Some thoughts on Expressing

- Expressing milk is normally not recommended for the first 6 weeks. Our body works on supply and demand. Our body will get confused and start producing too much which will lead to engorgement or we’ll get frustrated ‘coz we’re not getting much from expressing. Our baby is really is the most effective at extracting milk from our breasts. Not being able to express milk with a breastpump or hand is not an
indication of low milk supply. Expressing small amounts could also mean no let down or we’re too stressed out or we’ve been trying to do too much. Milk supply is also usually at its lowest in the afternoon
and highest in the night.

- Teasing the nipples worked for some for a faster let down.
- Returning to work & still pumping: You will need these for successful pumping:

Breastpump - two if you have no time to wash for second pumping
Breastshell -keep those precious milk which let down when you are pumping from the other!
Face towel - to clean the desk / your outfit
2 or 4 bottles of milk bottles depending how much you want to store per bottle
cooler box (you will probably receive a few from those baby hampers)
washing / sterilising equipment

(The above tips gathered by Szex2 from her own experiences and also the other members’ experiences. Szex2 is a full-time working mom but she has successfully breast-fed William exclusively for more than a year.)