EPers How do you do it ?- about to give up!

MermaidSF

I have had a world of problems with breastfeeding my DS since birth (latch problems).  He's now 8 weeks old.  I have been EP for three weeks now (was a combo of breastfeeding with nipple shield and pumping before that but DS refuses to breastfeed most of the time now preferring the faster flow bottle).  I am just getting so damn tired of pumping.  It is so much work to feed him, then try to get him calm or happy enough that I can put him down to pump.  He was sleeping a lot more during the day and now he only takes small cat naps making it hard to find the time to pump.  And he was eating every 3 hours and now he is eating every two hours which means I am just basicially trying to feed him and pump all the time.  I am so warn out and so frustrated that he just won't breastfeed to make this process so much easier.  I also only produce between 1.5-2.5 ounces per breast per pumping session, so I am just barely producing what he is eating.  I have tried and am doing most of the suggestions to get more milk and pump for 15 minutes each time, which is a few minutes after the last let down.  I just want to throw in the towel so badly.  Switching to formula would be so easy, I could actually get more than 3 hours of sleep in a row.  I think I would be so much happier and not have these awful feelings towards motherhood.  Really wish we had a different feeding experience, I wanted so badly to breastfeed him.  But we don't and it has been a hellish experience for the last 8 weeks.  Any advice on how to make EPing go better?

MermaidSF

Thanks.  I have seen a bunch of LC's.  He's finally able to latch properly - some of the time!  But, he still does a shallow latch and pushes the nipple out with his tongue thing alot, so even if the milk is flowing he doesn't really get any which makes him get pissed off and then he refuses to even try and will only take a bottle.  So, despite my best efforts, I just can't get him to switch to EBF.

Crystal318

i completely feel your pain!  i have been EP since day one! my baby is 8 weeks as well and was in nicu for 17 days and tube fed for the first week and a half so he definately wants nothing to do with my boob!!! i know it sucks, pumping, feeding, washing bottles and pump stuff, etc.  we are doing double the work. it is really hard to find 15 minutes to pump and evn if baby is sleeping we still have get up!  this has also caused me to resentDH because he sleeps through it all and im the one up pumping and washing, etc.    all i can say is hang in there......im going to try to as well!!!!!!

insertclevername

What about getting a hands free bra or making one out of an old sports bra so that you can pump while you are feeding your LO.  That might make it easier to find the time.

jodiewingert

I am completely in the same boat. My LO is only a wk old and im already tired.. ha. the first couple days i had to supplement with formula and suringe thingy because LO was jaundice and losing weight., now i am pumping every 2 hrs for 15 mins and only producing what she'll eat the next feeding. i try and get her to latch but i have to use the breast shield and it just isnt working, so pumping is what im doing for the time being.but i dont mind formula if thats what i have to do to get her to eat thats all that matters

reese183

My LO is 12 days old and had latch problems from the start. We saw a LC and decided that EPing is the best route for us. The thing that makes it a little easier is supplementing with formula. I hate to do it because it's so heavy, but I'm still building my supply so sometimes I just don't have enough for LO. I've been pumping every 2 hours and I pump when LO gets up at night. I've been making just enough for LO to need only 1 bottle of formula per day.

I would definitely suggest supplementing just to give yourself a break once in a while. Even if it's once in the middle of the night, you and LO will appreciate a little break and it may even make it easier to keep pumping.

I keep myself motivated by thinking of how many benefits my little guy is getting from pumping. He's getting all kinds of anitbodies from me, which will keep him healthier, and there's a good chance he won't have food allergies. It's pretty much free - all you have to do is make sure YOU eat. I also feel like I accomplished something each time I pump. I gave up BFing with DD 2 weeks in, so this time I wanted to make sure I tried everything to get DS breastmilk.

Keep reminding yourself of the benefits of the exhaustion and the time you put into pumping. Give yourself a break once in a while. Good luck and I hope this helped a little! 

brittlandk

NY Mama:

What about getting a hands free bra or making one out of an old sports bra so that you can pump while you are feeding your LO.  That might make it easier to find the time.

Hands free is the way to go! Are you a SAHM or will you be going to work soon? Might be worth it to at least wait and see if if gets easier when you are pumping at work.

 

emriley84

I've been EPing for 7 weeks. I still try to  put my son to breast a few times/day in the hope that someday I can stop... but for now this is our life. I got a hands free bra, I pump while feeding little one in his bouncy seat. I also pump in the car when I go places to gve myself more time out. If I'm meeting friends for lunch, I'll get there 15 min early and pump in the parking lot before we go in, then I have 3 hours of freedom. Also buy an extra set of pump supplies so you aren't washing so much. I put mine in a ziploc bag in the fridge after each feed and wash and sterilize them once/day.

nadinethequeen01

NY Mama:

What about getting a hands free bra or making one out of an old sports bra so that you can pump while you are feeding your LO.  That might make it easier to find the time.

