Exclusively Pumping Mamas come in

AJM796 · October 2008

Do any of you have any advice on how to get started? When you pump? How much is enough for a feeding? Anything else you could give me advice on? I'm not really enjoying bf-ing and I want to give DD my milk and try not to resort to formula so I need all the advice I can get. I know it will be double the work but I really think I want to switch to EP-ing. TIA :-)

katslep · October 2008

I'm not EPing, but my daughter is 6 wks old and eats around 3 oz a feeding.

squishysgal · October 2008

How old is your DC?---Can't really answer how much without knowing.

I started pumping when I was still in the hospital to try to get my milk in. I pumped every time DD ate so that I would be on her schedule and so that my milk supply would keep up with her demand. I had to stop at 6 weeks because I just couldn't keep up with her supply (though, I didn't really do anything special to increase my supply and I wasn't totally dedicated, so I am sure I could have gone longer).

mlkbride03 · October 2008

I EP'ed for three months. When I started, I pumped every two hours for the first 2-3 days (4 hours through the night). I did this to make sure I would have a good supply, and enough for each feeding. He was 2 weeks old and eating 2 oz. at each feeding. After the two hour days, I moved to every 3 hours. He quickly moved to 2.5 oz, and then 3 oz within a week or two.

You need to pump through the night even if she is not waking. If DH can help, it will make it soooo much easier. Getting started was really hard b/c I would be pumping, and he would need to eat. I truly felt like all I did was pump, feed, pump, feed. When DH took over some of the feedings, it really helped. After a month, I was able to spread the pumps to every four hours, and still get enough and keep a decent freezer stash. Pump a little bit past the last drop, which helps keep a good supply. I think I was on the slow side... it took me 20-25 minutes to completly empty with a double electric pump.

EPing was a very hard journey to keep up with. I found it almost impossible to go anywhere b/c of his feeding schedule, and my pumping schedule. Another hard part is trying to work pumping around caring for a newborn.... there were times when he would be crying, and I couldn't unhook myself, so I would carry the pump to where he was and try to quite him while pumping. Eventually I ended up switching to formula, but I know a lot of women on here are able to go a lot longer than I did. Also i village has a good board dedicated to pumping moms.

The one thing that I did like was that I always knew how much he was taking in, whereas when I was BFing I never knew how much he was getting,

Good Luck!!

bluestar0527 · October 2008

I am EP'ing---- DD does not latch on properly and I really want to make sure she's getting breastmilk. DD is only 5 days old but I pump every 2-3 hours and can get normally about 2 oz per session. I stay about 2 session ahead of her eating so we have extra incase she's hungrier.

I'm hoping this soon changes because I'm getting a better pump this week! I just want you to know it's okay to EP. I'm having a really hard time because she won't latch--- and I feel guilty-- but really, the only thing that matters is that she's receiving your milk. Feeding by bottle is also nice too because DH and I can share feeding times!

GL!

Octoberpunkin · October 2008

I'm still new at this but I figured I'd share with you my experience. We had difficulty with DS latching in the hospital and due to him being jaundice we had to supplement. I really didn't want to supplment with formula so I started pumping. DS wasn't flexible in switching back and forth from boob to bottle, so after a few frustrating days at home, we made the decision to EP.

I pump every 3-4 hours for 15 min and get anywhere from 4-6 oz (total from both sides) during the day and then I pump once over night. It's rough. I feel like once I'm done pumping/cleaning that it's time to start all over again. Little by little my supply has increased on it's own. Right now DS eats about 2.5 to 3 oz at a time and eats roughly every 3 hours or so. I have a small freezer stash started, but I'm not sure what will happen when he starts to eat more.

I have been toying with the idea of trying to BF again because it seems like it would be so much more convenient. No bottles to warm, no parts to clean/sterlize and feedings would go much quicker (maybe). But for right now I'll stick w/ what works.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do Smile

jerseygirl81 · October 2008

I could have written OctoberPunkin's story myself! Like everyone else has said, EPing is not a picnic, but if you're dedicated you can manage it. Check out the IVillage board for all the resources you could ever need, and good luck!

https://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppexcluspump

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