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Tell me about exclusively pumping (long)

KCH0906KCH0906
in D.C. Area Babies

First off, thanks for the responses to my c-section swelling question below - I'm glad I'm not the only one!  It's not as painful now but still frustrating.

I'm having major nursing issues with DS.  I had severe engorgement so he couldn't latch on and now that my milk is fully in he won't latch on, I'm guessing because he's spoiled by bottles.  I'm pumping about 2-3oz at a time and giving him that in a bottle and sometimes formula at night.  DH is back at work so I'm mainly doing the night shift and it's too hard for me to get out of bed to get the expressed bm and we have some ready made formula on hand.  Anyway, between feeding, changing, and then pumping the nights are awful but pumping during the day isn't that bad.  

Has anyone here just pumped exclusively, and if so for how long?  I nursed DD for around 6 months and while I'm not against formula I already feel guilty for considering it this early with DS.  I didn't pump with DD until she was a few weeks old because she latched on pretty well from the start.  I called my pedi who has a lactation consultant on staff but haven't heard back.  I'm just afraid I waited too long and there's no hope of him latching on.

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Re: Tell me about exclusively pumping (long)

  • doggylovrdoggylovr

    I'm sorry you are havign issues...I had issues with DS from the start ane exclusively pumped for 6 months...It was hard, don't get get me wrong...but it is do-able!!! I basically pumped around the clock every 3 hours for many weeks to build up a supply...

     

    let me know if you have specific questions...artslvr was an exclusive pumper for a long time....she is a great resource:-) she helped me os much!! 

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  • tomandcourttomandcourt

    Have you tried other ways to get your LO to latch? J had problems when he was born and we ended up using a nipple shield for a few months. I had to pump a little extra to maintain my supply, but it was a lot better/easier for me than EPing. I think he finally latched with the shield at about a week old, and we weaned him off it entirely by 8 weeks and he nursed like a champ until he was 16 months (when we were fully weaned).

     

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  • 2vthokies2vthokies
    Definitely keep trying to latch.  Check out kellymom and the kellymom forums.  Lots of good advice/information over there.  There's a technique called reverse pressure softening (or something) that I used in the beginning with DD #2 to get her to latch when I was engorged. You could also try nipple rolls (TMI??).  I would have an LC come out to your house or go into one of the free clinics (Loudoun INOVA has one on Wednesday).  With DD #1 we used a nipple shield for three weeks to get good at latching and I had a hella time with DD #2 (can't even tell you how bad it was), but we worked through it.  I used an LC from the Greater Washington LC clinic with DD #2 - she came out a few times.  It was $$$, but really worth it.  Plus, I could call her for free - and still do when I have questions.  I nursed DD #1 for 17 months and it was like starting all over again with DD #2.  Every baby is different.
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  • ArtslvrArtslvr

    I've EP'd three kids.

    DD #1 - for four months.

    DD #2 - for six months.

    With #3 it's been rather short lived.  He can only take soy formula.  But I'm still pumping and weaning from the pump - I'm down to pumping twice a day.

    I'm happy to answer any questions.  I don't recommend EP-ing over nursing though, I am really jealous of women who nurse.  EP-ing is a logistical PITA but for us was our only way to get BM into the kids.

    PS, with kids #1 and #2 I also used a nipple shield for a little while for both.  Definitely helped, though did not solve my particular nursing problems.  Worth a try for sure!!!!

    Wife, Musician, Fed, WW-er, and Mom of three little kids - not necessarily in that order.
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  • belizeitornotbelizeitornot
    I got some good info from a thread i started a while back. we're still trying to stick it out with BFing for now, but i do mostly pump on one side rather than nurse because we seem to have more difficulties on that boob. 
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  • ArtslvrArtslvr

    imagezerf77:
    I got some good info from a thread i started a while back. we're still trying to stick it out with BFing for now, but i do mostly pump on one side rather than nurse because we seem to have more difficulties on that boob. 

    Glad you have the link to that!  I actually went pack in the "My Posts" section to find that post, since I know I had typed a lot of info in that one.  The My Posts section didn't go back that far, so I couldn't find it. 

    Wife, Musician, Fed, WW-er, and Mom of three little kids - not necessarily in that order.
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  • flamencogalflamencogal

    I EPed for just over a year.  That being said, do EVERYTHING you can to avoid it.  It was extremely challenging!!!  At this stage of the game (up until about 12 weeks), you would need to be pumping 10-12 times per day to establish supply.  You will overproduce at this point most likely but it's harder to maintain supply when EPing.  Pumping is not as effective at maintaining supply as nursing is.

    Your LO is still really young.  I would recommend having an LC come to your house to help you with nursing.  EPing seems easier at first but it is NOT.  If you can get your LO to nurse, your life will be so much easier than EPing (not that nursing is easy--just easier than EPing).

    Not trying to discourage you because clearly it can be done.  But I would strongly encourage you to exhaust ALL resources/options before going the EPing route.

    When I was EPing there was group on the breastfeeding board that was helpful.  There is an ivillage group too that was helpful. 

    GL! 

    Kim

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  • victoria1212victoria1212 member

    I EP'd for 8/9 months and I guess I did not find it awful like others are describing. It only took 10-15 minutes per time and it gave DH the opportunity to feed DD and gave me some freedom. I used my pumping time to read a book since it seemed like that was a little bit of quiet time to just relax :-)

    The one part I did not like was that DD started sleeping through the night before I dropped the middle of the night pumping session.

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  • SofkaSofka

    I had a very similar situation, had to stop BFng and eP when DS was just a few days old; I did it for a week, I hated ePing! I met w/ an LC and we started using the shield, it took awhile but DS was able to latch on even after being on bottles for a week. I hated the shield too but not as much as ePing. You can still nurse, it's not too late!!

    9mo later, DS has never had a drop of formula and we are still using the shield but BFing is very impt to me so I worked thru our issues (which we still have).

     

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