?? for those who EP

Angeline924

I had my 6 w check up yesterday and when I told my OB that I was EP and that LO does not latch on she said that I will probably not be able to continue to produce milk past 3 months which really worried me, I really hope to EP until LO is 1 even if he never learns to latch ( he was 8 weeks preemie and has not figured it out yet). Just wondering how long other EPers have/gad been able to continue to pump. Btw I am already taking fenugreek to help my supply. TIA

gymrat

I EP'd for 14 months. My babies never really BF at all. Now, our supplies could be totally different from each other but to say that you can't continue to EP is not true.

s.s.girl

I'm not sure why your doctor would tell you that. I EP for 5 months but then went back to grad. school and just didn't have time with two babies, classes and pumping. I would think that as long as you continue to pump on a regular schedule you would continue to produce milk. I know there are ladies on here who pumped well beyond my 5 month mark. Good luck.?

mcdev

Weight gain was such an issue for Keira that I needed every ounce accounted for.  I only BF'd at night and I pumped for 6 months.  

kamcfarlane

i made it 6 months before i decided to stop. supply was not the issue.

goblue

I have no idea why your doctor would say that.  Many moms on here have EP'd for months, and I have a good friend who EP'd for over a year.  There's an ivillage mesage board with lots of good info and very helpful women - https://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppexcluspump. 

 I EP'd for 8 weeks and then continued to pump and nurse ~2x day for several more weeks.  DS finally got the hang of it and we were able to EBF and then I went back to work - so back to pumping and BFing.  Good luck!

ijack

Your doc needs to get a clue. Yes it can be harder to keep your supply up when you're pumping, but it's not impossible! Many women pump for months and months and there is still a chance that LO will learn to latch.

GL!

TriciaJoy

I EPed for 14 1/2 months. I did have supply trouble around 3 months postpartum and had to take domperidone to keep my supply up, but it worked great for me. Robbie got exclusively breastmilk for about 13 months. (towards the end he was finally take more than I could make, but he also wouldn't eat solids, so ALL of his nutrition had to come from BM)

 

clyoungsey

Both of my boys have done a mixture, but my first weaned at 9 months and I was able to EP for him till he was 14 months.

LUCKY41010

I EP for 10 months....Don't listen to your doc...I would have gone a year but I had enough in the freezer and I was pregnant again...

purplepuggles

i EP for 10 months, and had enough of a freezer stash that i got him to 1 year on breastmilk. it CAN be done, but you have to be a real stickler about the pumping. your OB is wrong, but EPing is hard. good luck!

lemen99

I've been EP for 11 months now!  I also heard that most people can't past about 3-6 months, but for me it just isn't true.

I hope you have the same great luck!

tothemoon2

I EP'd for 6 months and stopped only becasue my supply did become an issue. I suggest just keep on pumping round the clock and make sure to eat/drink well. I think that was my downfall in the end....givingu p the middle of the night pump. Good luck!

sweetpea18

I have been eping for 8 months.  I actually have an over supply and I'm starting to ween because I have enough in the freezer to get her to a year, adjusted. 

You just need to be really aware of your supply and that you are doing everything you can to keep it up.  Make sure you are eating and drinking enough and pumping like you should.  I pumped every 3hrs, around the clock until dd was 4 months old.  And I was pumping 6x/day up until just a couple of weeks ago.  I took fenugreek, ate oatmeal and made lactation cookies. 

Part of it was stubborness for me, though.  One of the nicu nurses told me that if I had to ep, I would be less likely to make it to a year.  I felt that I needed to prove her wrong, and I have

MarriedBestFriends

I've EPed for 8 months now- it totally can be done. I have a huge oversupply and have cut to 4 pumps/day now and still am freezing tons of milk. I have enough to get her a year right now, but I want to keep pumping fresh milk through 1 yr. I drink a ton of water and was fastidious about my pumping, and never pumped under 20 mins. Best of luck!