Anyone planning to EP?

MrsMommyQ

I know it's early to be thinking about this but just wondering if anyone else is planning to EP?

kdjudd

I EP for a while with my daughter. I don't think I'll be doing it again though. It was just so difficult. My nipples were always cracked and I felt like a cow. I'm hoping this baby latches on correctly and I have no problems like last time. 

smjmlove

I did for 8 months with dd1 hopefully not with 2 but if I have to I will.

tmccord21

beernifer:

I am not hip on the bump lingo. What is EP?

ya, this. 

tmccord21

electronic pump??

MrsMommyQ

beernifer:

I am not hip on the bump lingo. What is EP?

Exclusively pump. As in, baby never drinks from the breast, so you just pump your milk and bottle feed it to baby.

Amjoy25

I plan to do both, especially after MAT leave is up

CousinVicki

no way, why would you plan this?  I mean during your maternity leave?   once you are working you have to, but even then you can still BF morning and night......

 

EP would be my hell, honestly.

 

 

Aunt Edna

We had latch issues with DD so I EP'd for over 6 months...it sucked.  I am hoping to BF and then pump while at work.  It is just so difficult and time consuming to pump, that is not even considering the supply issues that you may encounter.

Also, if you think BFing in public is bad, try EPing in public.  Your life revolves around that stupid pump.

tmccord21

I plan on using my boob exclusively. I registered for a pump but i'm hoping this kid will just latch and all will be ok. I have no problems with breast feeding in public. I've never done it being a FTM and all but I get really happy when I see others brave enough to do it. I'm all about getting sh!t done and not worrying about who i'm offending.

kimbo1216

A fellow June mom of mine had a baby in the NICU for a while so started pumping ferociously with the hospital pump and became an EP'er.  She had a great supply and it worked for her.

I started pumping to early because I was terrified of a supply drop when I had to go back to work after only 4 weeks.  My mistake was offering the bottle (which at first was a huge relief to not be her only source).   DD eventually started preferring the bottle to breast.  By 6 or 7 months, she had completely weaned from the boob.  But she had only been down to motn/am feeding for month or two anyway.  So I became an EP'er.

Personally, I don't recommend planning this.  I would at least try nursing.  However, I stuck with it because I had a great supply and felt it was silly to spend money on substitute when I could provide the home-made stuff for free.  By the time DD was 1yo, my boobs were so torn up and I was ready to stop. 

My goal this time is to pump  and BF, but offer the boob as often as possible.

JuneBug86

I've never met anyone who EP'ed just because. It's a lot of work to EP, and people do it because they can't BF right from the source. I would try to BF first, and then if you have to EP.

CousinVicki

tmccord21:

I plan on using my boob exclusively. I registered for a pump but i'm hoping this kid will just latch and all will be ok. I have no problems with breast feeding in public. I've never done it being a FTM and all but I get really happy when I see others brave enough to do it. I'm all about getting sh!t done and not worrying about who i'm offending.

 

i pretty much ebf'd too, BUT you will want that pump if you ever want to leave the house alone and have a bottle to give them when they are older!

 

 

SuperTreesa

CousinVicki:

 

EP would be my hell, honestly.

OMG this!

Pumping is the worst! I was so happy that DD2 decided she wouldn't ever take a bottle. It took all the pressure of pumping and having a freezer stash away. 

This time, I'm not even taking the pump out of storage. I love nursing and will do it til hopefully 2 years, but if this baby needs a random bottle. They can have formula. 

jennlin

i don't know why anyone would choose to EP. only do it if you have to, as a last resort. babies are more effective at getting milk from you than a pump. it's a lot of work, and a lot of dishes!

 

and to the pp who is weirded out by breastfeeding in public, there is absolutely no reason to think it's weird! it is the natural way of feeding your baby, and nothing to be ashamed of. if other people are uncomfortable, they can look the other direction. your baby shouldn't pay the price of others not understanding how a baby eats.

CousinVicki

jennlin:

 

and to the pp who is weirded out by breastfeeding in public, there is absolutely no reason to think it's weird! it is the natural way of feeding your baby, and nothing to be ashamed of. if other people are uncomfortable, they can look the other direction. your baby shouldn't pay the price of others not understanding how a baby eats.

 

i am super pro bf'ing (obviously lolz), but i still used a cover when bf'ing in public.  i really didn't need my HUGE boobs hanging out. i am a modestmouse , but i don't think this means i am any  less serious business about bf'ing

 

 

 

 

Wino0920

I am EP! I did this with my DS and it worked out fine. Now granted I only pumped a couple times a day. I had to give him formula because I wasn't producing enough to satisfy him. I had a true Italian that was all about the food! Lol! He didn't loose any weight in the hospital where it's completely normal for babies to.

