Weekly EP Check In

browneyes_24b

This is a weekly check-in for women who Exclusively Pump for their babies, whether by choice or by chance. Posts will be every Monday.

No one claims that it?s easy to breastfeed, but women who EP face unique challenges and obstacles. It's nice to know that there are other women dealing with the same situation, and we can learn from and support each other.

Iris made us a badge...Wear it proudly!!




Welcome to:

blondie052982

AggieDee

epopp85

GiniMcGlothin

innak0531

nancyandnate

t.bird

saraprice

gaughan258



Congrats to:

To the EPers who have made it to their goal and/or surpassed their goal!  

Alicia11780 - EPing for almost 4 months!
AggieDee - EPing for 2 months!
Jocelyn0415 - EPing for 2 months!
Mrs.tlcS - EPing for 1 month!
mrsblt - EPing for 4 months!
GiniMcGlothin - EPing for 3 months!
nancyandnate - EPing for almost 5 months!
GreenBride624 - EPing for over 6 months!



Calves (EPing 0 to 3 months)

gaughan258 - EPing for Claire
t.bird
innak0531 - EPing for Sophia
epopp85
AggieDee - EPing for Reese
Amanda Nordhoff - EPing for Eva
goldenleaves - EPing for Ryan
JenniferJaneC - EPing for Jack
hriesen4
Jocelyn0415
elliotandnicole
Jen&Carl - EPing for Gianna
Hoax
angie05161 - EPing for Owen
jrnewhook - EPing for Anne Marie
Mrs.tlcS - EPing for Eric
AwBeth - EPing for Edie
Mrs.Husband - EPing for Xander
Alicia11780 - EPing for Makayla
Useonfire - EPing for Liam
melissapgreen
Mrs.RC- EPing for Kinsley
Reagan 's Mommy- EPing for Cameron
tashacu02- EPing for Amaya
hsm- EPing for Joey
live*laugh*love- EPing for Beckett
lujain- EPing for Zoe
MrsBatty- EPing for Ella
Midwest_Girl- EPing for Rylee
July_2009- EPing for Aman
jkipp82
erino&chrish - EPing for Noah
sabrina69barnes
tlovelac
kristeljade - EPing for Rylie
327way
LSU628
Shellebelle22
suscq- EPing for Emmelee
Lisichka                
moandjo -- EPing for Conner                                         
alauber--EPing for Sofie                                                         
Shellbelle22 -- EPing for Hannah
Stella2008                                                                              
mrsg052904 - EPing for Timothy
Bri*Eli*Jo - EPing for Brooklyn
jennifermoon1 ? EPing for twins
Moniquitta ? EPing for Karina
AmyMichelle925
love22 ? EPing for Matteo
ShellyBurger ? EPing for Elliot
cspence1-EPing for Isaac    
DansLuckyGirl ? EPing for Cooper
Sam681 ? EPing for Elizabeth
JBSugar ? EPing for Parker and Annabelle
not_finished ? EPing for Cade and Grant
manda429 ? EPing for Jacob
sdailey01 ? EPing for Abby
mich11680 ? EPing for Hailey
luckystarz ? EPing for Landon
KMR816 ? EPing for Connor
gbtc01 ? EPing for Bethany
Kelly&Dave ? EPing for Ashley
KMB7 ? EPing for Rebekah and William
Tune_Baby ? EPing for Mikey
sandipluschris ? EPing for Christian
brauchtm ? EPing for Nicholas
charlaNIKol ? EPing for Brady
courtjensen ? EPing for Cooper
Sobachka ? EPing for Andrew
BecauseICan ? EPing for Avery
LBI*love ? EPing for Chase
cdg23 ? EPing for Paige and Emma
CyndelGrace ? EPing for Cannon
MonkeyButtWhat
Daniel's Mama ? EPing for Daniel
kristiembechtel ? EPing for Maddie
CandyM
Shan_te_xas ? EPing for Sheridan
Sueball1 ? EPing for Leo


