expressing question

[hj1981]

Breastfeeding is going well, but thought i better get my stock of breast milk going incase one of my follow throughs go into labour (that has already happened, thank god i had some) and for when uni goes back.

My question is - since i have a manual pump (terrible i know) cant afford an electric one! im only getting small amounts out at a time and that takes ages, however when DD2 feeds from me she gets HEAPS!!! Can i express some and store in fridge and than later express more and combine the 2 and than freeze?

Also

How much should i be expressing? what is a good amount? how much would she be getting?

[leckert]

you can add to the expressed milk, just make sure that both lots are chilled first (ie chill both in the fridge for a bit first).

When my DS was 4 mths old I was expressing for 60 ml and 90ml bottles for each feed. I think it was 90ml after the first week. DS went into CC while I went back to teaching. Can't tell you how much is normal for a 1 mth old (we did 1 week of trying 60mls to see if that was enough and DS was wanting about another 1/2 bottle at the time for each feed so we upped it to 90mls)

"good amounts" for expressing vary from woman to woman. For me in the mornings I tended to get near 100ml (but I am using an electric pump) and in the evenings I tend to be lucky at times to get 30ml. I tended to be a better cow (in a nice way) than others around. (We've had a hiccup in the nice amounts I've managed to express in the past month or so and have been struggling to get to what was normal for me.)

I freeze in 30ml lots (that's why 60ml then to 90ml) - I use Qubies (ice blocks style) - have used some other freezer stick things (name escapes me at the moment) - can get these of the mothers direct website

[HotI]

Here is some info from the ABA Australian Breastfeeding Association -

You can combine milk if at same temperature. Put the first lot of EBM in the fridge. When you express again put it in a seperate container in fridge and allow to cool. When it is cool, add to first container. When you have 50ml (or whatever amount) then freeze it.

It is better to freeze in small lots so you don't waste any by defrosting large amounts if you only need a little

[surprised]

Argh! Wrote my post and lost it! Don't you hate that!

OK here are some answers for you:
Can you look into hiring a pump? About $20 a week (although you have to buy the kit for about $80 that goes with it).

Yes, you can store in fridge and combine (but wait until both lots are cooled to combine them, just to be safe). You can also freeze and add cooled milk to the already frozen milk. Just be sure to base your use-by date on the first batch. Make sure you thaw overnight in fridge so you don't waste it (ie plan ahead!) - if you thaw outside fridge you can't re-cool any of it.

I've heard of people getting 20mL after 20 mins, and people getting 400mL, so it can really vary! Do you feel the let-down when you express? That can make a difference.

[hj1981]

excellent help and advice thanks heaps!

I think im going to look into buying some of those qubie tray things! they look good and will be good for when she start solids also and i puree vegies etc...

Also we did look into hiring a electric pump but it was a fair bit per week than that piece u had to buy, wasnt too sure if we should just incase they whole breastfeeding expressing thing didnt work for me! but its really good to hear that the 50-60mls that im getting is quite normal! However i got my first 100mls today! woot woot!

and as for feeling let down............. hmmm im not really sure i do!? what does it feel like? is it normal not to feel it? sometimes i get this kinda like electric shock feeling in my breast but thats not when im feeding or expressing?!

[onthefly]

You may find with persistence and practice that you gradually get more and more milk.
One trick is to express on the other side while you're feeding, that way you'll get letdown for sure.

[Heaven]

I didn't feel the letdown for a few months I don't think. But I'm not sure if I didn't actually feel it or if I just didn't realise that was what it was because I felt really full all the time. For me it felt like my boobs got really full all of a sudden. For other people they say it feels kind of tingly?

I only had a manual pump too but worked out alright for me. Good luck! Remember if you look at DD or smell her or something when expressing it can help you get more out

[CrazyLady]

You may find with persistence and practice that you gradually get more and more milk.
One trick is to express on the other side while you're feeding, that way you'll get letdown for sure.

That's what I did and because DD was super close to me I seemed to get more milk. I found if I didn't express while feeding DD a good 20mls would go to waste soaking into a facewasher just from letdown.

HTH

[hj1981]

Marcellus - My gosh!!!! how on earth do i feed and express at the same time?! LOL im not that cleaver yet! hahahahahaha