November 2012 Moms
ironmom5
member
Exclusively Pumping? Come on in!
ironmom5
member
So I've noticed we have a lot of EPers on this board, and there's not really a "pumping" board (and if you're like me, you get kind of testy at all of the advice people give you on other boards when you mention EPing... you know, because you didn't REALLY try!) and there's not a ton of information out there.
Maybe we can do a pumping check-in, or at least intros so we know who to buddy up with if we have questions. What do you think?
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Re: Exclusively Pumping? Come on in!
For me, BFing has been a huge failure, though I'm still working at it. LO won't effectively suck, and after a bad experience with a nurse on day 1 and a bad reaction to formula, we had to syringe feed him for several days. He still wasn't eating enough or nursing, and lost almost a full pound in three days. At the pedi's urging, I switched to pumping and bottle feeding. His growth is back on track, and it's helped us bond a lot better than me forcing my boob in his face. He's nursed a few times, but not enough to be considered successful.
Checking in! Stamp my passport!
EPing because my LO won't latch. He gets one suck in and then drops my nipple. She said his tongue is underdeveloped & that he will grow into it & doesn't doubt that he will eventually latch on because he does so well nursing with a nipple shield. This is all according to my LC. I have my 3rd appt with her today @3pm today.
Problem is, I'm beginning to think EPing is easier than messing with the NS because the NS is a struggle, takes longer to feed him & I don't know how much he gets vs were w/ a EPbottle I know exactly what he's getting. Plus DH can help with feedings - a huge plus.
Ideally, I would like to be able to do both - thats why I keep going to the LC in hopes the LO can latch and I can keep both options open.
So glad to hear I am not alone. I did ok at the hospital with bring but when we got home it got so fustrarting we didn't do very well so now I am ep.
my question to you is how often does everyone supplement formula? Because since he is growing I am starting to not produce enough milk to keep up with him.
Thank you and hope everyone is getting some rest
I'm not a exclusive pumper, but I just wanted to say that I think it is awesome that you guys still make sure your little one gets breast milk.
I think it is ridiculous that people would think you didn't try hard enough. I think it's much easier to give a boob when lo is hungry then to have to pump, store and bottle feed. Honestly, I think I would have just given up and formula fed if I couldn't get LO to take the breast. So good job to you ladies!
I have been ep'ing ever since my milk came in.
My boobs have always been stupid huge, and I guess my nipples are really tough and dense. That combined with ds's "lazy" latch made for a lousy start in the hospital. It still just breaks my heart thinking about how he would just scream at me bc he was so hungry and frustrated. He hasn't ever screamed like that since.
At the very end of our stay, I spoon fed him hand expressed colostrum in the hospital. And then like I said, started pumping as soon as my milk came in.
I've tried to put him to breast a few times since, but we still had kind of the same problems, and the last time he had my nipple cracked and bleeding within a few minutes. So I'm on the pumping train for good.
Re: oversupply, I've been pumping about 40 to 50oz per day. Which is ridiculous, but I've already had mastitis and a few clogged ducts in my right breast. So, I really feel like that situation would be much worse if I was bf'ing directly bc there's no way he could empty my breasts. So I'm putting up with the oversupply for now.
I'm just counting down until 12 weeks when I can start dropping some pumps, hopefully!! I'm at 7 to 8 per day right now. I know I won't be able to keep that up once I go back to work at 18weeks.
"A new baby is like the beginning of all things--wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."
I'm not an exclusive pumper, but I was a working mom when my first daughter was born. I pumped during the day and bf at night. I don't have all the answers, but I'd be happy to share some of what I learned during that process.
Can pumping create an oversupply? Yes and no. Typically during the first 90 days, a woman has a natural oversupply while her body is regulating to baby's needs. If a woman begins pumping during this period of oversupply, it signals to her body that the baby requires that amount of milk and her body will respond accordingly. In that sense, exclusive pumping can create an oversupply. The body produces breastmilk in a supply and demand cycle. If the body thinks the demand is high, the supply will boost to match the demand.
