Exclusively pumping

jess123456 · November 2014

Hey ladies! Forgive me if this has been discussed before. My son is now a week old. He has a tongue tie (we are meeting with an ENT this week to discuss it further) so I'm finding that pumping is working best for us right now. Anyone else exclusively pumping and if so what has your experience been? It is very time consuming for sure but glad I can give him breastmilk.

Wondering how much you are giving your babies per feeding via pumped milk and how often you are pumping? I have been feeding him and then pumping immediately after. I can't seem to get far enough ahead of him just yet to build a stash but maybe I should pump more than I feed to help? Any hands free bras you would recommend? My friend said I could also just cut holes in a sports bra so I will try that too. Thanks!

lizgrace03 · November 2014

My son had a tongue tie as well and was having trouble with his latch. We had the surgery done to clip his frenulum but by that point he'd developed a preference for the bottle. I have been working with a lactation consultant to reintroduce nursing which has been going ok. But I've been pretty much EPing for the last two weeks.

I don't mind it, but it is a lot of work to keep up. He usually eats 2.5-3.5 ounces in a feeding and eats approx every two-2.5 hours. No stash for me either- he just eats too much, even though my supply is great and I pump every 3 hours. I had a friend who did the sports bra thing but I went ahead and bought the Medela bra for $35. It's been working out pretty good so far!

uncharted01 · November 2014

I'm EPing too. I pump every 2 hours during the day and whenever LO wakes up at night, so usually every 2 to 3 hours. It's a huge commitment and it's really exhausting, but I'm so happy I can give him breast milk. I have a double electric Medela pump so I pump into the Medela bottles and then pour the milk into an Avent bottle for storage/feeding. I don't like the Medela bottles for feeding - he splooges everywhere lol. I fill the Avent bottles with 3 ounces every time because any less than that and he still wants more, and any more than that and he pukes it up. If I have any extra milk from pumping, I use the Lansinoh storage bags. So far I have maybe 15 bags of frozen milk with 2 to 3 ounces in them. I have the Medela hands free bra and it is a lifesaver! I will say that you should get a few of them because I find they stretch out throughout the day. Once you wash and dry them they go back to normal. Also, the zipper on them is finicky sometimes. They're 20 to 25 bucks on Amazon depending on the size/color you buy.

Sorry for the novel but hopefully I answered all of your questions!

ETA: Here's a helpful website with TONS of info on EPing. This particular page is on how much expressed milk babies need

https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/

JamieK1882 · November 2014

Pretty much same as everyone has said above. The hands free medela bustier is a lifesaver-I just ordered a second one.

I pump about every 3 hours (or try to), but I let myself go longer at night.

I know everyone says EPing is more work, but honestly I love it. I never get as engorged as I did when BFing, DH can help, it's easier to feed out in public, etc.

Good luck!

uncharted01 · November 2014

@JamieK1882 + @Wicked22 - When you go out in public, do you bring the pump with you? So far I've only been to the pediatrician and I pumped on the way there (hubby drove). I'm nervous for longer periods of time out of the house and curious how you handle it.

kayd8 · November 2014

My boy turns two weeks old tomorrow, and we've been EPing. The advice here has been very helpful. There is also a thread on this board a few pages back.

Last night was a rough night, and during one of my short sleeps I had a dream we could breastfeed. Now that I have a routine, it's much easier than it was just a week ago. When it gets hard it's because he doesn't have a sleep/feed routine yet, and his needs and my needs clash.

I have spent a fair amount of money EPing, but hopefully these are just one time costs. I've bought a complete second set of suckers so I can always have a clean, dry set ready while one is getting washed. I bought a car adapter, but haven't had to use it yet. I got the Lansinoh hands free bra and like it.