PharmDMom

No way. When DD weaned herself I EPd for a few weeks and it SUCKED. All the pump part cleaning is so incredibly time consuming. I have a friend who EPd all of her boys. They all needed formula supplementation not saying that's bad by any means, my DD had formula too and the longest she made it with any of them was 6 mos. There are a few women who are able to EP successfully for a long time but I believe they are the minority. The boob is easier and more efficient. But if you really want to EP I wish you luck!

CousinVicki

Wino0920:

I had to give him formula because I wasn't producing enough to satisfy him.

 

giving him formula was the REASON you weren't producing enough. you didn't have low producing boobs. *eye roll

 

 

jennlin

CousinVicki:

jennlin:

 

and to the pp who is weirded out by breastfeeding in public, there is absolutely no reason to think it's weird! it is the natural way of feeding your baby, and nothing to be ashamed of. if other people are uncomfortable, they can look the other direction. your baby shouldn't pay the price of others not understanding how a baby eats.

 

i am super pro bf'ing (obviously lolz), but i still used a cover when bf'ing in public.  i really didn't need my HUGE boobs hanging out. i am a modestmouse , but i don't think this means i am any  less serious business about bf'ing

 

 

i would not be able to pick this up from your posting, lol.

have you done one shirt up, one shirt down? (wear two layers, pull shirt up, pull cami down. i have double d's, and i never show more than one square inch at a time (currently still NIP my 16mo).

 

and i am also super duper pro-bf, pro-nip. my FB newfeed is a mess with all of my hippy groups

Ajoyd

CousinVicki:

i am super pro bf'ing (obviously lolz), but i still used a cover when bf'ing in public.  i really didn't need my HUGE boobs hanging out. i am a modestmouse , but i don't think this means i am any  less serious business about bf'ing

I plan to use a cover too. I am still making the choice to BF my baby and I really can't stand when people act like it's a bad thing to use a cover. People should do whatever they're comfortable with, and for me, that is covering up.

allisonty11

carriet2018:

not to mention if we are at a party or BBQ of some sort and DD needs to feed and I am in the middle of doing something I want the option to say "hey DH can you feed her"

I thought this too, but I will say, it was nice to be her main food source because then I could get away from the crowd and sit down for a few minutes to feed her.

Wino0920

CousinVicki:

Wino0920:

I had to give him formula because I wasn't producing enough to satisfy him.

 

giving him formula was the REASON you weren't producing enough. you didn't have low producing boobs. *eye roll

 

 

 

lol!! No it wasn't! He wouldn't latch and I had to feed my baby. In the hospital I was pumping like crazy to get my supply up. I took pills and tea. Nothing got my milk going. Call out fail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

kimbo1216

Aunt Edna:

 Also, if you think BFing in public is bad, try EPing in public.  Your life revolves around that stupid pump.

Haha.  so true!  I apparently have no shame though.  I seriously pumped while at sea world.  And no.  I did not go to a gross bathroom.  I sat on a bench, whipped out the battery pack and nursing cover and went at it.  

MrsKocal

CousinVicki:

 

EP would be my hell, honestly.

Ditto. I bf'd and then pumped and bf'd when I went back to work. After one year of lugging that pump with me every day, constantly washing pump parts and bottles..I wanted to run the pump over with my car when I was done with it. I hate, hate, hate pumping.  Hate it. It sucks.  

SweetTeaMom

If you're there (i.e. SAHM), why EP? I get latch issues, but EPing is hard and not something I would choose over EBF. You have to do just as much as the baby would need to latch on to keep supply up. I EBF and only EP on the days I had to teach so dh could feed her. I had freakin' painful boulders by the end of the night (not so awesome when teaching dance) and would race home to stuff her silly before bed and pump out the excess. I'll be a fulltime SAHM with this one, so EBF it is. I'll buy a pump when the time comes for me to head out sans baby to grocery shop or whatever. I know it'll be a while, so I really don't mind. As far as BFing in public, I was so skiddish at first, only nursing in my car with a full cover up, but then I just got over it. Boobs, boobs everywhere! Buy one of those coverups or use their blanket. If anyone actually ever says anything negative to you, have a comeback prepared. You'll be surprised though, lots of encouraging comments from other moms! I even make it a point now to encourage a BFing mom in passing. I know the support is appreciated.

jennlin

kimbo1216:

Aunt Edna:

 Also, if you think BFing in public is bad, try EPing in public.  Your life revolves around that stupid pump.

Haha.  so true!  I apparently have no shame though.  I seriously pumped while at sea world.  And no.  I did not go to a gross bathroom.  I sat on a bench, whipped out the battery pack and nursing cover and went at it.  

 

you are my hero. 

edit: although i pump w/o a cover sometimes out and about, but not really public. i've done it in a "volunteers room" at a football game, i pump in my car all the time, and have had to pump in a bathroom several times due to meeting conflicts, and i don't use a cover.

