I don't use a pump, I express by hand from the back of the breast; the further forward towards the nipple the less I can get out. I also tried expressing a bit first into a bottle to get things going and then feed him, but this didn?t seem to work either, he just sucks away and doesn?t seem to be swallowing a lot unless I am massaging the breast. He will take 60-80mls from the bottle afterwards, I have been feeling better the last couple of days and supply has improved; I always offer both breasts and each for 20-30 minutes; he won?t go to sleep and both breasts are mostly full (feels like maybe he?s getting a little), he just sucks his hands and cries until we feed him but he does pull off the bottle when he?s full. Birth weight 3570 kg discharge weight at 4 days 3240 kg weight 11 days 3720 kg.

The reason I started expressing was because he hadn?t had a wet nappy for over 12 hours and I had been putting him on for 2 hour feeds. I rang and booked in at the local health centre when I got home, but there is a 2 week waiting list and my hubby goes back to work next week, so I can?t keep up the feeding and then expressing.

He?s a big eater and a big sleeper and cluster feeds in the evenings. So I can try to just b/f feed him and not offer a bottle, from 4pm onwards when he normally has smaller bottles every couple of hours and I would assume the 4-5 hour sleeps would stop and he?ll need to continue feeding more often.

I?ll talk to my hubby about a Lactation Consultant, he?s had to put up with me crying over getting bubs to feed, so at this stage he?s more than happy for me to change to formula. Also he knows that I?m reluctant because I come off a 40-50 min feed with both breasts still pretty much full, and have been reluctant to spend $$$ if I?m just not letting down and nothing can be done about it, but I want to breast feed bubs and can?t bring myself to dry up (Also bubs does love being on the boob). Thanks for all your help Barb.