Has anyone successfully moved from exclusively pumping to EBF?

Loue0709 · October 2014

My boys arrived 37w3d and due to some time in nursery and my low supply, my lactation consultant has suggested that I exclusively pump. I could nurse if I wanted to but she said it wouldn't do anything to increase my supply. I do try to nurse them at least once a day but their latch isn't strong enough when they do manage to latch properly.

I've been pumping for 11 days now and my supply is up significantly although it's not enough to EBF the twins. My hope is that I have enough supply to BF during the day and supplement with formula during the night.

Has anyone been able to move from pumping to BF? I feel guilty for not practicing nursing them more but with pumping every two hours and feeding them bottles, crying babies, it's hard to find the time to nurse. When I do manage to nurse, they don't get enough but tired from all the sucking that they can't take the bottle and keep crying cause they're still hungry.

I don't know how long I can keep this up

Aurora1181 · October 2014

I'll be following this post! I'm in the same boat. My twins were born at 32 weeks and they're now 2 weeks adjusted. I've been exclusively pumping for the past 10 weeks. I pump 8x a day for 30 minutes each time. What a pain! I also try to nurse once or twice a day, but it's so hard to find time to do so, when I can pump and give bottles in much less time. If I try to nurse both, I still have to offer a bottle afterward because they nurse so poorly, so it sort of feels like, what's the point? My girl just screams because the milk doesn't come out fast enough, and my boy can nurse for 20 or 30 minutes off and on but then STILL take 3 oz from a bottle. Pumping is the worst, but I don't know how else to do it.

CNYBride05 · October 2014

Yes

. Definitely doable! When I'm not mobile, I can post more details.

rachelkongsore@hotmail.com · October 2014

Mine were born at 35w0d. I pumped exclusively for the first 3 1/2 weeks, never needing to supplement, I was pumping 10 times each day for 20-30 minutes and it was miserable!!! I said I was done pumping and that they were other going to nurse or do formula because pumping was so much extra work. So here is how we transitioned to EBF, which we did exclusively for 14 months...... I took to my bed and had a nursing vacation as my LC called it, and basically nursed or tried to nonstop for the next 48 hrs. This was hard because you worry that they aren't getting enough of are too little still, but as my LC said, they won't starve and they did get it!! I'd say to trust your bodies ability to nurse them both. I never got as much milk pumping as the babies got from me nursing. The pump gave me terrible plugged ducts also. As I said we EBF for 14.25 months (solids started at 6 mos tho) and loved every minute of it.

CNYBride05 · October 2014

I pumped every 2 hrs round the clock for the 1st 6-8 weeks, we heavily supplemented, and when my milk finally came in at 4 wks pp, I co tuned to pump my ass off to build supply. At 9 wks, the girls were EBF. 15 months old now and still nursing

Kaly16 · October 2014

I did! My twins were born at 35.2 and in the NICU FOR 9 days. I nursed my older two for 13 months each and I was DETERMINED to do the same for the twins ( at least- I hope I can!). I was pumping every 2.5/3 hours round the clock. Babes would spend 25 minutes nursing (and then take 2 oz from a bottle) and I would pump. It was miserable. Their latches were bad, I was exhausted and my nipples hurt SO BAD. I finally got them latching ok during the day and I would nurse ALL. DAY. I would pump whenever I had 15+ minutes. I pumped/ bottled at night because they just wouldn't latch. When I finally got them nursing really well during the day I tried it at night and we have been going strong ever since. It was ready hard at growth spurt time though ( 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months I think) bc DS WANTED TO NURSE CONSTANTLY! I felt like I couldn't keep up. I tried fenugreek and it worked and I felt like I was doing ok.... You can do it! Good luck

Ylvelill · October 2014

I didn't have success. Mine were born at 33 weeks. I have been pumping and bottle feeding since birth. We tried breastfeeding but they never got the hang of it. At 4 months they now eat more than I can pump so we have started to supplement. I pump about 40oz per day and have since week 4.

I hope it works out for you, I am sure it can be done, but you really need to focus. I could not work out the logistics of practice, bottle feeding, pumping and sleeping so they never got good enough at latching.

Want a personalized experience?

Has anyone successfully moved from exclusively pumping to EBF?

Re: Has anyone successfully moved from exclusively pumping to EBF?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards