Calling all EPers!

dancegurl1118

As I transition to EP I'm feeling a little stuck with a few things.

What do you do if you're out in public?
How do you juggle feeding LO and also pumping?
Do you feel your supply has diminished?

Mostly I'm struggling with how to live life. Like how do I go out for the day? I have to lug my pump? And excuse myself to go pump in the car, in the winter? There has to be a better way.

hudson202

Im a mix of pumping and bfing. I'm curious to see what other people's answers are as well. I've always just planned my comings and goings around when I need to pump, similar to bf'ing (I never felt great about bf'ing in public)

But, someone in a previous thread mentioned a manual pump? That might be an easy thing to bring with you out and about.

lwhrmomma

I EP due to poor transfer by LO.  We nurse for comfort sometimes in the morning/evening, but I definitely consider myself an EPer.  I wish I could be exclusively nursing, but have adjusted to pumping, and definitely do think it has some advantages.  With that being said:

Out in Public:I have a car adapter so I can pump in the car.  If I'm out all day, I'll either pump in my car, or find somewhere that I can go. I have a small cooler with an ice pack, so I can just put the milk in there when I'm done, or if I needed to, I can just give it fresh to LO for his next bottle.  Make sure you have a pumping bra--makes everything easier!  Fortunately, your supply is pretty much established at this point, so you don't need to be super strict about pumping on a strict schedule.  If you're out, and you go 5 hours between pumps instead of 4, it's okay!  I've also bought a manual pump so if I didn't want to lug my PISA around with me, I use the manual to give me some comfort.

Feeding/Pumping:  Fortunately, your LO is older now that she can entertain herself for a longer period of time.  When I pump, I either put LO in his activity zoo right next to me (and if he fusses, I can put him on his belly), or I rest him on the boppy and I feed him while I'm pumping.  It was super hard the first two months bc he was colicky, and I had to pump so much to get my supply up, but it's sooo much easier now.  

Supply:  Mine has down a little bit, because I've dropped to 4-5 pumps per day, and I don't pump in the middle of the night.  I pump anywhere between 32-35oz a day, and LO is eating between 28-30oz, so I'm able to store a little bit each day.  I think my freezer stash is currently 400oz.  I've been taking Brewer's Yeast pills, eating oatmeal, and power pumping occasionally to keep my supply where it is.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.  May I ask why you are switching to EP?  I hope that's not too personal.

HayesRN13

dancegurl1118 said:

As I transition to EP I'm feeling a little stuck with a few things.

What do you do if you're out in public?
How do you juggle feeding LO and also pumping?
Do you feel your supply has diminished?

Mostly I'm struggling with how to live life. Like how do I go out for the day? I have to lug my pump? And excuse myself to go pump in the car, in the winter? There has to be a better way.

The more pumping I do the more my supply suffers. Pumping does not express milk as well as baby. But everyone is different some people have a huge supply and therefore don't notice a difference. If I were EP my supply would eventually stop altogether
ETA- I am the minority here, pumping just doesn't work well for me, but most people do just fine and their supply does fine, good luck!

dancegurl1118

@kristenk727 thanks for all the tips! LO is quite needy and pumping before or after feeding her is a bit of a challenge. I'm transitioning to EP because I've had incredible difficulty EBF. I get clogged ducts and crazy vasospasms that cause me to be in pain almost constantly. It's only on one side but I can't just feed her from the good side so pumping it is. I started pumping to freeze at 3 weeks so I have a very large stash but I used to feed her mostly. This past week I worked 6 out of 7 nights and only breastfed her twice and it was nice to not have issues in my breasts constantly. Her mouth anatomy just is doing something weird to one side and there's no fixing it so here we are. Again thanks for your tips. I just bought a manual pump to bring out with me so I hope that helps.

mjschenk

Also I read somewhere that if shopping you could ask for a changing room gives some extra privacy I liked the idea.

Sammy K

I'm almost EP and I did with DS. One tip for during the day: if you have to go longer than normal between pumps, cut the time down for the next pump. So if you're on a 4 hr pumping schedule but have to wait 6, pump again in 2 or 3 hours, then go back to your normal routine. I found that helped prevent supply issues if I just couldn't (or didn't want to) pump on time.

