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Breastfeeding
EP'ers, How Often..
How often do you pump if you are EPing? DS eats about every 3-4 hours, so I try to pump every 3 - but I've also heard of people pumping every 2. Is this just to get their supply up? I'm not sure my nipples can take that!
I've been EPing for a few days now - because I was on this horrible regimen before of: BFing, supplementing with bottle, then pumping to help build supply....and it took FOREVER. While most people say EPing is a PITA, it's felt super easy compared to what I WAS doing. As it is I only get about 2/3 of what DS eats each day..and that is WITH taking domperidone.
Are there any reasons I shouldn't EP? So far my supply has stayed the same, I'm hoping that without him BFing that it doesn't go down...(though if necessary I'll bf...his latch was fine...but I didn't make enough for him anyways, and it was hard to know how much he was getting and what to supplement, and like I said, doing all that other stuff took so long and really hurt my boobs!)
I've been EPing for a few days now - because I was on this horrible regimen before of: BFing, supplementing with bottle, then pumping to help build supply....and it took FOREVER. While most people say EPing is a PITA, it's felt super easy compared to what I WAS doing. As it is I only get about 2/3 of what DS eats each day..and that is WITH taking domperidone.
Are there any reasons I shouldn't EP? So far my supply has stayed the same, I'm hoping that without him BFing that it doesn't go down...(though if necessary I'll bf...his latch was fine...but I didn't make enough for him anyways, and it was hard to know how much he was getting and what to supplement, and like I said, doing all that other stuff took so long and really hurt my boobs!)
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Re: EP'ers, How Often..
its easy now because your son isn't mobile. EPing with an active and mobile baby is really really hard.
If he latches- stick with BFing- he will get better and more effective at it.
I pumped for a full year and would never of pumped if my DD latched.
but to answer your question- you should be pumping every 2 to 3 hours around the clock- 10 to 12 times a day for AT LEAST the first 12 weeks
I have been EP'ing for the most part from day one. I nurse him every so often when he is not fussy and I have 45 minutes to sit with him.
I pump every 2 hours only when my supply seems to be getting low. I have had a few weeks where one or two days that I pump I get nothing, so I do pump more often during those times. I also make sure to increase my water supply A LOT during those days and it usually goes back to normal within a day.
I pump every 3-4 hours now. I get 8-9 oz a session and 1 session is 15 minutes per side.
When I get less than that, I eat oatmeal, drink a TON of water and have 1 can of beer at night and by morning it goes back to "normal" for me.
Good luck!!