Cows (EPing 3 to 6 months)

saraprice - EPing for Kate
nancyandnate
GiniMcGlothin - EPing for Claire
blondie052982
Soap1- EPing for Richard
MoMandA
borc0080- EPing for Norah
mrsblt- EPing for Alexander
Mrs. VanKirk
christin3580- EPing for Ava
mrslinde - EPing for Daphne
soontobeahigh
lgurian - EPing for Jakob & Michael
jayhawkgirl25 - EPing for Caleb
fruitcakes - EPing for Olivia
Twistedpixie7@aol.com - EPing for Anastasya
vml14 - EPing for Alexa
MadameFancyPants
BeachBride72106 - EPing for Wesley
*bryce'smommy* - EPing for Bryce
gertiern - EPing for Kenlie
browneyes_24b
*kms* - EPing for Evan
Heather577
Just J- EPing for Jaelynn
robynlynn83- EPing for Mara  
Beccaboo0713--EPing for Jacob
wifeypooh
Ace 1599
PsychedForBaby   
Mrs White-EP'ing for Chase
innes1015 -- EPing for Carter  
FiremansWife2009baby -- EPing for Logan   
Nicoleandadam -- EPing for Carter                                  
sweetpea18--EPing for Reese                                               
biggdaddy4605 -- EPing for Evelyn                                          
faithrocks ? EPing for Trig                                                        
JBsBride36 - EPing for Mason                                                             
Kariyalovr ? EPing for Zoe
meldoo2002 ? EPing for Nathan and Joseph
wec5473 ? EPing for Sean
Andrea11 ? EPing for Jackson
MaybeABaby? ? EPing for Jack
Mrs.AMB07 ? EPing for Owen
can_can ? EPing for Benjamin
mich11680 ? EPing for Hailey
mrsfootball ? EPing for Meredith
bluestar0527 ? EPing for Audrey
Carrann82 ? EPing for Emily
katie110505 ? EPing for Danica
fiasco ? EPing for Benjamin
mrsfrenchy ? EPing for Alissa
Nic&Steve ? EPing for Giana
auburnbride2be ? EPing for Avery
jenhum ? EPing for Madeline
tanny05 - EPing for Mason
RubyRed7 ? EPing for Ruby
MadCity_WI ? EPing for Alexa
chach916 ? EPing for Ben


Heifers (EPing 6 months or more)

GreenBride624
JewelzNBean - EPing for Xander
Erin5849 - EPing for Bodhi
tonishep- EP'ing for Cooper
idonthavethis- EPing for Ava
MarriedBestFriends  - EPing for T     
Lisichka
Denesdia - EPing for Zoey                                                       
annapolis13 - EPing for Oliver                                                      
akspriss ? EPing for Jack                                                          
LucyPevensie ? EPing for Jack
Tikat ? EPing for Hayden
zach'swife ? EPing for Julian
beebe929 ? EPing for Lilah
Kalki ? EPing for Max & Sadie
stacylu ? EPing for Julia
jesse sunday ? EPing for Ryan
littlelamb99 - EPing for Lauren
Aivi08 ? EPing for Bella
tanny05 - EPing for Mason
sapphirebride06
linzpinz14 ? EPing for Cecelia
Kel716 ? EPing for Brandon
JT41275 ? EPing for Gabriella
SweetMelissa ? EPing for Bella
AB&TB ? EPing for Lincoln
EastCoastFamily ? EPing for Alyssa
JBC1011 ? EPing for Tyler
RubyEggi ? Eping for Elisabeth
softballgirl24 ? EPing for Hunter
Punky0528 ? EPing for Melanie
HappyThoughts1 ? EPing for Maya
LumLisa ? EPing for Sam
aras3k ? EPing for Leili


Heading out to Pasture

chefs_baby
purplepuggles & Jack
mrs.km
akspriss
JT41275
kel716
chris21 & Sean
JerseyGirl81 & Charlie                                                                  
flamencogal & Scott                                                                            
Prolixity & Jaxson
babykk & Kayla
Maggs116 & Eddie
saraheg77 & Anna
AB&TB & Lincoln
Jesse Sunday
saralena & Avery
Alli321 & Teresa
travelbug & Siobhan
Buckets of Moonbeams & Kate
BabyDavison & Jack and George
GymRat & Marshall and Cecelia
Stacyc625 & Gisele
bostonfingerlakes07 & Nolan   
mrsdiamonds & Andrew
star173 & Kadence                                                                   
LUCKY41010 & Cooper



Congrats on another week of pumping!