I hope it helps. You've had so many issues, I really admire your dedication. EP isn't the worst thing. But I'll be glad when it is over.

rklinge0

I hate to say this but I still get clogged ducts if I wait too long in between pumps. Sometimes its 3 or 4 weeks inbetween them and sometimes days. So I try to be diligent about getting my 6 pumps in: which became harder this week cause I went back to work and it's pretty much full time so I am so tired at night.
I never bf but supply was never a problem, usually 55 to 60 a day. I do get bored while pumping so it's rare if i ever empty them all the way.
I had learned to pump and feed but now I pump in her room when home so she plays and I talk to her.
I have a battery operated pump in my car at all times so if I need to pump while out I do it in the car and even while driving. I sometimes have thrown a little out if I dont have a bottle or something to put it in because to me it is better than waiting too long and running the risk for clogged ducts or just being in horrific pain from engorgement.
Good luck

47923ang

PPs all gave great suggestions.

I always wear my pumping bra. 24/7. I just have sports bras with holes cut in them, and I wear another nursing bra on top during the day. This way, I can just pump easily wherever I am.

I'm comfortable pumping in the car. Sometimes while parked, sometimes while riding, and sometimes while driving. While driving, I hook myself up before I leave, then pull over to put everything away. I use a nursing cover.

I have 2 PISAs, so one stays home. The backpack one goes with me every day.

I pump 5 or 6 times a day. Babes never really latched, so all I know, supply-wise, is pumping. I get the same amount on 5, 6, or 7 pumps a day. I oversupply by about 10 oz per day, usually. So I've got a good freezer stash.

I try to figure out what my day looks like, and plan my pumps around what I'm doing. My supply is better in the morning, so I pump as soon as I get up, then about 2 hours later on my commute to work. Later in the day I can stretch it to 5-6 hours in between, so I strategize based on my appointments. I try not to go more than 6 hours. (Except overnight. I don't wake up MOTN to pump).

awolfff

The pump we have takes batteries, so if I have to, I take it with me...but usually I just pump right before we leave and that works ok. I still find it challenging to pump when I'm watching lo alone, but (for the most part) I've been able to do alright just pumping when he naps or is doing tummy time. I have also noticed a dip in my supply recently, so I've been trying to pump more and my nips were seriously SO sore. I bought a set of "super sheilds" by pumpin pal and they definitely make pumping easier for me--

https://www.pumpinpal.com

Ep'ing is tough work!! I started because I had bad anxiety about going out with lo and having a bottle gives me peace of mind knowing that if he gets hungry I can comfortably feed him- it doesn't matter where I'm at or who is around.. he also hated being covered. I'm always kinda jealous of moms who can bf comfortably wherever they are...it just wasn't something I was able to do.

klkonwi

I pretty much EP and my supply doesn't suffer but I attribute that to my honest lactation supplements.
You can do it! I have pumped in a car but never while I'm driving...... While DH drives yes.
You just bring your pump or plan trips based on when you pumped last. I find it's easier to be gone longer/out without latching.

queequeg09256

I've been pretty much a ep from the beginning. Lo had problems latching so now she might get the boob twice a week. I pump 5-6 times a day as well. I've found my supply only really suffers If I don't drink enough water. I pump 3 times during work in 2 hour intervals and then go longer in the evening and morning. I also do not pump in the middle of the night. I had some supply issues a few weeks ago but with better dedication to pumping more I'm back to a decent supply. Unfortunately I also just bring pump and pump parts with me. I have a car adapter in the car and a battery adapter at work just in case. I had a clogged duck a few weeks ago which is why my supply suffered so much I think. I produce way more in the morning, I usually just turn on a tv show and watch that and pump, or play candy crush haha. Hope this helps.

queequeg09256

Also second the pumping bra. I wore mine under my nursing bra for a long time. If you know you are going to have to pump is certainly saves some time. Loose clothing for tops is also nice if you wear a cami under you can pull the cami down and the shirt up to provide some good coverage.

dancegurl1118

I can't wear my pumping bra under clothes because of clogged duct issues. I got a manual pump today and it's great! Definitely will use it while I'm out. I got a weird clogged duct today that's not in one of my normal hotspots and I can feel the inflammation all the way down a duct. Yuck.

queequeg09256

Boo that sounds painful hope it gets better soon.

