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Offline jacq1101

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does expressing get easier
« on: October 02, 2006, 11:52:07 am »
Hi,

I am hoping to go back to work in about 5 weeks.  I'm in a bit of a panic because I have tried to wean my  DS onto a  bottle with not much luck.  He is 15 weeks.  He will take about 50 mls (around 2 oz) of formula with the last few mls a bit of a struggle.  I have tried expressing with an electric pump but didn't get much out.  Today I bought an Avent Isis manual pump and got about 40 mls out in the afternoon.  I'm hoping that I will get more tomorrow if I try in the morning.  I am worried though that I won't be able to pump enough when I am at work.  My question is for those of you who are pumping, does it get easier, as in do you get more out with practice?

Thanks
Jacqui
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Offline Tamara

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Re: does expressing get easier
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2006, 13:29:01 pm »
Absolutely yes! :)

First few times I expressed, I couldnt believe the piddly amount of milk that eventually came out, and that after expressing for what seemed like ages, but the ore you do the better you get - promise

I always expressed inbetween feeds - so once she'd fed off one side I'd express the other (obvioulsy you need you baby to be able to go a good few hours between feeds to be able to do this) the result is plenty of practice and a huge supply of milk for your freezer.

I also expressed just befroe going to sleep.  At the age when I dreamfed her - I simply expressed the other side, whereas when she was no longer DF, I expressed a bit off both so that I didn't wake up in a lake of milk  ::)

I never tried the lectric type - I only ever used the Avent Isis

HTH and good luck
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Offline Ladybird

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Re: does expressing get easier
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2006, 14:07:43 pm »
I could not pump AT ALL for my first dd, now with this one (2 weeks old) I could not pump at first then suddenly I found what worked for me, which was when I have a let down about 1hr after I feed I have the breast pump ready and get it on and I have been able to express 3 oz from each breast which I am sure will increase as my dd grows. Hope that helps you too, I know how frustrating it is....good luck  :)
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Offline momtoelise

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Re: does expressing get easier
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2006, 16:18:50 pm »
For me, it did get better - the longer I had done it, and the more frequently I did it (consecutive days in a row).  I always just pumped if I was away from DD & it was her normal time to eat.  Personally, I had better results with an electric pump than a manual one.  However, I ended up having to supplement with a little formula when I was gone, as I never had quite enough ebf to fill her up!
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Offline Shellha

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Re: does expressing get easier
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2006, 19:00:27 pm »
One thing I found that REALLY helped when I was expressing was to feed off (for example) your left breast at the 3am feed, and again at the 7am feed, and then immediately after the 7am feed express your right breast. Your milk supply is traditionally more plentiful in the morning, so it helps you get even more than you would normally.

Before using this technique I would get 2oz at most, but after using this a few times (not for long periods of time otherwise your breasts will adapt to the change in feed pattern) I would get over 5oz!

Hope this helps
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Offline momofowen

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Re: does expressing get easier
« Reply #5 on: October 03, 2006, 14:43:08 pm »
It gets much easier, especially if you get on a routine!  If you pup 1 hour after feeding, then 1 hour after the next feed, in a few days you will get a great amount -  your body produces what you need to produce, so if you are demanding more milk you will get more milk :)  Just keep pumping, and remember to REALLY Hydrate yourself.  You can also try the mothers milk tea, which I a m a HUGE fan of, it works GREAT!!!
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Offline riuliani

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Re: does expressing get easier
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2006, 14:59:42 pm »
I am in my fourth month of pumping and it comes and goes.  I find some days I am able to get ounces upon ounces and then others it just barely comes out.  I pump first thing in the morning and then just before the dreamfeed.  I find the more water I drink the more I pump.  Plus, if you drink water during your feedings and your pumpings you supposedly make more milk.  In the morning I can get 5 oz. from one side.  At night I get 3 oz. pumping both sides.  My LO drinks 8 oz. at the dream feed, so I just barely make it.  If I need to stock pile I will take a day and choose two feedings for formula.  I will then pump and store milk that wasn't given at these two feedings.  This gets me ahead of the game if something comes up.  Then I can take breast milk for the bottle on other days.
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Offline clh

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Re: does expressing get easier
« Reply #7 on: October 03, 2006, 17:53:22 pm »
It does take a bit of practice.  I remember in the very beginning, I would barely get enough to cover the bottom of the bottle!  I pumped for 8 months at work.  I'd have to pump 3-4 times for 2-3 bottles.  One of those was when a dreamfeed would have been (after ds was sleeping thru, of course).  My only other bit of advice is to try not to compare yourself with anyone else in terms of how much you pump.  Some women can get lots & some just don't respond as well to the pump.  I believe there's a thread about pumping in the FAQ, too.  HTH.
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Offline jbepko

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Re: does expressing get easier
« Reply #8 on: October 04, 2006, 01:36:08 am »
It does get easier and your body becomes used to it. Great advice above. Here's link to FAQ- https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=63603.0
and I really like this site also
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html
I pumped for nearly a year with both of my LO's and some days there was extra and some days it worried over every drop! It can be done!!  ;)
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