Exclusive Pumping question

karacc18 · September 2014

Hi ladies, I've been EP since LO was 3 weeks, BF wasn't working out so this is the option that we went with. I have a few questions now that we've been doing this for about 3 weeks. I am trying my best to pump whenever he eats so I keep up supply, but sometimes it's impossible to feed him a bottle then get on the pump immediately after, so I feel mike my whole day revolves around feeding LO then pumping. Does anyone have experience with how to establish a better schedule at this point? Also, is my body going to be able to keep up with him and his growth spurts? I read all these things about milk changing as the baby grows, is it going to do that from me EP and not having the baby cluster feed? And one really weird question, does anyone else's nipples get almost purple/bruised looking at the tips after pumping? I changed to the large flanges and it still happens. Thank you in advance for any help!!! Also, I'm on iPad sorry for the formatting.

SoSayWeAll · September 2014

I have never exclusively pumped, but maybe you could get or make a hands free pumping bra so that you could pump while feeding a bottle? ETA- My nipples also look purple after pumping and I have no idea if it's normal. I am curious to know.

Peedy · September 2014

I exclusively pumped for a couple weeks. Yes, the tips of my nipples looked bruised. I asked DH to really step up on the feedings so that I didn't feel like pumping and feeding was all I was doing. When I had to do both of these on my own unfortunately it was less stressful for me to feed her, wait till she was relaxed, then pump

Luckily my boobs would feel engorged more frequently than she was awake at night, this helped me to keep up.

Valancyy · September 2014

I EP'd my first baby and my nipples were also purple/bruised looking. I tried every single flange size they make, and finally went back to the standard 24mm they come with.

You can mimic cluster feeding with the pump, it's called power pumping, it never really worked for me though, it's supposed to increase your supply.

I lasted 5 months EP'ing to give him all breast milk. Then for 2 more months I EP'd and supplemented with formula. By 7 months he was all formula fed. My supply did end up dropping around 5 months, but it's hard EP'ing!

I nursed my 2nd exclusively, at the breast and am doing to the same with this baby. Never had supply issues nursing at the breast, so I think if I had pumped more I could have kept up.

karacc18 · September 2014

Thanks guys- good to know about the purple nipples, I was afraid I was doing damage. EP'ing is definitely a lot more time consuming than I thought it would be, this is going to be quite the challenge when I go back to work. Plus, planning to leave the house is always a project depending on when LO ate and then when I pumped.... I've already pumped in the car a few times while out doing errands!

jlynn62511 · September 2014

I'm on going on week 8 of Eping. I've never had an issue with how much I produced. It just increased as time went on. If you need more, pump more. I used to feed LO then pump. So after every feed, I would pump. I would let it go until i was completely drained. My nipples would get sore so I would have the pump on very low!

My nipples are still purple after pumping. Eping got easier for me as time went on and I was able to Increase my supply and pump less throughout the day!

Now that LO is older and my nipples are out more (mine were very flat and she had a hard time latching), when she is hungry after a bottle, I will let her nurse. This may help with growth spurts and increasing supply too.

sujana22 · September 2014

My LO stopped taking my boobs. I am doing EP. My supply has dropped so I am trying to pump 8-9 times as recommended by LC.My supply hasn't increased yet. I am getting about 2oz in each session. I am eating lactation cookies and keeping hydrated. I don't want to give up yet.

sujana22 · September 2014

What is letdown? Do you mean power pump ? What does letdown do?

karacc18 · September 2014

Thanks! I am definitely not having supply issues at this point, I get 4-6 oz with each pump so I do end up with some to freeze to stock up, I was just wondering about the cluster feeding, but I guess I just have to pump more frequently to keep up with him. I do have the hands free bra and use that, I guess I just have to tough it out until 12 weeks when I can drop a few pumps. Also, I had read somewhere that your milk composition changes to become more filling as baby grows, so they get more nutrients with the same ammount. How does that work when you give them frozen milk from a few months before? Do you just give them more, because I thought they maxed out at 4-5oz even as they get close to 1 year.

raquelynn714 · September 2014

Purple nips here too-mostly when I turn my pump up to higher power. I almost exclusively pump (BF @ 7:30 every morning). I had the same issue... My LC consultant suggested pumping on a 4 hr schedule despite LO eating on a 3 hr schedule. I made sure I was pumping 20 oz a day. I played around with it, and now I pump 4x daily and produce a tiny bit more than LO eats.

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