I've been storing my excess in whatever quantity each session is, maybe I should work on changing that. His feeds vary so much though, I couldn't pick a good quantity to use. I use 2 oz as my base bottle size, but sometimes he takes a sip and sometimes he needs two or three of those. His meal size doesn't seem to correlate with how long it's been since he last ate either.

ktibbits1 · November 2014

I've been EPing for my twins and love the Simple Wishes bra https://www.simplewishes.com
They eat 2-4oz every 2-3 hours. Getting my son's lip tie fixed next week and hoping they'll be able to breastfeed after that because my supply is decreasing, in the beginning I was producing enough for both plus putting a few bags in the freezer, now I can barey keep up. EPing is hard!

krgriffin26 · November 2014

I've been EPing for two weeks now. LO is 3 weeks old now and eats around 3 oz per feeding. I pump every 3-4 hours during the day and 3-5 hour at night and usually yield anywhere from 4-6oz per pump session. It's working really great for us now and I'm really excited to see how long I can do this. My freezer stash is up to 45oz

uncharted01 · November 2014

@krgriffin26 - Do you only fill the bottles with the 3 oz your LO will drink, or do you put more in? I've been putting 3 oz in each bottle but sometimes after he finishes the 3 oz, he still looks like he wants more. However, any time I've given him more he just pukes it all up. So I'm thinking maybe it's just a sucking reflex? Any thoughts?

krgriffin26 · November 2014

uncharted01 said:
@krgriffin26 - Do you only fill the bottles with the 3 oz your LO will drink, or do you put more in? I've been putting 3 oz in each bottle but sometimes after he finishes the 3 oz, he still looks like he wants more. However, any time I've given him more he just pukes it all up. So I'm thinking maybe it's just a sucking reflex? Any thoughts?

I use the milk storage bags after I pump. I put 3oz in the first bag and the remainder of the milk in the second (unless I have more than 6 oz then I will use a third bag). I also combine bags to meet 3oz when making bottles. After 3oz I burp and rock LO and offer her the paci. If she is truly still hungry I'll grab a 1 or 2 oz bag and give her that as well. If she decides she is hungry in less than 3 hours from previous bottle I will offer her the 2oz first. Hope some of that makes sense. I just go with the flow and what I feel she needs. She gained a pound in 2.5 weeks so whatever we are doing seems to be working for us.

jess123456 · November 2014

Thanks ladies! This is very helpful! I am getting more and more used to our new routine. I have been feeding my son in his room and then he sleeps while I pump (could the noise of the pump be any louder? Lol). I find a 20 minute tv episode like House Hunters on Netflix or something like that makes the time go by a bit quicker. We are getting his tongue tie clipped this coming week so we will see how that changes things.

missnacholover · November 2014

I just want to say that I really commend you ladies for EPing. What a commitment! I tried to pump every 3 hours when Claire was first born and just couldn't keep up with it. I'm currently pumping 2x/day which yield enough for 2-3 bottles for her, and the rest is formula.

I just wanted to say I admire you all for your hard work!

Jenellesedo · November 2014

I am mainly pumping though I can get my little guy on a nipple shield once in a while. He had his lip and tongue ties clipped but still won't latch. It's nice to know there are other eping moms out there cause it's a lot of work!

gldnbearz · November 2014

jess123456 said:

Anyone else exclusively pumping and if so what has your experience been? It is very time consuming for sure but glad I can give him breastmilk. Wondering how much you are giving your babies per feeding via pumped milk and how often you are pumping? I have been feeding him and then pumping immediately after. I can't seem to get far enough ahead of him just yet to build a stash but maybe I should pump more than I feed to help? Any hands free bras you would recommend? My friend said I could also just cut holes in a sports bra so I will try that too. Thanks!

I only pump, but only get around 1-1.5 oz per session (about 3 hrs during the day and when LO feeds at night). The pumped milk is supplemented with formula and she takes about 3 oz every 2-3 hrs at 4.5 weeks old. Sometimes, she'll have a 2 oz as a "snack".

