they tried to help in the hospital but agreed her mouths too small, shes only 4lb 8. i put her to me to still let her try n suckle x This is why i want to express so she still gets my milk and so i can keep trying until she is bigger and can latch on atm the latest i express is 10-11pm. Im going to set my clock tonight to wake up and express twice and try and slowly up it she goes 3-4 hours through the night so my plan is when she wakes tonight for bottles ill get my hubby to feed her next to me while i express x

Aunty Lactivist is all of us, so please leave a comment if you can help with any ideas, links or your own experiences.

Here are some answers from the Lactivist facebook page

Yup. Express at night. I know it’s really hard. It you want to go for 8-12 expression sessions in each 24 hour period

Yes during the night… Try to mimic her newborn pattern,

I would express at night for sure, my LC said to never go longer than 3-4 hours between feeding or pumping during the first few months.

You need to be expressing regulary. 8-12 times in 24hrs. Very important to express once during the hours of midnight & 6am. That is when your hormone levels are at the highest too Get help with latching on from your health visitor.

it is so hard but your prolactin levels are higher at night so pumping at night really helps improve supply. Lots of rest at other times, lots to eat and drink. Fenucreek can help as can domperidone/metoclopromide (available from GP). Good luck – keep going x

I had a preemie and at the beginning I did pump twice in the night. I tried to make it midnight and 4am, then when I got up in the morning. After my milk supply was established I dropped the 4am one and got up earlier to pump so I could get…See more

Express at night. I just wanted to say that my daughter was born 11 weeks early and we started bfing at 35 weeks. It took a while to establish it but we are still bfing now at 14 months. She was 2lb 2oz when born and only 1.79kg when we got home 9 weeks later. Bfing a premature baby can be done

I would recommend a LC that is independent and not with the hospital. Sometimes the hospital nurses don’t know nearly as much as a IBCLC would. Fenegreek, blessed thistle and alfalfa all help milk production as well. I’ve heard oatmeal does as well but not instant I think steel cut is best or rolled.

They say that your milk levels are highest at 3 am and 7 am I found that drinking milkshake helps me but everyone is different Hun xx

Like other posters have said, you definitely need to be expressing at night! My son was also born 6 weeks early, and the LC told me I needed to be pumping 8-12 times a day, but I could go a 4 hr stretch at night(during the day every 2-3hrs). I also rented a hospital grade pump. It does get easier. He never latched, but I was able to start doing a 5-6hr stretch around 12 weeks or so.

Also oatmeal and gatorade have really helped my supply.

I had a 34 weeker, I had to pump around the clock it was exhausting and unfortunately I only last 3 months, but I know you can go longer!.:)

just to add to all the great advise above i just wanted to say that my first little girl couldnt latch on so i was also expressing and bottle feeding EBM. She did however finally latch on at 8 weeks old and then breastfed to 29 months so hopefully your LO will do the same. Well done for keping it up and i wis you luck xxxx oh yes i dont think anyone has mentioned fennal, fennal tea is great xx

Yes pump at night, try and pump regularly every 4 hours or so! I would suggest (if possible) holding her to your breast whilst pumping the other one- it will stimulate milk flow and encourage her to get stronger quicker… Also it may encourage her to try and latch on bit by bit, as she’ll love your smell! Good luck, I’m sure you will be fine!! Xx

no more advise hun, just to say that yr doing a great job and good luck xx

Fenugreek is fantastic best way is capsule form and works really quick you will need to express to for her feed pattern so if baby is feeding 2 hourly you will need to pump the same. That way when you switch from bottles to breast you will…See more

My boy was 4 wks early and had to express a lot for the 1st few wks b4 I cld get him latched on. I expressed every 2-4 hrs night and day – it is exhausting – but it gets easier – by about 6wks we were breast feeding reasonably well wit no need to express. Also drunk lots of nursing tea. Keep it up, it gets easier I promise.

your hormones are higher at night time so may try to express about twice during the nightr about 10 to11 them about 4 this may help to get your milk supple up i had a preemie and she norm breastfed well she 10 months now and i have to express for her

Totally agree lots of skin on skin contact. So kick out all the visitors and snuggle up on the sofa. U actually have to nap when baby does. (Co-sleep wit right advice on how too).

i co slept with my son the problem with sleeping in the day is i have 4 other children lol.

Sorry keep thinkin about what I did! 9 times out of 10 I tried to feed him first b4 I expressed. (Especially in the day), So he had a lot of time to latch on. Used the calma medela bottles which were as close to the breast as possible. Fenugreek u can get in holland and barrett – its also in nursing tea – which u can buy online – even on amazon!

Yes! Keep expressing during the night

AMAZON for fenugreek xx

What a lucky baby! Look up biological nurturing it’s another way to encourage latching using babies own instincts, also lots of skin to skin will help both with milk supply and latching, get support via telephone or one to one with BfC or LC to help you emotionally during this tough time.

I had a 35 weeker, and fed her EBM exclusively for the first few months. I agree with Diana – renting a hospital grade pump makes things much quicker and easier. You will soon have a store of frozen milk and not be so attached to your pump. My daughter never did take to the breast, but with my trusty rented pump we did EBM for 4 months. xx

Fenugreek, milk thistle and phytoloacca 30 – go to see a herabalist. Pump every two hrs, 20 mins each side. I went from 12ozs to 30 in a matter of days. U r doing a great job and pumping a good amount. Well done and all the best x

you’re doing an amazing thing. Ask if someone can show you how to feed your baby your milk using something other than a bottle and teat. An infant feeding cup or syringe maybe. Those bottles won’t help her to learn to suckle from you. Good luck and keep the faith. You can do it. Look at all these people cheering from the sidelines. Jx. IBCLC

Get a decent double pump and hands free bra to pump saves ALOT of time! Well done though Eping is hard work have a look at our board on babycentre I wrote a post for mums of prem babies as difficulties can face are slightly different http:/…See more

http://community.babycentre.co.uk/post/a9185145/pumping_advice_links?cpg=1&csi=2048287558&pd=-1