QOTW:  Where do you find support for EPing?

My answer:  My biggest support comes from DH.  Without him I would have thrown my hands up in the air numerous times.  He has been my rock.  I also have found a lot of support from my LC.  She was there at the hospital while we were working on latching.  She was there during the emotional roller coaster ride of feeling like I had failed at BFing.  She helped me through mastitis, and there were a handful of times that I sat in her office and had a good cry when I thought I couldn't take it anymore.  I know without them I would have given up long ago.  

My rant:  Pumping sucks.  .....yeah, it's been one of those days. 

Please feel free to keep updating with your current EP status so that I can keep this list current! Let's also give our rants and raves about pumping and just a general update on how things are going!  Happy Pumping!

erino&chrish

I'm only getting about 2 oz a day!  I have NO idea what to do to get my supply up.  DH keeps looking at me like I'm crazy for still pumping.

? Shween ?

Well color me a Heiffer - i EPed until we started some solids at 6-months! Yay! I still pump, and also supplement one bottle/day with formula.

angie05161

Still pumping for Owen and heading back to work in 1 week.  I'm actually hoping it will get easier b/c I won't have to try to entertain him while I'm pumping!

My biggest support has been DH and one of my best friends.  DH and I agreed very early on that we felt that BFing was super important for the health of our baby.  Even though "BFing" per se didn't work, DS is still getting BM.  My BF EP'd for about 3 months and got "back to breast" so she keeps advocating for me to do what I can and that it's great what I've been able to do for DS so far.

 

Jocelyn0415

QOTW:  Where do you find support for EPing?

FI is my biggest supporter. He was really hoping I would have been able to BF, but DD just wouldn't latch after we left the hospital.

When I would feel guilty about it, FI would tell me BM out of a bottle is just as good as from the breast, and better than no BM at all. That really helped me.

Soap1

DH is supportive, but sometimes I feel like he is trying to guilt me into continuing to EP!  Not that I am not glad to do it, but I would like to know that I have the option to quit if I want to.

DH's stepmother has actually been very, very supportive of my decision and keeps telling me what a great thing I'm doing.  My mom is not as helpful - she is always reminding me that formula feeding is fine.  I know it is, but there's a reason I'm workign this hard!

easyBreezie

Yay! I'm almost a heifer. My Short term goal was 6 months & I've almost made that so we'll continue to try and reach a year. DH & TB has given me the most support. It's been great to come here and vent and ne understood when needed. I'm crushed by having to trash my 350 freezer stash for an excess of lipase but I'm lucky enough to be producing at least 40 oz a day.

nancyandnate

erino&chrish:

DH keeps looking at me like I'm crazy for still pumping.

Mine too!  It is like the lightbulb just went on for him regarding how much time it takes and how it interferes with so many things.  Unfortunately, I'm one of those folks who has to pump 7 x a day, for at least 20 mins, and still needing to supplement.  

So he;s being supportive by helping me consider an end to the madness! 

AggieGrl

Hi everyone, I am new to this.  I am EP for Patrick due to low supply and latching problems.  I have increased my supply from 5 oz a day to 30-35 oz a day over the last few weeks with frequent pumping and fenugreek.

I have found my support by reading posts on here.  I looked at this check in two weeks ago and thought to myself, "if so many people can do it, I can too."  DH has also been a great help to me by feeding DS while I pump and researching fenugreek useage.

My goal for now is 3 months.  We are supplementing with formula at night for some extra sleep and so I can build a freezer stash.  I have 126 oz frozen right now.

sweetpea18

Can you please take me off of the list? 

