Do/Did you exclusively pump with twins?

LMK8605 · October 2009

I have 1 month old twins and I am thinking about switching to EPing... I am not making enough to feed both babies (we supplement with formula) and the stress of BFing, giving a bottle, then pumping for 10 minutes for each feeding (with TWO babies) is wearing me down... I don't think I can do it anymore.

What made you switch to EPing? Has it made life easier? Do you regret it or have any problems with it?

Thanks!!

raisingarizona2008 · October 2009

I have always just pumped. One of my girls had horrible colic/reflux and would scream so feeding was impossible. The other didn't latch right, so I decided to pump. Honestly it isn't the easiest, but I am committed to doing this for a year. It helps that my dh can take feedings during the weekend so I can take a nap or run to the store, etc.

lisa&andy · October 2009

DS was in NICU so I pumped for him and just kept at it with DD. Washing 2 bottles is no different than washing 1 and plus it makes it easier that DH can help with feedings and I don't feel chained to the house/kids when I need to go run errands. It was hard at first trying to keep at it every 3 hours, but now it has become such a routine that I don't even think about it. My supply is great for one baby, but with two its hard for me to keep up so after the first month, we started supplementing and haven't looked back. HTH!

BitterOldHag · October 2009

I did for 9 weeks. S never wanted to latch and once J was off TPN in the NICU we had to measure every ml for a while so it was easier.

I quit because of time and supply issues.

Temp159135562506975 · October 2009

I EPd for griffin for a little over 2 mos... and EP'd for the twins for 4 weeks- it was too time consuming for me with the twins + toddler to do it longer than that... i'm much happier now that we are FF totally.

do what will make you happier- try EPing - see how it goes. A happy mom = happy baby.

but do know that EPing is not easy - it's a lot more work in some ways (though it sounds like you are pumping and nursing so that is more work for sure). Your supply may not be as good with EPing, too.

gumiberg · October 2009

I cant pump enough milk for babies (I only get 2oz per breast, on average) however when I nurse, they can eat up to 5oz (I weigh them before and after). That is one downside of just pumping...it just doesnt get as much milk out as babies.

My babies can be full off the breast until evening...either then my supply is low, or they are extra hungry or both...so I feed them and then DH gives them each a few ounces of formula, which is no big deal to me because they go to bed happy and full! You can always do that - nurse and then just give a few ounces of formula.

I stopped pumping unless I miss a feeding and my supply has stayed the same. I used to pump after feedings too and yeah, that sucked big time.

ncsubride · October 2009

I did it from the beginning and it worked for us. I loved that they were getting breast milk but loved that others could help with feedings.

Melin086 · October 2009

I EP'd for Kaden and Nolan for a full year. We had to supplement formula at night. I tried for about a month to BF them but they never were good at it. I would nurse for 30 minutes and then 15 minutes later they would be hungry again. It got to be too much work with a 2 1/2 year old in the mix too. I wanted them to get BM for a year so pumping was the route to go for me. I'm happy that I was able to do it for a full year and have no regrets.

MNheidi · October 2009

IMO, EP was a big PITA. Luke wouldn't latch and yeah, after 2 weeks of trying, I decided to pump (although we supplemented as well). It's just very stressful b/c you have very little time for yourself. If I can remember those first few months when they were eating every 3 hours, I could barely get out of the house.

I don't regret doing it b/c I know I was doing my best for the babies but it was NOT easy and I wish I had tried harder to breast feed.

togagirl · October 2009

I did it for 8 months (until my supply really dried up when I got pregnant again) and it worked for me. The boys got used to the ease of bottles in the NICU and I couldn't get them to latch. But that said, I'm really looking forward to straight breastfeeding this time. I think it will be so much easier than all the pumping and bottles and stuff.

jlc071903 · October 2009

yes, I did for 11 months...they ate my freezer stash the last month!

My girls were 30 weekers and by the time they were home it was just easier to keep pumping a bad case of thrush killed our BFing and then we ahd some severe eating issues that pretty much just demanded that they be bottle fed. So I pumped and pumped and pumped.

Barb0525 · October 2009

Mine had some latch issues and I could only feed one at a time and they took forever, and then with pumping after, it was just horrible - so I switched to EP and it has worked great. I guess I am luck to have a good supply, I am easily able to pump enough for two. I started cutting out pumping sessions and found that I'm still able to get the same amount even though I pump less often. Pumping every time that we fed (7x per day) was just too much time so I cut it back to 4 - of course at first I got really engorged but I was able to get a ton of milk out the first time, then since I took out so much I guess my body just kept making the same amount.

For me EP is just a lot easier than breastfeeding. I don't know how long I will keep it up after I go back to work next week but I'm glad I've been able to give my babies BM!

HisLobster · October 2009

I EP and have been since they were just a few days old. Early on Stasia was back in the hospital for jaundice so she got a bottle anyway, plus I was always paranoid they weren't getting enough. Plus, my supply has always been more than they could handle. I hated having to nurse and then pump. I also wanted my DH to be able to feed them. I'm less stressed than if I was nursing and pumping, but I hate having to pump. I pump 4 times a day so it's not as bad as the first couple of weeks when I was pumping every 3-4 hours. I just keep telling myself that it's for my girls, and that makes it better.

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