EPers help me with some advice for my friend

pghwedding10/08

Hi Ladies,

A very good friend of mine has a LO that will be 4 weeks on Wednesday.  She is currently BFing and Pumping-a combo of the two-but the BFing is really not going well and causing her lots of stress.  So, she is considering EPing until 6 months.  I don't have an oppinon or advice for her because I EBF and am a pumping hater.  I have already told her that she needs to decide what is going to be the best option for her family and if it is not BFing she needs to make the decison and be OK with whatever they decide.  In regard to EPing:

-she wants to know if it is "worth it"

-how she will balance it in her day schedule wise

-if she is going to regret not BFing in a few weeks/months

So, if you have any advice or wouldn't mind sharing your story of how EPing works for your family (how many times a day you pump/when/etc).  Or if you wouldn't mind sharing your email so I/my friend could use you as a resource to answer questions, get encouragement, etc-I would really appreciate it!!

TIA

browneyes_24b

-she wants to know if it is "worth it"

Yes.  It is worth it 100%.  The fact that DS is getting breastmilk is the most important part.  Regardless of how hard it can be on a bad day, the satisfaction that he is benefiting from BM far outweighs my irritation to have to pump.

 -how she will balance it in her day schedule wise

I feel like this is the mystery question.  Everybody is different and there is no one way to do it.  You find your own groove once you start.  It's helpful to hear other people's experiences and take from them little bits and pieces that work for you.  Just make sure you find somewhere to get support.  A loved one, a friend, an LC, a message board, etc.  Putting pressure on yourself to do it all on your own is a lot of pressure.  Support is very very good.

-if she is going to regret not BFing in a few weeks/months

Truthfully?  Probably.  Maybe for a little while - or at least I did.  I felt like I was failing at BFing.  I was at my wits end.  Once I found my groove (around the time when DS was 8 weeks old) things started to balance out and I realized that EPing worked for us.  I still loathed getting up to pump while DH and DS were sleeping, but you find what works.  As much as I miss the **good** moments of BFing attempts, the bonding, etc. I had to make the decision and it has worked out.

The badge next to my EP badge in my signature is a link to my blog.  I have a couple posts about EPing and if your friend wants to contact me she can through the blog!  Tell her the BFing board is a good place for support too!  

 

mommy~to~mj

Ditto PP - giving her breastmilk is what counts for me.

Schedule wise it can be a bit of a pain, but manageable.

As for the regret...I felt badly at frst but I got over it. And once I healed from the initital trauma I am nursing more often and enjoying it now rather than dreading it - something that surprised me!

No matter what she chooses she's making the best choice for her and her babe. Happy momma=happy baby! 

franciscaz

-she wants to know if it is "worth it"Yes.  Even a little bit of breast milk provides essential nutrients not elsewhere found and most importantly provides a immunity towards diesease.   -how she will balance it in her day schedule wiseGet a groove.  I work so I had set pumping times during the day and night.  Only one session was during "work" hours so I pumped while I ate lunch.  Just make a schedule and stick to it.-if she is going to regret not BFing in a few weeks/months i would have!  I made the 6 mos goal boh times and have never regretted it.  In fact I'm weaning right now and it is so bittersweet.  Nursing is a gift you give your kids.