I pumped for 9 months, to the day!  My last pump was Dec 19. I have a big enough freezer stash to give Reese breastmilk until she's a year old.  It was hard work and took a lot of sacrifice, but I'm so glad that I did it!

I'm so happy to have hung up the horns and have my boobs back to myself!  And I'm happy to be wearing a normal bra again! 

PsychedForBaby

Hello all!  I haven't checked in for a while.   I guess I'm officially a Heifer now.  DD (Megan) just turned 7mo this weekend. I have been blessed with a good enough supply that for a long time, I could have nursed 2 with what I was pumping.  Thanks to that and a deep freeze chest freezer, I'm looking forward to going out to pasture in the next few weeks and still having enough milk to get her to 1 yr.  I'm ready to have my body and freedom back.  

My rant:  I'm tried of pumping.  7 months is a long time.  

QOTW:  My DH has been my biggest support.  I don't really have any close friends who BFd and certainly not any that EPd for this long.  When I was pregnant, we only said let's see how it goes and if it works great!  If not, that's okay too.  I think we are both surprised at how well it's gone, but we're also both ready to be done.  It'll be so nice to have a weekend when we can be gone for 8 hours and not have to worry about lugging the pump with us.  

AggieDee

QOTW:  Honestly, my biggest support comes from myself.  When I decided to EP with DD, I told everyone (including DH) that they were not allowed to say anything about pumping/breastfeeding/formula.  Nothing at all.  I didn't want any pressure or guilt from DH and so I told him not to even encourage me.  Nothing.  I actually like it like this - I feel zero pressure and really feel like every pumping session is MY choice.  If it has been any other way, I know for a fact that I would not still be pumping. 

epopp85

QOTD:  My biggest supporter is DH.  He loves that I pump because it means that he gets to feed DS and bond with him that way.  I need the support right now too because I'm finding it very awkward to pump at work.  My boss is not known for his tact or understanding nature.

I hit a major milestone this weekend: I got to freeze my first bag of milk!!  I've dealt this low supply issues since day one and I was finally able to get far enough ahead to freeze 9oz and still have 20oz in the fridge!  I was so excited!

July_2009

Hello All!

I never knew EP check in existed. Well, I have been EP for about 6months now (my son will turn 6 months on the 17th!). It was a very tough road, but I am glad I stuck to it. It was very bleak future for breast feeding when my Son refused to latch upon repeated tries and numerous lactation consultants. So, I decided to EP. Once I got the hang of it and went hands free, it was pretty much a part of my life.

Kind of sad that I found the group now since I am planning to quit EP after he turns 6 months. But who knows, we are starting him in Day care soon and that might prompt me to keep it up.

Nice meeting you all ladies. 

hi_dn@hotmail.com

I'm a EP and so happy for it...I love that i don't have to worry about which formula will work for my little one, I am also blessed that it is easy for me to increase my supply as needed I have a large freezer stash and I don't plan on quiting for a while.  my new goal is 9 months!

DEBBIE33CASEY

Add me to the Heifer list!  DD is 8 months and I've EP'd the whole time. I'm slowly cutting down but still an effective producer. I'd first made a goal of 3 weeks- then 6 weeks- then 3 months- then 4 months- then 6 months- then to Jan 1st, 2010.  It's been a rocky road and I'm glad to see the light at the end of the tunnel as EPing was not my original plan.  It's great to see so many others out there I can relate to!

doggylovr

hi, i EP bc ds would not latch..its working so far for us and i dont mind pumping, i do it right after i put ds down. its great knowing that dh can feed him without me:-)   i still get plenty of cuddle time as i am typing 1 handed and he is out on my chest!! 

Innak0531

Made it to 2 months yesterday :-) My reward is having DD passed out on my chest in a milk coma and knowing that it came from me.

My support has been my DH who supports me in my decision to keep pumping and to stop when ever I feel like I need to.  The LCs at the hospital and the nurse who spent 3hrs in my room the night she was born working with us and calming my hysterical tears.