My 5wk old DD is gaining weight and thriving, but when I express (which I can only do at 3am and 5am coz that's the only time they are full enough for the pump not to hurt) the most I can get is 40ml/1oz bfore my hand gets too tired and the milk comes realy slowly. Is this normal amount or should i just keep pumping? Will it make a difference if i buy a different pump???
I really don't think there is a "normal" amount of milk. This would vary hugely from person to person, and depends on a number of things (especially when bubby fed last for one). I would say though, that electric pumps are fabulous for expressing and very efficient.
You said it all in the first few words of your post though- your DD is thriving! so unless there are other reasons why you need to be working out exact amounts of milk, then sit back, relax and enjoy the fact that you are doing so well with bf'ing! Breastfeeding is so different to bottlefeeding, and numbers (as in mLs) aren't the focus. It's more about the number of feeds bub is having, number of wet and dirty nappies, weight gain and how content and happy bub is etc.
What you express very rarely equates to what bub is drinking. Babies are MUCH more efficient at getting all the milk they need. Some women can't express a great deal of milk, but know that their babies are getting plenty.
I did love using the electric pumps when we were in hospital. Are you feeling a let down when you pump? Having a good letdown makes all the difference, the milk can almost pour into the bottle (well.. not really... but it flows really fast LOL). Have a look through the ABA site for tips for expressing.. that might help.
But yeah.. definitely don't stress about the amount you can pump (unless you're needing to express for a specific purpose?) as it's certainly not an indicator of your supply.
Also.. with the feeling full thing... this will start to drop off now you're reaching the 6 week mark, as your boobs will be settling into the supply/demand thing and will make just the right amount of milk as baby suckles... you won't have that full feeling as much. But I have heard that early morning is a good time to express.
The amount of milk you can express tells me nothing about the amount of milk your baby is getting.
The fact that she is growing and thriving, weeing and pooing tells us all we need to know - you two are doing great, and she is getting plenty of milk.
The amount you can express might tell me that you are "new" at pumping, it might tell me something about the equiptment you have or your technique of expressing. It might even tell me a little about how anxious you are.
40 mls is not bad going, really. You can freeze these amounts, or add them together to make a bigger bottle. 80-100 mls will be more than enough for a feed for her.
I totally agree with the other girls, and wanted to add one thing that I read wrt expressing, when looking into it for my sister who was expressing for her premie baby, that some people are not able to express if the are setting an alarm to wake up to express, and it is better to wake naturally, and express then, than try to force it. Sounds like you are doing great.
Another thought is that if it hurts, it may be more to do with the size of the funnel thing thing. You can usually get different size ones for the pumps...
How Much Milk Is Normal?
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