EP - Come In

cutelilme1210 · June 2010

I was curious how many EP we have on here. I have EP since day 1. I also wanted to just pump. It works out well for my family. I also was wondering if you ever get tired of hearing ... "Why don't you just BF?" or "Have you tried BF?" ...

tab.mcrae · June 2010

I started EP in the hospital too. I wonder this each time I am washing pumping equipment and bottles on top of taking time to feed LO those bottles. One day I tried BF again, and with much frustration, went right back to my trusty pump. It's not latching or supply that keep me pumping, but she does not spit up nearly as much drinking from the bottle compared to my breast and I love that DD can feed her also.

berrybuzz · June 2010

i started pumping because my daughter refuses to latch properly. it wasnt a choice but im still happy with it. now if only i can get my supply up again like it was when i still was having her do her nasty latch(she wasnt latching properly) its getting there but i was able to pump 8oz a sitting and now sometimes can barely get 4oz which we have to formula supplement now because im not able to express enough. its hard to make more formula bottles the breastmilk bottles but at least i know shes getting food either way.

cutelilme1210 · June 2010

tab.mcrae:
I started EP in the hospital too. I wonder this each time I am washing pumping equipment and bottles on top of taking time to feed LO those bottles. One day I tried BF again, and with much frustration, went right back to my trusty pump. It's not latching or supply that keep me pumping, but she does not spit up nearly as much drinking from the bottle compared to my breast and I love that DD can feed her also.

I am 110% happy with my decision also. I have never even tried to BF my LO. I wanted her to get breastmilk, but did not want to BF. Its sort of a long story. I just get so tired of people asking me why or suggesting that I should really start BF. Why does it matter as long as LO is getting the milk? That is the important part. People don't go around suggesting all the time to FF that they really need to stop FF and start BF. I don't understand why they do it to EP.

Shellbelle22 · June 2010

I don't anymore, but did for 6 months. And yes, those questions annoy me. I know they mean well, though. I think we are in the minority in that we pump by choice. Most EP'ers would rather BF directly and pump because of issues with nursing. Seeing the question of "Why are you pumping?" can come across as "Let me see if your reason is good enough".

Bianca42 · June 2010

I EP and have since about 6 weeks. (Before that, BF was occasionally great...but mostly a stressful battle. At 6 weeks he refused to nurse, period.)

It works great for me and I'm happy with the decision. The only time it's a pain is when I'm traveling home to see my family. It's just more complicated. (PIP is much harder than NIP.)

jdmarquez12 · June 2010

I get tired of it, too. I struggled with bf and it was so stressful for me and baby. I ended up producing more than 2x's the milk as what she eats at a feeding, so I have to pump anyways. It's a lot of work but in the end, I'm less stressed out. Plus since I'm freezing so much, I'm hoping I may not have to pump for as many months. (fingers crossed)

easyBreezie · June 2010

I've been EPing since day 1. Long term goal was a year but I'm actually going to go a bit longer than that. I cannot believe I've made it this far. I never ever thought i would make it this far.

Mrs_D_in_KY · June 2010

I get SO tired of people asking why I don't BF, because I go into this long explanation which usually ends in - I wish I could BF, but this is what works.

EPing sucked (in more ways than one) in the beginning, pumping all the time, washing bottles, pump parts, tending to DS, etc. It was frustrating. I credit my DH to keeping me on schedule the first month because that first month was a blur.

Now it is great because I pump more than what DS eats, so I have 400+ oz of frozen milk and we are saving a buttload of money still. Plus DH can help with night feedings. I just make sure I have a pumped bottle of milk ready for DS, and he has no excuse not to get up with him. LOL.

My mom's neighbor thought it was weird I am "still" pumping, but like I told her if I could BF directly I would do it in a heartbeat.

smilelari · June 2010

I EP but not by choice. I don't get annoyed by that question but that's probably because I wish I could just BF. It would be so much easier. I didn't start EPing until LO was 4 months old or so, so I've done it both ways. And I guess I don't really EP since now we have to supplement about 50% with formula

Ninety8prcntangl · June 2010

I plan on EP but when I attended a pumping class at the hospital the LC told me that I couldn't do it from day one because I would not produce milk if my LO didn't first stimulate the milk. Since then I have seen many people say differently. I am glad to see some people on here have been EP since the begining just fine. I believe that as long as my LO is getting the milk it would be better for weaning if it wasn't done through BF.

Shellbelle22 · June 2010

Ninety8prcntangl:
I plan on EP but when I attended a pumping class at the hospital the LC told me that I couldn't do it from day one because I would not produce milk if my LO didn't first stimulate the milk. Since then I have seen many people say differently. I am glad to see some people on here have been EP since the begining just fine. I believe that as long as my LO is getting the milk it would be better for weaning if it wasn't done through BF.

That's absolutely ridiculous, and I'm glad you've seen others say differently. Lots of moms pump right from the start. Think of all the preemies who get BM from their moms even though they can't nurse.

alicia11780 · June 2010

I EP, for both LO's, and have done so since coming home from the hospital. Both LO's just got formula while in the hospital. I never wanted to BF and didn't ever BF either LO.

I haven't had anyone IRL ask me those questions. The only people who really would have, like my grandmother and mother, were actually very supportive of EP even though they had never heard of it.

dafodils_lament · June 2010

Another EP'er here. I wish that I could BF but my LO has pretty much refused. She has a tight ferenulum, spent 36 hours in special care and had suck and latch issues from the beginning. I would rather hook up to the milking machine (as I like to call it) and feed her breastmilk than give up completely and go to formula. My goal is 6 months pumping and if we make it there then I may try to go to 1 year.

I really wished that she would have nursed but she would scream, arch her back and all in all BF'ing was/is a miserable experience for us both. She is getting the health benefits and both Daddy and I can bond with her while giving her bottles.

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