Exclusively pumping Big Thread

spalumb9 · May 2014

I use the burp cloth to catch drips when I take the pump off, wipe my breast, sometimes use lanolin and stick it back in.

scarles · May 2014

@Jenn06L80‌ I pump for about 20 minutes unless I'm still spraying actively at that point, but I'm usually not. I've been going up to 25 minutes today because I had a plugged duct and I wanted to make sure it was clear. Like Katie said - I read in kellymom not to go past 20.

@KatieGummow‌ I don't clean mine off, but I always put the overnight bamboobies in after I pump. Not like it matters - I smell like breast milk constantly anyway and the nipple cream finds it's way on my shirt no matter what I do. It's a glamorous life.

Stace0616 · May 2014

I was told by the LC that breast milk has properties similar to Lanolin for soothing nipples, so she recommended rubbing the extra milk in after removing the phalanges. Since I pump at home, I am usually not wearing a bra except for while I pump so I can do it hands free.

KatieGummow · May 2014

Jessieann1020 said:
Are we all first time EPers?
Also, I know this is a thread for EPing but is anyone nursing their LO at all?

First time EP, here!

I nurse one of mine on occasion (for example, DH packed only 2 bottles for our Easter trip that included an hour drive each way, dinner, and an Easter egg hunt). So I nursed my latcher and gave my non latcher both bottles.

scarles · May 2014

First time EPer as well. My LO latched the first day in the hospital then decided he wasn't having it. After a week I stopped trying to get him to latch.

patunia7321 · May 2014

First time EPer here too. LO latched for the first 4 days but after losing more than 10% birthweight I had to supplement and we were never the same after that. I tried to keep nursing occasionally to get back on track but he wasn't having it. He'd latch, suck, get pissed, quit and eventually not even latch anymore.

spalumb9 · May 2014

First time EPer and FTM here too. LO never really latched so I gave up. I suppose I could've put more effort in but I didn't.

What's everyone's goal as far as how long do you plan to pump to provide BM?

Llm3054 · May 2014

I came across this thread and thought is share! I have a 7 month old and I've been EPing since day one. Also had a NICU baby that was on a feeding tube and was just a huge pain to get to nurse once we came home. I am now slowly weaning myself from the pump. I pump twice per day and I get one 7-8 ounce bottle that she gets in the mornings. But I am so glad I stuck it out this long! It was a rough journey. I did feel very tied to my pump and I would get so stressed and obsessed over my supply. One thing that helped me was to buy a can of formula and use it for times when I wasn't getting enough or when something would happen and I couldn't pump. For example I was on a road trip and forgot a part to my pump in the hotel. Didn't realize until 2 hours later and started freaking out. Then DH said just buy some formula until we can get to a babies r us. Anyways te formula made things less stressful for me. Good luck to you all! It's worth it!

irisheyez7 · May 2014

I gave up on BF day 2 at home because LO refused to latch and it was doing nothing but making for one angry, hungry baby and one tired and frustrated mommy. I too probably could have tried a little harder but it is what it is. I am pumping 6-10 times a day depending on my schedule and LO's as we are working on a routine now that DH Is back at work. I usually get between 3-5oz a pump. We try our best not to supplement due mostly to cost effectiveness but we do have to do it sometimes.
However, I am having issues with suction on my Ameda Purely yours. It sometimes works just fine, others it seems to not have a seal and I can hear a little air escaping. If I take off the white cap at the top it and snap it back on it will suction again for a few minutes and then go back to poor suction. Such a PITA. I bought new diaphragms and valves and no change! It seems I have tried everything and I don't know what is wrong! Adding mechanical issues to this whole process is making it 10 times more frustrating! Ugh. Anyone else having issues with their pumps?

patunia7321 · May 2014

@irisheyez7‌ I had some suction troubles, bought new diaphragms ect but ended up finding a pinhole in one of the tubes.

scarles · May 2014

@spalumb9‌ my ultimate goal is 1 year... My breastfeeding goal was 1 year, and I don't intend to change that with EPing. But that seems insane and I don't know if we will make it that far!! I'm taking it week by week at this point.

