Stricly pumping?

Re: Stricly pumping?

• VickyTGAW member

  April 2014

  Greetings!  The common term for solely using the breast pumping to procure milk and bottle feeding the baby is "Exclusively Pumping" (EPing for short).  And I can attest that it can be done.  I exclusively pumped for my first son (who was born 5 weeks early) for 16 months.

  There are some resources out there.  Some links to help you get started: 

  Exclusive Pumping Resources from KellyMom
  Exclusively Pumping Info from Medela
  Proper Handling and Storage of Human Milk from the CDC

  I also found some sections of the book Breastfeeding Made Simple to be helpful (It's focus is not pumping, but it helped me in regards to building up a full supply, deciphering newborn poop and milk storage suggestions).

  I EPed for my first son, but I am currently nursing my second son.  It's been my experience that EPing is harder than the direct breastfeeding, but you need to do what will work best for you and your family.

  If you do Exclusively Pump, some musts:
  1) A hospital grade pump that does both breasts at once (I use a Medela Pump in Style)
  2) Hands-Free Bra (I used the one from Simple Wishes).  If you are pumping a lot, you are going to want your hands to be free. 
  
  Other accessories I found to be helpful:
  1) A car power adapter (I do a lot of pumping in the car)
  2) Medela Quick Clean Wipes - Since I do a lot of pumping in the car, these wipes helped me clean without running water.
  3) Medela MicroSteam Bags - After work, I usual do a good steam sanitizing of everything.
  4) Extra Bottles - Especially when it came to daycare, I wanted to make sure I had enough bottles to send a full day's worth of milk to daycare AND enough empty bottles to pump into.   I have around 10 5-ounce bottles I rotate around.
  5) Breastmilk storage bags - to freeze.  Tip-- freeze in small 2-3 ounce amounts.  Some daycares require the milk to be ingested within an hour of thawing (though NIH and CDC guidelines is to use the milk within 24 hours).  By freezing smaller amounts, you are ensuring daycare won't throw un-ingested milk out.
  6) Smart Phone or Kindle - Things to pass the time while you pump.

  A quick overview--- basically you would start pumping when the baby was born.  The first few weeks are going to be the pits.  You're going to want to pump every 2-3 hours.  When you are up in the wee hours of the night pumping, know that you aren't alone.  Somewhere out there, there is another mother attached to a breast pump getting milk for her baby and many mothers like me came before you.  And you aren't always going to have to do every 2-3 hours.  Once you get your full supply (if memory serves correctly, it'll be between 750 - 1000 mL), you can start spreading things out.  I was able to sustain a full supply with 4-5 pumps a day.

  A pro of EPing--- other people get to help you feed the baby.  With my first son, my husband would take over all the feedings at 1 AM and I was able to get some rest.

  Anyway, I hope this helps you a little bit!

  Vicky Working Mother to 2.5 Year Old Sagan (Sagan's Medication-Free Hospital Birth Story) and 10 month old Dyson (Dyson's Medication-Free Hospital Birth Story)   In my limited "free" time, I've been experimenting with 3D printing breastfeeding pendants and breastfeeding charms for Origami Owl Living Lockets.  I also collect Views While Nursing when I'm out and about and would love to see *your* Views While Nursing too!  : )

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• slh6363 member

  April 2014

  Yes it can be done! If you are 100% committed and realize the time it will take up then yes! I have been EPing going on 7 months now!

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