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November 2013 Moms
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Exclusive Pumpers and/or breastfeeders come in

tjheldtjheld member
in November 2013 Moms
So I am an exclusive pumper and boy I am getting so burnt out!  I am hoping to quit at the end of May because I have so much froze so I know that I'm so close to finishing but boy its really hard work!  It doesn't make matters better that its beautiful outside and all I want to do is go outside for a walk with O.  Looking for some good encouragement and/or funnies!

Thanks! 
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Re: Exclusive Pumpers and/or breastfeeders come in

  • CaitS07CaitS07 member
    edited April 2014
    I EBF but pump 3x a day at work and there are days where I just want to say the hell with it. I feel for you EPers out there. Does your pump have a battery pack adapter? You could hook it up, pump and be outside at the same time?? 
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  • MrsAwesome1113MrsAwesome1113 member
    I give mad props to the ep'ers!! I couldn't do it. I have a hard time doing it once in a blue moon! I ebf and there are days I get frustrated. Keep up the great work!! :)
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  • 88sharonlee88sharonlee member
    I'm in the same boat! I'm pumping 3 times a day at work and dreaming about when I can/will give it up.

    My original goal was 6 months EBF, I'm at 4. I think I can make it to 5 months but I'm not sure if I want to keep going after that, but it's also only one more month!

    I'm looking forward to summer days where I don't have to be a slave to my boobs!

    What does keep me going is just telling myself that I got my pumping done today, that's one day closer.

    Also reading those articles that tell you the benefits of breast milk by duration. Like if you breastfeed this long you've given your LO these benefits and if you make it this long you also add these benefits, kind of like a game, I want to get to the next level!!!

    I would love to give up pumping but still be able to nurse LO in the morning and at night. I think I need to wait a bit longer before I have any chance at that, anybody know more about this being a reality? Or is that just a pipe dream?
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  • PirateMonsterPirateMonster member
    I take it one week at a time. It got easier when I dropped pumps - 6 times a day was insane, but 3 I can do. I used to have a goal of one year, but I think it's easier to have shorter goals to keep me going.
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  • Ninjamama86Ninjamama86 member
    EP'ers you are my heros!! I bf at home and pump several times a day at work. Gotta do what you gotta do, and I'm sure when you look at that sweet freezer stash you smile from ear to ear (I know I do!) Thank god for thebump and games on my phone to keep me occupied
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  • PirateMonsterPirateMonster member
    Oh, I have a heating pad over my glider which is where I pump at home. I look forward to maxing that puppy at the end of the day.
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  • mmm50mmm50 member
    I BF when I'm home and pump at work.  Lately I've been discouraged because instead of using a bag from our freezer stash once a week or so it has been everyday for the last week.  When I'm working I don't always get the chance to pump- since I work varying days and schedules and can't exactly tell the judge to wait because I have to pump.  I kind of miss the days when I had milk to freeze every day, but the things I have been doing aren't increasing my supply.  I know it isn't the end of the world if we have to, but I don't want to use formula.  hopefully our stash will make it to 6 months when we start solids and can hopefully build up the supply and maybe even donate again.  
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • Tmgs2013Tmgs2013 member
    I've been on both sides of the fence and let me tell you if I couldn't get DS to latch I would have quit pumping! It took him 11 weeks to latch on then 2 more weeks to work him fully onto the breast. After that I put away my pump! I just now started pumping to build up an emergency stash. EPing sucked and I have complete respect for women who pump!
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
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  • iluvmeg11iluvmeg11 member
    I EP too and I'm soooo over it! Initially I wanted to go for 1 year but that was before I knew how much of a commitment and how time consuming it is. Now my goal is 6 months then I am hoping to cut back to 2 pumps a day- one first thing in the morning and 1 at night- which should give me 4 bottles/day. I plan to supplement with formula whenever I need too. I have a small stash but not sure how long it will last me but for now I'm just taking it one day at a time.
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  • PirateMonsterPirateMonster member
    From what I've read, your supply can drop drastically when you go to 2 ppd because that's the real point where your body signals weaning. I'm going to hold off to drop to 2 when there's just a couple weeks left, as tempting as it is to not bring the darn pump with me everywhere.
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  • VegasGal1978VegasGal1978 member
    I EP too. Feel your pain, especially as the weather gets better. You aren't alone. My supply has dropped so I am slowly dropping pumps. I expect to make it to 6 months, then survive off of my freezer stash as long as it will last. As a trade off, I've decided to make LO all of her baby food from scratch. If I'm not providing fresh squeezed BM, and I have more free time since I don't have to pump I figure I can use some of that time to make her some yummy puréed treats. Hang in there! EP is hard work and you've done great!
    Can't figure out the signature thing, so here's the short, short version.....first daughter born on November 10, 2013. She was conceived through the magic of IVF after 2+ years of TTC.
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  • VegasGal1978VegasGal1978 member
    BrittAnnie19 said:
    Not meaning to hijack the post, and absolutely no judgment included. I'm just curious...for the EPers, did you eventually quit trying to nurse altogether or do you still try now and then but LO just hasn't caught on? Like I said, no judgment intended at all and I hope this doesn't sound bitchy. I really admire moms who manage to EP because I hate my damn pump (hooked up now).

