Lots of questions for EP'ers

StephRuns

How long have you been EP'ing?

How many times a day do you pump? 

Do you still pump during the night?

Were you able to drop the night time pump and still maintain your supply? 

How long do you plan on pumping for?

 

DS is 4.5 months old, and I've been EP'ing the whole time. It's been a long road trying to maintain my supply. My original goal was to last 3 months. Now I'm passed that and aiming for 6 months. I pump 6-7x a day, once during the night, I try to do a power pump at least 3x week, and I also take Fenugreek. I feel like if I stop any of these my supply will drop.

I'm just curious to see what others are doing when it comes to pumping, and also how long they plan on doing it. I'd love to be able to drop the nighttime pumping session (DS STTN) and last up to a year, but I don't know if I can do it.

Fisherman'sWife

I'm not EP - but doing it during the week while at work which feels like a lot!

 

How long have you been EP'ing? - Pumping at work for over 2 months.  5 days a week, 10 hours per day away from LO.

How many times a day do you pump?  - Depends, usually 3

How long do you plan on pumping for? - Probably will stop pumping around 8-10 months and just nurse after that

 

Ms5586

StephRuns:

How long have you been EP'ing? 4 months and 3 days

How many times a day do you pump? 4

Do you still pump during the night? No - I dropped that around Thanksgiving

Were you able to drop the night time pump and still maintain your supply? It dropped slightly, but not much at all

How long do you plan on pumping for? Best case scenario - I want to pump through next winter.  He'll be 1 year in September, but I'd like him to at least have some BM through the cold/flu season (he's a daycare baby).

I'm sorry you've had such issues.  I am blessed with a good, well established supply without any type of supplements, which is why I only pump 4 times a day.  Please don't take me as the norm, because (after reading this board for so long), I am the exception to the rule.

cottonlily84

I've been EPing for almost 2 months, since I went back to work.  I tried to continue nursing and pumping but it was a never ending cycle.  After a week I started just pumping without even realizing about it.  Pumping is so much easier, I get the milk out faster and DD has really taken off growing.  Am I truly an EPer?  Idk.  I still nurse her when I want to or she needs some cuddling and she has gotten better at it with age so it's not as frustrating. 

I aim for 4 times a day at work and that many at home.  It doesn't always happen but I make way more milk in the morning.  So if I am short a pump session it evens out by the next day.  It works out to me pumping roughly as often as DD eats. 

I pump at night if DD wakes at night.  This past week she's STTN all but one night so I didn't.  I haven't noticed any significant decrease in supply and my morning milk has still been plentiful (8 oz this am, that's almost 3 bottles for her).  I worry about not pumping at night but I figure in going back to the pumping when she's eating plan I'll just pump more during the day like she eats more during the day. 

DDs getting EBM for 6 months so I'll pump at least that long.  It's amazing she already has only 2 more months before solids start!  Tugs at my heart.  But I'll pump as long as she wants bottles or until she wants/can have cow's milk.  I don't plan on ever giving her formula.  To me pumping is way easier than nursing and I have no problems with it. 

BeetleLinz1125

How long have you been EP'ing? 10 months next week

How many times a day do you pump? 3 if I'm lucky...but I wish it was 4.

Do you still pump during the night? Nope.  But I'm lucky to get 5 hours of sleep with my pumping/work schedule. 

Were you able to drop the night time pump and still maintain your supply? I never pumped during the night (gasp - I know. I'm terrible lol.)

How long do you plan on pumping for? Until DD doesn't want it anymore.  I am not going to deny her just becuase its a little inconvenient...that being said, I have finally decided to work on getting her to nurse.  I'm really hoping we can do that.

I also want to add, my supply has been a constant struggle - some times I don't make enough, some times I have an oversupply.  I constantly have to tweak my pumping schedule in order to keep it up.

EP'ing is so hard....but I would love to actually nurse since DD hasn't ever really done it.  But I continue for so many reasons - I truly believe that BFing is what's best for her, our financial situation would never allow for formula, and also, she doesn't like formua...she's spits it out every time she has been given it. Don't get me wrong, it kinda makes me smile, but I'm not opposed to her having it on occasion if the stars and the moon and the sun do not align for me to give her BM.

JillianAshley6

StephRuns:

How long have you been EP'ing?  For 5 weeks due to vasospasms and excruitiating nursing pain.

How many times a day do you pump? Between 6-8 depending on how many times I can fit in during the day.

Do you still pump during the night? I don't pump at night.

Were you able to drop the night time pump and still maintain your supply? I don't think it has affected mine. I have supply issues, but I have always had supply issues. I'm on Reglan and will switch to  Domperidone as soon as it gets here (ordered it last week). I didn't see a difference after dropping the night session. I still get the same amount.

How long do you plan on pumping for? My goal is 6months. I'd love to make it to a year. But my goal is 6months, and I'll reevaluate then.

 

DS is 4.5 months old, and I've been EP'ing the whole time. It's been a long road trying to maintain my supply. My original goal was to last 3 months. Now I'm passed that and aiming for 6 months. I pump 6-7x a day, once during the night, I try to do a power pump at least 3x week, and I also take Fenugreek. I feel like if I stop any of these my supply will drop.

I'm just curious to see what others are doing when it comes to pumping, and also how long they plan on doing it. I'd love to be able to drop the nighttime pumping session (DS STTN) and last up to a year, but I don't know if I can do it.

nic326

I have been EPing since a few weeks before Christmas. I am now pumping 4x a day (7am, noon, 5pm and 10pm). I do not do a middle of the night pump and my supply is still good. I pump at least 7oz per pump total, with the most pumped during the 7am pump (13oz or so). I would love to give BM for a year and have almost 2 months in a freezer stash so far so hopefully i can be done pumping this August 

KatFish2011

How long have you been EP'ing? I have been EP'ing for 5 weeks (since my supply came in)

How many times a day do you pump? 6 times (every 4hours) but if I feel really engorged then I make it 8 times (every 3 hours)

Do you still pump during the night? Yes, since DS is only 5 weeks old and not STTN yet.  He is up every 3-4 hours

Were you able to drop the night time pump and still maintain your supply? I stop pumping at 12am and pick up back at 6, 7 or 8 am and still have been able to maintain my supply (I pump 54 ozs a day)

How long do you plan on pumping for? I plan on pumping until DS is 6 months since I might still have alot of BM in the freezer. 

jsmith1012

How long have you been EP'ing? I have been Ep'ing for almost 4 months. LO wouldn't latch.

How many times a day do you pump? I pump 4x a day. First thing when I get up, 1pm, 6:30pm and right before I go to sleep.

Do you still pump during the night? No, I stopped when my supply was good. LO was around a month old then.

Were you able to drop the night time pump and still maintain your supply? Yes, my supply is great I pump about 40-50oz a day

How long do you plan on pumping for?I really don't know it started at 6 weeks and then it was 8 weeks now I am just saying as long as I can do it! I love knowing that even though we can BF LO is still getting BM.