Breastfeeding/exclusively pumping questions and concerns

umdbride

hey ladies, i'm considering EP-ing, but i have some questions and just generally need some moral support. 

DS is a little over 10 weeks old and has become increasingly fussy or fickle about breastfeeding.  I'm pretty certain at this point it's related to giving him expressed milk in a bottle, even though we use a slow flow nipple and follow the baby-led bottle feeding guidance and only give him one or two a day at most.  Basically about 2 minutes in to each side he gets annoyed, pulls off, fusses, then goes on and off and fusses until he gives up or I switch sides.  Switching positions helps but again, only for a minute or two and I can get a total of probably 10 minutes of actual nursing. At the end of one of our sessions I think he's not entirely full and he's frustrated (as am I) so I'm leaning toward EP-ing.  I can't really forgo the bottle altogether because I'll be going back to work in a few weeks.  I figure the same thing is going to happen then, so I might as well get in the swing of EP-ing before going back to work.

So, my questions - when you EP, do/did you stick to your child's schedule or did you make your own?  how many times a day did you pump?  did you wake up to pump at night? any other tips or things I need to consider?

And on the moral support end of things - why did you EP?  Sometimes I feel a little guilty, like I'm giving up too easy or I could try harder to BF, but other times I think, why continue if it's frustrating to both of us?

FWIW, I feel pretty good about my supply and so far I've been able to increase it when needed without too much effort.  DS was also never a super nurser, but at one time not too long ago he/we were getting the hang of things and he was getting pretty efficient.

TIA for all your help!!

doggylovr

I EP'd for 6 months and artslvr was an EPer also for her girls....

I pumped every 3 hours around the clock until ds was about 3 months old.  Then i went to every four hours and woke up once during the night.  When DS was about 4 months old, I stopped waking at night.  Then I went to a pumping scheudle where I pumped after I fed him.  This got a bit more difficult because he would be awake and I woudl have to try and entertain him and pump as well.  It can certainly be done.  Good luck!!! I only stopped at 6 months because my body stopped on its own:( 

victoria1212

DD had a super high palette and I had a massive oversupply so we never mastered BFing. I EPed for 9 months and I did enjoy sharing the middle of the night feeding duties with DH :-)

In the beginning (while on maternity leave), I pumped every 3-4 hours and usually did the daytime pumping when DD was asleep and then pumped once in the middle of the night that usually coincided with her being awake. 

Once I went back to work, I was only pumping 4-5 times per day and not overnight at all. But, I had a ridiculous supply that never went away.

 

 

 

 

2vthokies

I can't give you advice on EPing - I think it takes a special type of mom to do it!  This coming from a mom who nursed my first DD for 17 months and plans to nurse DD #2 until 18 months.  I don't think I could EP - you guys are amazing!

It kind of sounds like you might have a forceful letdown.  How fast does your letdown happen once you start nursing?  Since you seem to be able to pump enough for bottles it's probably not a supply issues, but more of an issue that when your letdown happens it is too much for your LO to handle.  I had this problem with DD #1 but by the time I realized it, she had figured out how to handle it.  Have you talked to an LC about your issues?  I only ask because EPing can be hard and I'd hate for you to be discouraged when it sounds like you are doing so well.  Good luck!

Artslvr

No advice on the BF-ing issues except - try to BF as long as possible.  I think of EP-ing as a last resort.  Not ideal, but better than no breast milk at all.

I EP'd for all three of my kids - for 4 months with DD #1, 6 months for DD #2, and for 3 months with DS  (side note:  even after DS had all sorts of GI issues starting at two weeks old, I continued to pump around the clock - storing/freezing the milk in hopes that he could one day tolerate it.  I even ran out of freezer room and pumped and dumped just to keep my supply up.  It was all for naught, and I ended up donating my frozen milk to a woman undergoing chemo).

Anyway, I pumped like a devil while on maternity leave with all three - every 2 hours, then every 3.  When I went back to work I pumped every 3 hours.  And yes, I woke up to pump to keep the schedule - not only to keep my supply up, but to build a freezer stash.

EP-ing does take a certain personality - you have to keep up with all the pumping, storing, labeling, bagging, rotating, cleaning of pump parts, lugging of the pump, etc.  Like I said, it's not ideal.  I really envy moms who can BF.   

belizeitornot

We've had a number of times where I swore I was going to just EP and wound up sticking it out because I didn't want to have to lug my pump everywhere. And we had some BAD weeks dealing with BFing.

How recently did this start? I had the same trouble with H and it happened off and on around growth spurts. After my letdown (which happens about 15-30 seconds into nursing) she got tired of working for the milk and would fuss and yank and thrash around. Mind you, she usually only nurses for 5-10 minutes each session, and we are one-side per feeding people, but yes, about 2 minutes in she would start the routine.

At that point we were already giving her 2 bottles of pumped milk daily because she was tearing up my nipples, but we were (and still are at 19 weeks) on the slowest flow nipple. I don't have any advice for you other than if you stick with it, it might work itself out. But don't feel bad if you need to EP. Happy mom=happy baby.

KiwiChampagne

What I did:  I started BF for most of the day but I have almost always pumped at least once a day (DD struggled with latch the 1st week so I pumped to keep up supply). DH would give her a bottle during her early morning feeding so I could get at least 1 4 hr chunk of sleep since I was the one getting up with her all night long.

Around 9 weeks I went back to work.  I pumped before work (about 6:30) and then once during the day (11:00 at my lunch break). Then I got home around 4 and BF as needed while I was home. Over the following months her eating schedule changed and she tended to eat before I got home so I had to start pumping a 3rd time. Eventually I started EP.  I pumped 4 times a day and managed to get about 32 oz a day. At that point DD was drinking 4-8oz 4 times a day so she drank most of what I pumped and I was still able to bag and freeze once or twice a week.

Why & emotion: I decided to EP because I really wanted her to have the benefits of breastmilk but I just couldn't be home to feed her when she was hungry due to my work schedule. I've been EP for 4 months now. It is hard sometimes esp now that she is so mobile.  I find I have to pump before she gets up in the morning and after she goes to sleep at night because its easier.  Every few weeks my supply dips a little (esp when I get stressed or during my period) but then it tends to go back up. It can be stressful and emotional when my supply dips.  I have been hit by pangs of guilt when that happens (esp when she was still mostly doing milk).  I only get about 24 oz a day now but at 10 mos she is eating mostly solids so she doesn't go through as much milk.  I still have a small freezer stash too to supplement when needed.

 Good Luck!

umdbride

thanks everybody - this is so helpful and encouraging. 

Zerf - your situation seems exactly like ours, it's a relief to know i'm not the only one! DS definitely is ok with the let down and seems to get most fussy when he has to work for it.  He's always been a not so easy nurser, and did this kind of fussing a few weeks ago off and on, but this is the worst it's been by far.  Right now the only time nursing works (and barely works sometimes) is in the middle of the night. 

I think I'll keep trying to stick it out and pump when he gets fussy - hopefully he'll get a little more cooperative as time goes on.

membrn

Since he's getting a little older, 10 minutes of nursing at at time may be all that he needs.  They get more efficient at nursing and are able to get more milk as they get older.  The squirming is normal (well, whatever "normal" really is) I think too.  My nephew was extremely squirmy according to my SIL and my DS is now (he assumes some crazy nursing positions!)