KatieGummow · May 2014

@irisheyez7‌ I had that issue with one side of the pump. Turns out the tube wasn't pushed in all the way into the machine. I thought it was the membrane the whole time.

@spalumb9‌ my goal is a year and a half, but I am taking it month by month. I read in a lot of places that it is really difficult to BF twins. I am working hard on my freezer supply for this reason. So, as long as I can make it one month I will feel great. Then three months, six months, etc.

Xxlilies · May 2014

My boy had difficulty staying latched due to some odd sucking
I just got tired of making him work so much for his food do decided to do the work for him and pump
I supplement with formula as well so he gets about a bottle of formula a day

I hate pumping too although I do like the quiet time
I would like to Create a freezer stash tho so know I need to pump more and not rely so much on supplementing when I don't feel like pumping for the 8th Time

patunia7321 · May 2014

My bf goal was one year but now I'm taking it month by month. We already hit the 1 one month mark DH and I discussed quitting and decided to keep it going for now. He REALLY wants me to keep going, but he tries not to be too obnoxious about it. He really does try to make it as easy as possible on me taking care of LO when he's home and I'm pumping and everything in the house that needs to be done. (It's helpful that he has always has been like that- he's a neat freak and I'm a walking tornado. Match made in heaven) We also have a lot of family nearby to help out, so I feel like any excuse I have to quit is a really selfish one. So here I am... Wah wuh... wah wuh... wah wuhhhh....

Jenn06L80 · May 2014

I am not new to pumping. I BF my daughter until she weaned at 14 months and only pumped when I was at work. This time, my twins spent 12 and 13 days in the nicu for feeding and growing mainly. They got used to fast bottles and really frustrated with the breast. I did not/do not want to pump. I am doing it and have a goal of 3 months. I plan to transition to almost all formula when I return to work full time in mid August.

Mamamonzo · May 2014

My left boob is such a slacker!

ambarnett1 · May 2014

First time EPer too. LO has a terrible latch and after battling jaundice due to dehydration, I decided pumping is for the best. It sucks. I wish I could just whip out my boob and put him on it, especially at 3am.

@Mamamonzo‌ my left boob is a slacker too!! It makes half of what my other breast does, but as of right now I have an oversupply, so I'm not worried about it.

spano41 · May 2014

My left boob produces less too!

KatieGummow · May 2014

Mine too!

KatieGummow · May 2014

Are we all right handed? (Not that it means anything)

macynsnoop · May 2014

Damn, odd man out here I guess! I got 20 ml off the right & 60 ml off the left today, this is normal, lefty does so much better! My little guy prefers lefty as well!

bacorrea · May 2014

I haven't been able to read all the pages, but I was wondering what everyone is using to store the breast milk? Basic ziplock bags? Fancy breast milk storage bags? Looking for the safest and most economically friendly way to store.

alyssa0410 · May 2014

@bacorrea‌ I store in bottles in the fridge and use breastmilk storage bags for the freezer. I have the babies r us brand. They work well. I've heard that targets up & up works well too.

Mamamonzo · May 2014

Right hand here! Spilled two bottles today! It's the worst feeling in the world

ambarnett1 · May 2014

@KatieGummow‌ not right handed here. I'm a lefty!

@Jessieann1020‌ fenugreek makes my stomach upset as well. I don't know why. Now I have an oversupply so I don't need it anyways.

@bacorrea‌ I used the medela breast milk bags at first, but now I'm using the target up&up ones and they are good as well. I think for 100 bags it was $5-$8, so much cheaper than the brand name ones.

KatieGummow · May 2014

@bacorrea‌ I am using the Kiinde twist bags. When I decided to EP and saw the Kiinde system on Zulily for half off, I took the plunge.

KatieGummow · May 2014

macynsnoop said:
Damn, odd man out here I guess! I got 20 ml off the right & 60 ml off the left today, this is normal, lefty does so much better! My little guy prefers lefty as well!

