Anyone plan on breatfeeding/pumping?

3littles3angels · August 2017

Saw a ladies talking about pumping in the intro thread so figured I'd start one just for that

I pumped for my second child while she was in the NICU for 10 days and when she hit a month old switched to EBF....sadly my mild dried up two weeks later.

I pumped for my third while she was in the NICU and we started working on breastfeeding once she came home 6 weeks later. Took a couple months for us to become EBF but I'd still pump too after she was done. Ended up donating 2,000 plus ounces and nursed her for 3 years.

I plan to breastfeed and pump again. I'd love to donate milk again!

createmagic14 · August 2017

Wow, 2000 oz! That's amazing!

I breastfed until my son was just shy of exactly 2.5. We actually just finished on Aug 2. I pumped a little while he was in the NICU, but he also took immediately to the breast, so I only needed to pump when I was away from him then. I also pump at work, which sucks (pardon my pun), and I hate it, but I'll do it for the first year like I did for T. I bring soooooo many germs home from work that I feel like the least I can do is deal with the pump and losing my prep to give him some antibodies.

artlea2013 · August 2017

I'm still breastfeeding here at least once a day, though it's been uncomfortable this week. DS is 14 months and rises with the sun looking for breakfast. It's still so much easier to just plop him down in the spot on the bed DH just vacated to feed him instead of going all the way downstairs to grab his milk cup and whatever other breakfast food. Plus, that way both of us might actually get to sleep a little more.

I pumped at work until the week after his first birthday in June. I agree that pumping is the worst, but being able to hide from everyone for an hour a day plus prep & clean up time was nice. Oh, and providing milk for him, of course

dinonugget · August 2017

I bf and pumped for my first for a year and bf and pumped for my second for just over a year. I actually thought I'd nurse my second longer but he self weaned at 12.5 months. I actually just finished pumping and bf mid May. My plan will be the same for this baby. I had a huge oversupply last time which made going back to work easy but it was a pain when he was little because I constantly had to pump because he wasn't eating enough. I averaged around 900-1000 oz in the freezer at any one time.

@3littles3angels you're amazing!! I was excited to donate 200 oz last times but 2,000 oz is absolutely incredible!

3littles3angels · August 2017

char245 · August 2017

Wow that's awesome ladies! We tried BF but due to an unfixable tongue tie we were not able. So I ended up exclusively pumping. We have the Medla pump in style which is good but I was wondering if anyone has a different brand that they loved? For this baby I'll try BF again but want to be prepared in case I need to pump again.

createmagic14 · August 2017

@char245 EPers are a special kind of hero to me. I hated that pump and was so glad to be done with it. You're awesome, mama.

dinonugget · August 2017

@char245 you're awesome for EPing! I got the Spectra S1 part way through last time and I love it! I was using the Medela PISA prior and personally thought the Spectra was so much better.

elu8108 · August 2017

I'm currently still bf for my 17 month old in the morning and the evening, but hoping pregnancy will help her decide to wean. I had to EP for the first 2 months before she was able to bf, so I have a ton of respect for those of you who did it for an extended period of time, pumping is seriously hard! I'm hoping to be able to bf the next baby as well, but I've still got the pump just in case.

yesthisiskim0401 · August 2017

That pump noise still haunts my nightmares! Ha
DD1 was BF and FF. DD2 was EBF. I plan on BFing but will see what will happen! #fedbabiesarebest

fishsticks-n-custard · August 2017

**lurking from April**

@char245 I agree with @dinonugget about the spectra S1. It's amazing. I started with a PISA and with the spectra got a 25% increase in my pump volumes. Plus you can still use all your medela parts with this adapter. Also really nice to not need an outlet. When I was doing triple feeds at home, it was great to be able to walk around while pumping.

char245 · August 2017

@dinonugget and @fishsticks-n-custard thanks! I will definitely look into the spectra!

AliW220 · August 2017

We EBF for 6 months, and as a FTM (my 8yo is my step son), it was so much freaking harder than I thought. Add in oversupply and overactive let down and it was a struggle the whole time. I wish I would have stuck with it, but given the circumstances, I'm proud I did it for so long. With the over supply, I was able to build up enough in the freezer to keep him on my milk until he was 10 months.
My goal with this babe is to get to a year, older wiser, better support (at work and home).

I also had a PISA and liked it! But pumps have gotten so much nicer (MIL bought it for step son's mother when he was born, but she never used it, so I got if for free back when pumps werent covered by health insurance). I will be looking at that Spectra too!:)

chocomom2 · August 2017

I nursed DD for almost two years and pumped when I was working. I plan to do it again. I feel like I have a better idea of what I am getting into and what worked for me so I'm hoping to have similar success.

ckoenig87 · August 2017

I still nurse DS in the mornings when he first gets up, he turns 2 tomorrow 8/25. I pumped while driving for work (hands free pumping bra whaaaaat!!!) for the first 1.5 yrs. Tough stuff...but worth it

justsuzie · August 2017

FTM here and I hope to BF. We are pretty hippy dippy over in my home and right when DH found out I was PG he stop buying any processed foods and went completely organic. I think he went a bit overboard. But there's nothing more organic than breast milk, so I hope to BF for as long as I can. @3littles3angels Wow, good for you for donating. I've heard BM is like liquid gold.

char245 · August 2017

@justsuzie love that your DH starting buying all organic, that's adorable!

