in when you pump? Try looking at your baby or a photo of your baby and relax as best you can. Pumping never worked for me if I was tense. Hope that helps a little.

 

[Maud]

I hated expressing. I did it at around 4 weeks (to give my savaged nipples a break) and it would take me a good hour. It's one of those things where the more you do it the better though. Ideally you need to express every 2-3 hours day and night in order to get a good supply (you should be able to cut this down once your supply is established). Having baby within sight is meant to help and your supply should be at its best first thing in the morning. Holding a warm flannel on your breast and massaging gently can also help encourage let down. Whatever you do, a baby is always going to be the most effective at getting at your milk, so the more you can put her to the breast the better.

There are a few ladies on here who did express and bottle feed exclusively for the first weeks so hopefully one of them will spot this thread and offer some experience.

For hand expressing, maybe you need a larger container to collect, eg a big bowl?