Mine preferred the right from the get go. I destroyed my left one (I didn't get a LC right away) so I preferred my right side also. I wonder if that has something to do with it.

tamaraaaa · May 2014

Late, but joining in the thread! So much great info already so thanks ladies!

patunia7321 · May 2014

My lefty is a slacker too!! Oddly, it's the bigger one. @Mamamonzo‌ I'm so sorry. That reallyyyyy sucks. @KatieGummow‌ how are you liking the kiinde system? I was going to get that before LO was here but I figured I'd wait to see how things work out, good thing because I wouldn't be able to use it right now anyway with my supply issues but it seemed like a pretty genius concept!

Xxlilies · May 2014

Left is slacking for me also and I'm right handed
I'm using the medela bags but that's because I was given a lot of them . Will likely use target brand in future
I was storing the milk in bottles in fridge but was constantly cleaning bottles all day so now use bags in the fridge and hopefully in the freezer soon

nycgirlkat · May 2014

Hi Ladies! I hope to become a member here. Long intro (sorry).

I'm 7 days PP with my little Evangeline and was induced only to have an unscheduled C-section after about 28 hours of non-progressive labor. As I recovered the hospital wouldn't let me eat until I passed gas (tmi, sorry) so I went 3 days without food, trying to breast feed with no success. We got home and she latched and got a little, but we had to supplement with Similac Advance to make up the difference.

I'm trying to pump every 2-3 hours to try to increase my supply which is slowly but surely getting there. I get 1 to 1.5 ounces at a session. Then we supplement to get a 2.5 ounce bottle.

The challenge is my supply is still low and I sometimes have to give her one full 2.5 formula bottle because I can't catch up which sends her wailing for the whole day. The gas and fussiness is awful and she is inconsolable. We're switching off Similac, but my pediatrician told us to try Similac Sensitive. So we've gone from Similac Advance to Gentlease with no success for the gas to Nutrimigen (on my own since family members swear by it). We also give her Mylecon drops at every feeding with no help.

For those EPers out there that supplement with formula, what do you use?

MrsSmith0312 · May 2014

Does anyone know how quickly what we eat gets into the milk supply? I tried googling it but was wondering if anyone had asked a LC. I'm trying to figure out if caffeine is making my LO puke.

KatieGummow · May 2014

@MrsSmith0312 said:
Does anyone know how quickly what we eat gets into the milk supply? I tried googling it but was wondering if anyone had asked a LC. I'm trying to figure out if caffeine is making my LO puke.

https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/caffeine/

KatieGummow · May 2014

@patunia7321‌ I haven't gotten it yet but I will let you know when I do! I just ordered the bags through amazon prime. Zulily takes FOREVER to ship.

Jenn06L80 · May 2014

I supplement with two bottles of neosure a day because my girls were born at 36 weeks and were really small.

MrsSmith0312 · May 2014

KatieGummow said:

@MrsSmith0312 said:
Does anyone know how quickly what we eat gets into the milk supply? I tried googling it but was wondering if anyone had asked a LC. I'm trying to figure out if caffeine is making my LO puke.
https://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/lifestyle/caffeine/

Thank you!!

Xxlilies · May 2014

@nycgirlkat‌ I had unscheduled c section as well my supply was about the same as yours when I came home now at 12 days p p I get 4-5 oz a session
I supplement with similac advance with omega 3 and 6

scarles · May 2014

I'm curious how the kiinde system will work too! I nearly ordered it too but decided against because we already had a bunch of bottles and other supplies.

patunia7321 · May 2014

Amazon prime has us spoiled, if anything takes more than 2 days or expects me to pay shipping I get super disgruntled. ha! And it's dangerous! One click + middle of the night pumping sessions= TROUBLE.

KatieGummow · May 2014

@patunia7321‌ HAHAHAHAHAHA me too!!

Is water so annoying to everyone by now? Beer has water in it, right?

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