If you EP, how do you find time to pump?

bv27

I'm finally alone with DD at home and was pumping more than nursing when I had family helping out and who could watch her while I pump. I'm alone now and DD needs my constant attention and has not been prone to naps.... If you EP and stay at home with DC, how/where do you find the time to pump ever 3-4 hours?

I'm trying to nurse more rather than EP but have some latch issues, so pain is an issue at this point and pumping is slightly more comfortable....

LucyPevensie

There is no great answer for this - I almost quit several times when I would be pumping and have to choose between completing the pumping session (20 minutes total) or tending to my crying baby.  As it is - I never established a full milk supply because I could not do the every 2 - 3 hours pumping session that is required in the first 12 weeks in order to establish a good supply.  I only pump 5 times a day and have been down to 5 pumps (so approx every 4 hours - with a long stretch overnight) since DS was around 4 weeks old - I get about 20 ounces a day and supplement with formula as needed (it's a bummer in a way - I know I would have had a kick_ass supply had he been able to bf and/or had I been able to pump the necessary amount of times - but I just couldn't and hats off to those who do!)

 Now that DS is a little older - he is able to be occupied for 20 - 30 minutes in the same room with me as I pump with FP bouncy chair toy bar or FP playmat/gym.  Or I pump when he's napping.  But it is not easy - if you can get BF to work - you'll be much better off.  Can you meet with an LC for some help?

kel716

It's probably the hardest thing about pumping!!! Finding time.  I have a ton of tips, but I too struggle with it. 

The more you can pump without having to tend to your baby, the easier it is.  Also, I would keep trying to get her to latch.  If you can just BF, that will definitely make things easier.

If not, the first question I have is are you hands free?  That's my #1 suggestion because it allows you to do so many other things.  I pay my bills online/balance my checkbook while pumping.  I piddle on the computer while pumping (am right now!).  And most importantly, I play with DS if he's up while I'm pumping. 

There are several ways to be hands free.  One is the rubber band trick on kelly mom ((https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/hands-free-pumping.html), or cut holes in an old sports bra (or a cheap new one) where the horns go, or buy a hands free bra- either the easy expressions bustier https://www.easyexpressionproducts.com/ or the one la leche league international sells https://www.amazon.com/Leche-League-Pumping-Nursing-Softcup/dp/B0011ETOE2.  I believe there are others as well, but I don't know what they're called.

If I'm home alone and DS needs to eat and I need to pump, I put DS in the car seat (or bouncy seat), and I sit on the floor.  I hook myself up to the pump, and make sure everything is connected correctly.  Then, I feed DS.  When he's done eating, I'm usually done pumping.  I've also sat on the floor and played with him in those seats, or now just on the floor as he loves to roll around. 

I pump while driving.  I know it sounds crazy, but I have a car adapter and hooter hider.  That, coupled with my hands free bra (I have the la leche league ones), and I'm ready to go.  It's completely hands free.  This was probably the most liberating thing I did in regards to pumping.  I've also sat in the back seat, fed DS, and pumped while DH drove us to our destination.  All of that is a HUGE time saver. 

I also try to fit most of my pumping sessions in during the night and early morning hours.  I try to fit them around DS's sleeping schedule.  At this point I pretty much know what that's going to be so that helps. 

If all else fails, and DS is crying and I'm in the middle of pumping, depending on how bad it is I sometimes wait for my let down to end (about 1 min or less usually), I unhook, calm him down and get him what he wants, and then go back to pumping.  I treat it as a "power pump" which is a good thing to do while pumping anyway. 

Also, with your pumping parts, if you don't have a second set you might consider buying one.  That helps save time because you aren't always cleaning them.  I have enough bottles to pump into for an entire day (I bought some extras), and I run them through the dishwasher at night.  You may want to try the fridge trick with your pumping parts.  Put all of your parts (horns, connectors, etc...) into a large ziploc bag.  Place it in the fridge, and pull them out for the next time you pump.  It saves a ton of time because you aren't always cleaning that stuff!!!

Stacyc625

you just have to learn how to multitask. simple as that.

give baby tummy time and sit on the floor with her. sing to her while you pump. make up funny songs.

put baby in a bouncy chair or swing. pretty much whenever baby is content you should pump. I was pumping every two hours. sucked but it gets easier when they get bigger.

if you can get baby to nurse- definitely keep practicing with that. GL