I have tried my damnedest and just cannot get anything to come out. It sprays out when pumping. People say they get so much more with hand expression, and I don't get it. I have watched a million videos and read a million articles, and nothing. Am I the only one?
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It took a lot of practice for me to get good at it. Try not to get discouraged. You probably have seen it but this video was the most helpful to me: http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/HandExpression.html as well as the other links on the side of that page like "maximizing milk production".
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I hand expressed over pumped, faster and no pump clean up! However I never wanted/needed to express much, 4oz/day at most.
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Yes, but it took me a few months! I don't think I was able to do it until maybe 12 wks or so? It helps if you massage your breasts well before doing it.
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i can do it but i've never tried to collect it. i usually hand express in the shower to relieve engorgement.
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I could only really do it in the shower. If I tried anywhere else I'd get milk all over my hands and clothes. I could never aim straight enough for a bowl or cup or anything.
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I can, but I've never tried to be productive at it. Mostly just to see if there is anything left in there.
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I can. I did during pregnancy since I was leaking so much, so my midwife gave me some containers to express into. I hand expressed the other night when LO fell asleep only eating from one side. It's not a regular occurrence though.
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It's definitely difficult! I do it after pumping once in awhile and can get up to a glad ounce more. It's messy too! I have to learn forward, cup as much as possible with the hand on the same side (other hand will not work at all!), then squeeze from back to front, then completely relax to let it fill back up, then do it again.
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yes, but only to make sure there's more in there (like sometimes when J is fussy at the boob i hand express to check that it isn't a supply problem), or in the shower to relieve engorgement.
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I was never able to! And I'm so milky. I was bummed, I hated pumping and didn't do it long. I'd have loved to be able to hand express a little bit when engorged.
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I usually only do it to relieve engorgement in the middle of the night (never tried into a cup or anything). I have luck massaging my nipple, then forming my hand into a "c" (thumb on top/other fingers on bottom and always the opposite hand), and massaging down base to nipple with moderate pressure. And I would try to stay relaxed.
ETA: Now that I read the comments, a lot like @Mrs Green Grass:
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I never have any luck with my manual pump but I can hand express 100mL (3oz) in about ten minutes. I express direct into a Tommee Tippee bottle with a wide opening and it's not too messy...
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12 comments