    I made the decision to EP At about 5 weeks. Though even for a month after that, I tried periodically to get LO to latch. It just wasn't happening. It was very stressful for both of us and that was not helping matters. In the beginning I was doing triple duty, attempting to BF, pumping and supplementing with formula. It was exhausting. Finally I determined that in order to get LO BM I needed to consider an alternate method. I worked hard to increase my supply from the pump and achieved my goal of feeding BM exclusively. It was more important to me that LO get BM; the method was less important (though I would have preferred directly from me). My need to be a less stressed out mommy fueled my decision to EP. I couldn't control her latch. I could control the pump. This was the way I could ensure she got the BM I so strongly felt she should have.
    Can't figure out the signature thing, so here's the short, short version.....first daughter born on November 10, 2013. She was conceived through the magic of IVF after 2+ years of TTC.
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  • SV917SV917 member
    BrittAnnie19 said:
    Not meaning to hijack the post, and absolutely no judgment included. I'm just curious...for the EPers, did you eventually quit trying to nurse altogether or do you still try now and then but LO just hasn't caught on? Like I said, no judgment intended at all and I hope this doesn't sound bitchy. I really admire moms who manage to EP because I hate my damn pump (hooked up now).
    My daughter was in the NICU for 6 weeks, so I've been pumping for her since the beginning. I EBF her twin brother and it's been really hard with him. He used the nipple shield for 4.5 months, he is a super slow eater (finally getting a little faster at some feeds, but he can go 45 min to an hour plus with one feed).  When I tried BF with my daughter, she was the same way. She needed the nipple shield because she had trouble latching and she took a long time to eat and she still wasn't satisfied at the end of a feed. 

    While I don't love pumping, at least I know I only have to do it 15-20 minutes. I respond well to pumping so it actually takes less time to pump and bottle feed (especially since my husband can feed her while is feed our son). I've thought about trying BF with her again because things are a little better with my son and I have more experience now, but we have a good routine and I'm scared to mess that up. 

    To the OP, you can do it! May is not that far away! You'll have all summer to go outside and play. 
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
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  • rach1283rach1283 member
    mmm50 said:

    I BF when I'm home and pump at work.  Lately I've been discouraged because instead of using a bag from our freezer stash once a week or so it has been everyday for the last week.  When I'm working I don't always get the chance to pump- since I work varying days and schedules and can't exactly tell the judge to wait because I have to pump.  I kind of miss the days when I had milk to freeze every day, but the things I have been doing aren't increasing my supply.  I know it isn't the end of the world if we have to, but I don't want to use formula.  hopefully our stash will make it to 6 months when we start solids and can hopefully build up the supply and maybe even donate again.  

    I am in the exact situation. I keep reminding myself to not get discouraged but it feels like nothing I do helps my supply. I'm barely keeping up and not able to freeze as often so we are experimenting with formulas now. That way we have one that works before we are desperate.

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  • tjheldtjheld member
    so I just wanted to thank everyone for your help in this!  I know that May is not much father now but these encouraging words really helped!  I have ready them over and over while I'm pumping (It's like my routine now) :)  But thank you so much for your help ladies!  I really appreciate you!
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