I don't know that'll I'll ever have enough pumped for a full feeding nor build a stash.

I like the Simple Wishes hands free bra as mentioned above. Pump time is aka bump time or Facebook time. The challenge is trying to pump when DH is at work and LO is crying.

uncharted01 · November 2014

If you ladies go out without your LO, what do you store your pumped milk in? I went to the doctor yesterday followed by food shopping and pumped twice while I was out. I brought a 9 ounce bottle with me but those 2 pumps totaled more than 9 ounces. Is there something larger I can take with me?

jess123456 · November 2014

uncharted01 said:
If you ladies go out without your LO, what do you store your pumped milk in? I went to the doctor yesterday followed by food shopping and pumped twice while I was out. I brought a 9 ounce bottle with me but those 2 pumps totaled more than 9 ounces. Is there something larger I can take with me?

What pump do you have? Mine is the Medela Instyle which I believe is only plug in.

kayd8 · November 2014

uncharted01 said:

If you ladies go out without your LO, what do you store your pumped milk in? I went to the doctor yesterday followed by food shopping and pumped twice while I was out. I brought a 9 ounce bottle with me but those 2 pumps totaled more than 9 ounces. Is there something larger I can take with me?

Do you have the Medela cooler pack? That fits 4 small bottles, which would be 20 oz of storage. I haven't had to pump away from home/baby yet, but my plan when I do is to do that, plus maybe a few storage bags in the case I'm away long enough to fill 4 bottles.

uncharted01 · November 2014

kayd8 said:

uncharted01 said:

If you ladies go out without your LO, what do you store your pumped milk in? I went to the doctor yesterday followed by food shopping and pumped twice while I was out. I brought a 9 ounce bottle with me but those 2 pumps totaled more than 9 ounces. Is there something larger I can take with me?

Do you have the Medela cooler pack? That fits 4 small bottles, which would be 20 oz of storage. I haven't had to pump away from home/baby yet, but my plan when I do is to do that, plus maybe a few storage bags in the case I'm away long enough to fill 4 bottles.

I do, I was just hoping to simplify things and not need to take 4 empty bottles everywhere with me. I wonder if it would be okay to put the milk into a thermos or something...? Or would that be a total no-no?

kayd8 · December 2014

uncharted01 said:

kayd8 said:

uncharted01 said:

If you ladies go out without your LO, what do you store your pumped milk in? I went to the doctor yesterday followed by food shopping and pumped twice while I was out. I brought a 9 ounce bottle with me but those 2 pumps totaled more than 9 ounces. Is there something larger I can take with me?

Do you have the Medela cooler pack? That fits 4 small bottles, which would be 20 oz of storage. I haven't had to pump away from home/baby yet, but my plan when I do is to do that, plus maybe a few storage bags in the case I'm away long enough to fill 4 bottles.

I do, I was just hoping to simplify things and not need to take 4 empty bottles everywhere with me. I wonder if it would be okay to put the milk into a thermos or something...? Or would that be a total no-no?

I don't know...all the storage guidelines get so confusing for me. I don't know what makes something an unsafe option vs a safe option.

gldnbearz · December 2014

How long are your pump sessions? LC recommended 8 minutes on, rest to massage breasts, then repeat another 8 minutes.

I've seen mommas mention 15-20 minutes and wonder how that is working out for you.

uncharted01 · December 2014

@gldnbearz - I do 20 minutes or until milk stops coming out. Whichever is longer.

ssstephanie214 · December 2014

Zulily has like ten kinds of pumping bras each around $21 right now

ktibbits1 · December 2014

Hey ladies, just got a promo code with my order for my second Simple Wishes pumping bra and thought I'd share. For a 35% discount (off $39) enter code SIMPLE35

gldnbearz · December 2014

@ktibbits1 - who is the retailer for that promo code?

ktibbits1 · December 2014

Oops sorry, that would be helpful! simplewishes.com @gldnbearz

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