Hand Expressing Milk

I have no experience in hand pumping, but I agree with the manual pump. I was given an Avent Isis when my son was born 4 years ago. I wasn't able to breastfeed, so packed it up. When my daughter was born in Nov., it came out of storage. I've had to replace a piece, but it works 100% better than the electric one I've used in it's place. Granted the electric is not "hospital grade", but the suction is bad & I don't get that much from it. I have gotten double & sometimes triple the amount from the manual. I can't wait for the replacement piece to get here.

Many many other cultures hand express their milk all the time, and have wonderful results. I can't give you any information. I wanted to let you know though that you can rent pumps, good ones, for approx. $22/week. I know that Mercy Fairfield Hospitals Lactaction consultants can give information on this, and suggest it until you know if you like the way the expensive machines work. If the machine cost less than $150 than it's not going to pump with a stronge enough force to express enough milk to keep you from drying up. If you still have most thing things from your first baby and the big thing you need is a breast pump, maybe you could ask people who ask what you need to just give you money or a gift certificate to a store that carries a good one and you could buy it that way. Or at least get part of it paid for so it's more affordable.

katheryn,
I have not hand expressed my milk before,and using the pump only caused damage. I had a hard time breast feeding with both of my children. I went to my local womans center that my doctor and the pediatrician suggested and they helped me in a lot of areas about breast feeding, i'm sure if you spoke with a pediatrician or your doctor they can help you find a breastfeeding center and they can assist you in hand expression. good luck and I hope it all works our for you.

If you do qualify for WIC or if you don't know then it wouldn't hurt to see. I tried breast feeding and they gave me a Medela hand pump for free, and that worked alright. But I quit because emotionally breast feeding wasn't for me. But, I was told that one I returned to work that I could get an electric pump. The phone # for Ohio WIC is 800-755-4769. If they can't help you w/ questions or a pump maybe they can direct you to someone who can. Good luck! =)

One thing I diden't see mentioned was to try expressing milk after being in the shower. the hot water helps you milk to let down. Having a picture of your baby to lookat helps too. When I was nursing WIC did give me a fancy eletcric double pump. It worked great! Good luck.

I used a manual pump the whole time I was expressing after returning to work. I tried using an electric pump on several occasions and found that it never worked NEARLY as well as the hand pump did. The manual pump was faster and seemed to get a better seal around my nipple so the suction worked better to express the milk faster and more efficiently. I would definitely use a manual pump again.

The only thing I'll tell you is that, depending on how long you breastfeed and therefore need to pump, you may need to purchase a new one or at least some replacement parts because over time, it may get a little worn out. I just purchased another pump and then had two available, which was convenient. Being that they are so reasonably priced and much less expensive than a good electric pump, it still wasn't a downside for me.

Good luck!

After I delivered my daughter, the hospital gave me this wonderful hand pump, it had a 4 oz. bottle attached to the bottom and you culd squeeze it with one hand and it was very easy to use and seemed to express enough milk. I am not sure if this is something that you can buy but you may check with the maternity department at the hospital the you will deliver at to see if they give something like this away.
Good Luck!

I used the free one from the hospital and it worked great. I spent the money on the expensive rental from the hospital and I had a really hard time with it. Partly because I felt too much like a cow on a dairy farm...the hand pump felt more natural and I got a really good amount from it. (and it was easy for me to take places)

by hand expressing do you mean using no machines at all, just your hands? because if so..i can say i have experience. it doesnt seem like a lot of others on here are saying the same so i hope i dont wierd anyone out....
basically, i had a 40 dollar breast pump..but it didnt seem to be relieving my breast pressure and i wasnt really filling any bottles the way i thought i should be. so i had myself or my husband massage my entire breast to get the milk flowing and then just squeezed or had him squeeze and twist and the milk would fly out and it was so much more relieving than the pump. i hope im not grossing anyone out. i just held the empty bottle up to my breast and my husband helped me get the milk to come out. it worked better than any other method.

I only had luck with the expensive pump, my girlfriend took up a collection fromfriends and family to pay for the pump. I think everyone chipped in between 10-30 dollars. My mom of course chipping in the most.
I think La Leche might rent them. If you qualify for WIC I believe they have them as well.

I don't know much about hand expressing, but if your interested I have a Medela pump in style double electric. I have 3 kids and the pump is 5 years old my youngest is 11 months and I don't use the pump. I'm selling it for $50 or best offer. Please call or e mail me. ###-###-#### or ____@____.com. Thanks and good luck. T.