Can pumping diminish supply? Again, yes and no. When a woman pumps, it is important that she mimics baby's eating cycle. Most women that find their supply diminishing while exclusively pumping have not adequately matched their pumping schedule to baby's eating schedule. For example, if a woman does not increase frequency of pumping during baby's growth spurts, her body has no indication that baby requires more milk. If a woman does not maintain a consistent pumping schedule, this can also cause a diminished supply. Missing a pumping session has an immediate effect on a woman's supply. The body assumes the milk was not needed and therefore slows production (that and your boobs are full and achy!).
"A new baby is like the beginning of all things--wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."
Straight pumpin'....?
Get it?
"Pumpin' ain't easy"?
"A new baby is like the beginning of all things--wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."
What are some of the reasons others are EPing?
My 4 week old was possibly burning more calories when BF than she was getting so she was not gaining weight very well, so I am temporarily EP and supplementing with Formula if I run low ( supply is decreased a little since i started EP) with hopes to go back to BF & Pumping if I can... once she gains enough weight to be strong enough ....
I pump lots. I nurse with the nipple shield, but lately with so many visitors, it's been easier to just pump. I have a Ameda Purely Yours and I pump every 2 hours for 20 minutes. LCs at the hospital told me every 3 hours at first, but Z really eats every 2 hours more than 3 so I upped it to every 2 hours. I get 4-6 oz in the early mornings, 3-4 late at night, and 2-3 during the day. If I nurse first, then pump, it's usually about 1 oz. I definitely feel like a dairy cow, hooked up to the machine every 2 hours, but it's starting to get easier. I just turn on the TV and zone out for 20 minutes while the pump does its thing.
Edit: I get those many oz per 20 minute pumping session.
I am able to keep up with his demand, even as it changes, plus another 12 to 18 ounces. Technically, yes, I've created an oversupply, but I'm okay with it. I go back to work in early January, so having the backup makes me feel more secure. Plus there's a great startup program in our community that gets donated milk to infants in foster care, generally who were born to mothers with drug problems. If we find we don't need the stash, it will go there.
Thanks for the info, Amy!
This. I think that while EPing can be done, it's important to know your goals and mitigate expectations, and I think you made that clear in your advice. I know for myself and a lot of the others on the board, EPing was chosen as an alternative to formula as opposed to EBFing. For me, I'm hoping it's a temporary solution, and baby will be on the breast before long. I appreciate the tips to try to get to that point.
For the November pumpers, I think the goal of the checkin should be geared toward these goals and just supporting each other on the way to them. With, of course, a little fun and snark thrown in for good measure so we don't go crazy. Whether the goal is to delay starting formula, getting back to breast, whatever, make sure you know those first so you can get the most out of the checkins. KWIM?
Now about this badge.... any volunteers?
You made me sign in for this one! We should definitely do a check in.
My baby was in the NICU for 6 days, so I started pumping when I was away from her and BFing when I was with her. We were doing great with the nipple shield until I brought her home. She eats A LOT. When I BF we stay up for 3 hours eating off and on. It's a huge PITA and my nipples started getting really chapped and cracked and feedings started to hurt bad. Plus things get messy with the NS and we both end up drenched in milk.
I already have an oversupply from pumping while she was in the NICU. If I fully empty my breasts I get out 8 oz total. I didn't know this was an issue until I talked to an LC and she told me I should start weaning and try to get down to 5 oz. With the way she eats I was always in pain and engorged. So pumping 5 oz every 3 hours has made both of our lives SO much easier.
Good article..
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/exclusive-pumping/
I'm a "January 13" mom with a preemie born 7 weeks early in November 12, so I'll probably be chiming in here just as much as (or more than) the January 13 board now...
I'm mostly pumping as LO is in the NICU and struggles to BF. I'm not sure at what point, if any, we'll be able to go to EBF so pumping it is. This thread was very informative. Thanks for the information... I'll be checking back often!