janat1717

I used too. I'd use manual if I was going to be somewhere I wanted a silent pump. I pumped in the car many times but I also pumped under a cover with the PISA at a few family things. It's a little awkward at first but who cares? Life did revolve around the pump. Oh and power pump at night. I think it really does work

becacote

I had a hell of a time EBF. My ducts were constantly getting clogged and she would have to eat 24/7. Like within 30 minutes from last feeding, and her latch was really bad so it was painful. I looked into remedies and started taking sunflower lecithin for the clogged ducts. And it worked big time. It thins your milk out so the ducts get unclogged. I only took it for a few weeks then tapered off. She is now going on five months soon and the feedings have become more tolerable, not constant. And I have since not had any more issues with the clogged ducts. I don't wang to pump because it's just too much for me to deal with so I was seriously determined to make EBF work for us.

dancegurl1118

@becacote been there, done that ~X( I took the lecithin for months. I think it's just her mouth anatomy and my breast anatomy, as it only happens on one side. I've also gotten a few now that I'm mostly pumping. I'm too much of a sucker to admit to myself that I need to stop breastfeeding all together, so I still do it here and there which leads to more clogging. I tried everything (magnesium soaks, basically not wearing a bra, the lecithin, feeding every 2 hours, constant hot compress) and they were relentless.

47923ang

I can't take credit for discovering this idea; I read it on some blog from Facebook. But it's such an obvious, ingenious idea.

As I fill my bottles with thawed milk (stored in the freezer bags), I've just been carefully pouring. I always think to myself, a funnel would be handy, I should get one at the grocery store.

Actually, though, I have EIGHT funnels sitting on my counter right now. The flanges from my breast pump. Duh! Mind blown!

paige0704

@dancegurl1118 so I don't know if anyone mentioned it above but if you are suffering from clogged ducts sunflower lecithin has been my savior!!! I was getting them so bad and even got mastitis once but since I started taking sunflower lecithin ( can get it from Amazon) I haven't had any! It's amazing!! Also if you have Facebook join exclusively pumping moms private group because it has changed my life!! So much advice and other ppl in your shoes!! Otherwise I pump when baby eats to keep on cycle with her feeding and make sure I am making enough and I always wear a pumping bra that I make myself Bc I never know when I may need to pump ! Oh and get a power inverter from target it works so good!!! Good luck

lwhrmomma

Totally agree about the Facebook group-- it's been such a life saver!

klkonwi

^^^ am I the only one in the world whose boobs do not respond to the power pump?
10 min on 10 off right?!?!

janat1717

@klkonwi I've also seen 20 and then 10 on 10 off or empty and then 10 on 10 off

awolfff

No advice...Just am I the only one who feels like Madonna- circa cone boobies when I pump??

henrytviii

Sorry to revive this thread but wondering if anyone has suggestions. I seem to be pumping plenty of milk right now but its taking forever. I used to be able to pump to empty in 10-12 minutes but now i don't seem to respond as well to the pump. It takes more like 20-25 minutes which has made me almost late to work 2 mornings this week (not cool, I'm a teacher) and means pumping takes longer than I have for a break during the day. I feel like my pump is fine, I've changed membranes. It seems like my body releases milk for LO but not with the pump. I've turned the suction way up and it helps a bit but its.not.comfortable. Massage and pressure helps a bit. Any ideas? I'm often only pumping 1/2 way, then I don't have enough milk for LO and I'm uncomfortable before my next pumping opportunity. I often have to go 5-6 hours between pumps.

awolfff

@henrytviii it used to take me for.ev.er also. The fix for me was the pumpin pal super sheilds. They are angled in such a way that it is supposed to mimic a baby's proper latch. Not only is it quicker to pump, but I swear I'm pumping more. Also, warm wash cloth along with massage/pressure seemed to help me too. Hope it gets better for you!!

7425cait

I have a question about manual vs. electric. Right now I have a medela pump in style which is ok. I feel like the motor is wearing out. It feels like it struggles to go to a higher setting, but I, like @henrytviii struggle to pump as quickly and efficiently. I was thinking that if/when the motor dies that I may switch to a manual pump. Does anyone do both and found one easier than the other? Is manual not worth it? Does a manual take a lot more time than the electric? Do you have a brand you would suggest? TIA!

cbrtncanadian

@cait7425

I have the Medela Swing (electric) and Medela Harmony (manual) breast pumps.

I really love both. I haven't yet encountered issues with my electric pump but I have used the manual on a semi regular basis.

I was able to express 5oz. In about 7minutes the other day (although I was engorged at the time). I have found though i have to be quite full to be really successfuI and match the efficiency of the electric with the manual pump.

I hope you figure out something that will work for you!

janat1717

The longer you go in between pumps the longer it will take too

Edited to say Sometimes