CousinVicki

jennlin:

CousinVicki:

jennlin:

 

and to the pp who is weirded out by breastfeeding in public, there is absolutely no reason to think it's weird! it is the natural way of feeding your baby, and nothing to be ashamed of. if other people are uncomfortable, they can look the other direction. your baby shouldn't pay the price of others not understanding how a baby eats.

 

i am super pro bf'ing (obviously lolz), but i still used a cover when bf'ing in public.  i really didn't need my HUGE boobs hanging out. i am a modestmouse , but i don't think this means i am any  less serious business about bf'ing

 

 

i would not be able to pick this up from your posting, lol.

have you done one shirt up, one shirt down? (wear two layers, pull shirt up, pull cami down. i have double d's, and i never show more than one square inch at a time (currently still NIP my 16mo).

 

and i am also super duper pro-bf, pro-nip. my FB newfeed is a mess with all of my hippy groups

 

i go beyond DD when my milk comes in, it's nuts.    and i am only modest about keeping my ta-ta's in check, nothing else lol

 

 

MrsShankly1012

crunchymama11:

carriet2018:

jennlin:

if women want to do it, all the more power to them. I have been to many events when the nursing in public is right in front of you, and I am fine with that (I will say I prefer it to be covered up tho). but I personally just don't feel comfortable with it. not to mention if we are at a party or BBQ of some sort and DD needs to feed and I am in the middle of doing something I want the option to say "hey DH can you feed her"

as I said I am not saying 100% for sure I am doing it this way, I feel like this type of thing you just have to wing and go with what is right for you, child, & family. and you won't know that until you are in the situation. I could have supply issues, she could not take a bottle or boob, etc etc.  

::Sigh:: Net being snarky, I promise, but please read about BFing and pumping. Every single time baby takes a bottle you have to pump or your supply will suffer majorly. So if you are at a party, you will have to stop and go pump anyway so your supply doesn;t tank. It is just much easier to BF than pump.

Meh, once your supply is established, this isn't true.  Can you go 8 hours without pumping?  No.  But if you're at a party and your baby feeds every 2 - 3 hours, you can feed him/her a bottle of pumped milk, and then feed again when they're hungry.  I did this with my son on occasion, and BFed him to a year.  And I did not have the greatest supply to start with.

MrsMommyQ

CousinVicki:

no way, why would you plan this?  I mean during your maternity leave?   once you are working you have to, but even then you can still BF morning and night......

There are a lot of reasons I plan to EP. I'm going to give it a try. We'll see how it goes.

GibsonGirl620

MrsMommyQ:

CousinVicki:

no way, why would you plan this?  I mean during your maternity leave?   once you are working you have to, but even then you can still BF morning and night......

There are a lot of reasons I plan to EP. I'm going to give it a try. We'll see how it goes.

Do you mind sharing your reasons? As you can see, those if us who have EBFd are a little puzzled as to why you would CHOOSE this in advance.

I've heard of women having issues with the actual act of BFing due to an abusive past, but want their babies to have BM. I understand that kind of reasoning...

Sorry if these responses aren't what you were hoping to hear, but the STMs are right. EPing is no easy task.

Aunt Edna

kimbo1216:

Aunt Edna:

 Also, if you think BFing in public is bad, try EPing in public.  Your life revolves around that stupid pump.

Haha.  so true!  I apparently have no shame though.  I seriously pumped while at sea world.  And no.  I did not go to a gross bathroom.  I sat on a bench, whipped out the battery pack and nursing cover and went at it.  

Ha!  Yeah, I don't know how many weird looks I would get from people pumping in public or while DH was driving!  People seemed to be okay with BFing in public (which I have no issues with) but they would have to do a double take when they hear the noise from the pump and see tubes coming out from under the shirt instead of cute little baby feet!  I think it just caught people off guard.  But you have to keep on that schedule!  EPing is tough!  I would much rather nurse and be bonding with my baby than my Madela PISA!

coronitaextra

Ajoyd:

CousinVicki:

i am super pro bf'ing (obviously lolz), but i still used a cover when bf'ing in public.  i really didn't need my HUGE boobs hanging out. i am a modestmouse , but i don't think this means i am any  less serious business about bf'ing

I plan to use a cover too. I am still making the choice to BF my baby and I really can't stand when people act like it's a bad thing to use a cover. People should do whatever they're comfortable with, and for me, that is covering up.

 

 

sleepy33

GibsonGirl620:

MrsMommyQ:

CousinVicki:

no way, why would you plan this?  I mean during your maternity leave?   once you are working you have to, but even then you can still BF morning and night......

There are a lot of reasons I plan to EP. I'm going to give it a try. We'll see how it goes.

Do you mind sharing your reasons? As you can see, those if us who have EBFd are a little puzzled as to why you would CHOOSE this in advance. I've heard of women having issues with the actual act of BFing due to an abusive past, but want their babies to have BM. I understand that kind of reasoning... Sorry if these responses aren't what you were hoping to hear, but the STMs are right. EPing is no easy task.