 

Sorry to butt in but what do you mean make one out of an old sports bra? I'm intrigued. 

Holibrate08

NY Mama:

What about getting a hands free bra or making one out of an old sports bra so that you can pump while you are feeding your LO.  That might make it easier to find the time.

This! Make one out of an old sports bra, it's much cheaper! Don't throw in the towel just yet. I was EPing due to latch problems, too. Then one day LO just latched! A couple weeks prior, we started using Tomee Tipee bottles. I don't know if that was a factor, but maybe that would be worth a try?!

KristaNbHam

I am an EPer and have been since the second week. I have found it easier by having three sets of pump parts. This way I don't have to wash at night, but can wait until morning. I pump every four hours and I'm getting the same amount per breast as you are. At night I pump at 3am. I am also feeding DD one bottle of formula at night. It really helps and I don't feel bad about it. I am going to give her all that I can while I can and supplement if I can't meet her needs.

You're doing a great job. I know it's hard, but you need to do what you think is best for you, your LO, and your sanity. Screw what everyone else thinks and don't feel bad about the choice you make because you're making it so that you can have more satisfaction in raising your child.

danijami

If you can, stick with it!  It is sooooooo worth it.  My LO struggled in the beginning too.  We did the whole pumping and finger feeding for a while.  Then I used the nipple shield to help him to latch.  Once he got used to that we were able finally able to get rid of it and now I am BF "normally".  When you are feeding are you giving it to him in a bottle?  I was told to use the finger feeding technique because they are forced to eat the same way as if they were BF.  It worked for us and made the transition easier.  Although, if your LO is used to a bottle that might be tricky.  Keep at it and hopefully it will work for you too!  And, formula once in a while is OK.  Don't beat yourself up about it. 

1BabyFritsch

I have been EP for 3 weeks now. In the beggingin I was only getting a couple oz also. I started drinking more fluids and pumping for at least 20 min every two hours and this helped build up my supply. I also went thru my insirance and recived a hospital grade pump. you can also rent them . Also use a slow flow bottle/nipple beacuse if you are it will make latching and BF much harder since your breast will not flow as fast. To make the transition easier use a wide nipple bottle(like Playtex ventaire wide) this made it so much easier for us. the more you pump the more you will get try to stay on a schedule. also relax while you are pumping it will help or at least it did for me

brittlandk

nadinethequeen01:

NY Mama:

What about getting a hands free bra or making one out of an old sports bra so that you can pump while you are feeding your LO.  That might make it easier to find the time.

 

Sorry to butt in but what do you mean make one out of an old sports bra? I'm intrigued. 

Just cut a couple slits (one to two inches?) to fit the narrow part of the breast shield through. (My breast shields come apart into two pieces at the narrow part of the neck, if yours is a single piece you would need to cut a larger slit.)

Here's a picture of what it would look like.

I actually made mine out of an old strapless bra, so it's super easy to take on and off; I can put it on right over my shirt and/or nursing bra.

MMNelly

I EP and I find it so MUCH MORE enjoyable than nursing!  It is so much less time consuming and more convenient.  I pump about every 3 hrs and get about the same amt as you, just enough for LO (about 22 oz daily). My only worry is that, since my supply is on the low side, I don't have much of a frzr stash (only about 12 oz), so I am actively working on that.

 Not sure if it is much help, but here is what I do:

     Like I mentioned I pump about every 3 hrs, but this is not a specific schedule all the time, it is based on when LO feeds.  At night I pump when he wakes up and then feed it to him.  During the day I pump about every 3 hrs, right before he wakes up so I have a bottle ready to go.  Sometimes I will get "one bottle ahead" so I can feed him while pumping or immediately after.  This is nice b/c I don't have to be concerned about him having to wait if he is REALLY hungry.  Usually if this happens I just have to have him lay beside me and I give him his paci, but it can get a little stressful.

     I use a hands-free pump so I can put on makeup in the AM, type on the computer (pumping right now actually!) or make dinner while pumping.  I think this probably makes a big difference!

     I have bottle racks in the kitchen as well as master bathroom and just rinse bottles and parts immediately after use in steaming hot water. then put on drying rack.  If they sit, then I do a steam or full-out wash.  They usually still get a good scrub about every 48 hrs or so.

     I don't wash my pump parts with every use.  Since breast milk is safe for LO to consume at room temp for 10 hrs I just keep a clean cloth or disposable ones (from Medela) near my pump and wipe each time, but will go for several feedings before washing them.  I can't imagine having to do a full wash with every single feeding! 

Good luck!!