Pretty sure MrsMommyQ is a STM...

ksimo6

EP - That is my current plan...but this being baby #1, I will have to see how it goes... if we have troubles, I may have to switch to the b00b or to formula. 

And please don't let anyone on here make you feel bad about your choices or your plans... you are that child's mother and you get to decide what is best for you and your family...no matter what your reasons are. 

MrsKocal

Aunt Edna:

Ha!  Yeah, I don't know how many weird looks I would get from people pumping in public or while DH was driving!  People seemed to be okay with BFing in public (which I have no issues with) but they would have to do a double take when they hear the noise from the pump and see tubes coming out from under the shirt instead of cute little baby feet!  I think it just caught people off guard.  But you have to keep on that schedule!  EPing is tough!  I would much rather nurse and be bonding with my baby than my Madela PISA!  

Funny story - I had a few all-day work conferences to go to while I was still pumping 2x a day at work. So, I had to lug my medela PISA with me, with the batteries in, to the conferences. There was never private room for me to go to so i would always have to hang out in a bathroom stall with my pump hanging from the purse hook and stand there for 20 minutes like a tool.  THE WORST. 

Anyway, I'd always try to find a bathroom sort of far from where the conference participants were to avoid anyone hearing the obnoxious pumping sound the medela makes.  Well, one time, a female security guard saw me go into this bathroom, which was in an isolated area of the hotel the conference was in, and I guess she got suspicious.  So, she followed me in and stood there for about 10 minutes. I could hear her come in and I figured she was just standing there becuase then I didn't hear anything else.  Finally, she said "excuse me, ma'am, is everything ok in there?"  At which point I had to explain, while strapped to my pump standing in a public bathroom stall, that I was pumping breast milk and everything was fine.  

Gah. Have I mentioned I HATE pumping? 

sleepy33

Mrs.Kocal:

Aunt Edna:

Ha!  Yeah, I don't know how many weird looks I would get from people pumping in public or while DH was driving!  People seemed to be okay with BFing in public (which I have no issues with) but they would have to do a double take when they hear the noise from the pump and see tubes coming out from under the shirt instead of cute little baby feet!  I think it just caught people off guard.  But you have to keep on that schedule!  EPing is tough!  I would much rather nurse and be bonding with my baby than my Madela PISA!  

Funny story - I had a few all-day work conferences to go to while I was still pumping 2x a day at work. So, I had to lug my medela PISA with me, with the batteries in, to the conferences. There was never private room for me to go to so i would always have to hang out in a bathroom stall with my pump hanging from the purse hook and stand there for 20 minutes like a tool.  THE WORST. 

Anyway, I'd always try to find a bathroom sort of far from where the conference participants were to avoid anyone hearing the obnoxious pumping sound the medela makes.  Well, one time, a female security guard saw me go into this bathroom, which was in an isolated area of the hotel the conference was in, and I guess she got suspicious.  So, she followed me in and stood there for about 10 minutes. I could hear her come in and I figured she was just standing there becuase then I didn't hear anything else.  Finally, she said "excuse me, ma'am, is everything ok in there?"  At which point I had to explain, while strapped to my pump standing in a public bathroom stall, that I was pumping breast milk and everything was fine.  

Gah. Have I mentioned I HATE pumping? 

OMG, this is totally the kind of thing I can see happening to me someday. She probably thought you were shooting up in there!

Aunt Edna

Mrs.Kocal:

Aunt Edna:

Funny story -

Gah. Have I mentioned I HATE pumping? 

That is hilarious!

kimbo1216

ksimo6:

EP - That is my current plan...but this being baby #1, I will have to see how it goes... if we have troubles, I may have to switch to the b00b or to formula. 

I'm not trying to be negative, but the odds of you being able to switch from bottled bm to the boob if you "have" to are not in your favor.  Most likely you would have to use formula as baby won't know how to nurse.

I'm not saying it's completely impossible, but I highly recommend at least trying to nurse first.  

ksimo6

kimbo1216:

ksimo6:

EP - That is my current plan...but this being baby #1, I will have to see how it goes... if we have troubles, I may have to switch to the b00b or to formula. 

I'm not trying to be negative, but the odds of you being able to switch from bottled bm to the boob if you "have" to are not in your favor.  Most likely you would have to use formula as baby won't know how to nurse.

I'm not saying it's completely impossible, but I highly recommend at least trying to nurse first.  

I can appreciate that...and if we end up on formula, that's ok.  I have personal and medical reasons for not feeding on the boob from the beginning.  My husband and I are trying to keep an open mind and be as flexible as possible.  Thank you for your candor and tact.... this topic gets very, very heated and I love an opinion delivered with care.