Kaysquared2 · August 2017

I’m still nursing my 20 mo old. I for sure plan on nursing with this next one as well as pumping as I work 2 days a week. I’m hoping this one takes bottle as DS hates bottles and basically didn’t eat on the days I worked.

rowboat4 · August 2017

I nursed my daughter all the way up until last Wednesday when I finally told her I had no more milk. She was almost 2.5. I plan to BF this one for at least two years as well, but this time I will be working full time, so I'll have to pump, which I'm not looking forward to.

Cerisrichard · August 2017

I BF my first for 14 months and stopped when I was 17 weeks pregnant with ds2. Ds1 wasn't ready to stop his night time feed and I still regret stopping before he was ready. I think he just liked the comfort of it as he took hardly any milk. When ds2 was born my milk came back in to the level ds1 had needed and I had a horrendous over supply for the first few weeks. I BF ds2 for a year but he weened himself.
looking forward to BF baby number 3, though I tend to get quite sore.

Jennifer102011 · August 2017

I BF/pumped for a year with DD and had a 3 months stashed in the freezer. Hoping to be able to BF again, but will pump if I have to for at least a year

bearwithme · August 2017

I breastfed my first for over two years (he weaned himself in June) and I plan to breastfeed again. I pumped a TON with the thoughts that he'd use it while I was at work, but he refused a bottle from about 5 months on and refused any other source of hydration until he was about 18 months old when he took a sippy cup with water. We also had a ton of obstacles include poor suck/swallow/breath coordination, poor latch, reflux, and I had mastitis three times. In spite of all of that, yea, we'll try again. Here's hoping the next breastfeeding journey is a little less stressful, ha.

3littles3angels · August 2017

@KD5624 My youngest was in the NICU for 6 weeks. She took a bottle there since I could only be there on the weekends. She was over an hour away and we have 2 others kids who were in school and daddy worked. Took months to become EBF after she came home. Got thrush 3 times, lots of clogs and latch issues...even got this horrid lump on my nipple that the doctor had to squeeze blood and stuff out of but so worth it once we got the hang of it. She refused cows milk until she was almost 3 years old lol.

hxtaru · August 2017

I breastfed for about a year with my first (ten years ago now). I remember how much of a struggle it was! I ended up pumping for when we were out just for convenience purposes, and never really too much past that.

I definitely plan on doing the same thing again with this one, and hopefully longer this time. I had a cheap pump but it worked, and family also liked feeding her, so I will probably do that again.

ivyvines6 · August 2017

We started off supplementing right after we left the hospital because DH was pretty jaundiced. Then he was EBF until the six month mark, and he's still nursing at 17 months. It just dawned on me that if he doesn't wean during this pregnancy I'm going to be nursing/lactating for the next two or so years without a break

ninja_and_roo · August 2017

I have a 7 and a 5 year old. Breastfed and pumped for my first daughter for about 6weeks, but my supply was low and I didn't have a good support system at the time so I stopped. Second daughter was almost exclusively breastfed for at least 6 months before I stopped due to work. This baby I would love to breastfeed a year, but we will see how it goes!

Kennedy0830 · September 2017

I breastfed my DD for 13 months. I had an oversupply and was also able to donate about 1,800oz to a Milk Bank and local mom of an adopted child. I'd like to be successful again, but I just weaned 2 months ago so the thought of massive clogs and tears are still burned in my brain

charlestonchew · September 2017

So... Just bought the medela sonata. May have been a moment of insanity, especially since I'm barely past 4 weeks lol

ivyvines6 · September 2017

Kennedy0830 said:

I breastfed my DD for 13 months. I had an oversupply and was also able to donate about 1,800oz to a Milk Bank and local mom of an adopted child. I'd like to be successful again, but I just weaned 2 months ago so the thought of massive clogs and tears are still burned in my brain

I never had a clog or mastitis until after the one year mark. I was pretty pissed.

Also, I'm always amazed with women who pump so much and donate like that. I'm too lazy, even with a slight over supply. You've done a great service to your community with that.

Kennedy0830 · September 2017

@Knottie9983816 it wasn't my intention but my boobs had other plans

sandbar517 · September 2017

I was able to breastfeed my twins, H self-weaned at 11 months and I weaned A at a year. Pumping is the biggest PITA of the postpartum period in my opinion (especially at work), but I'm hoping to be able to do it again. @charlestonchew My insurance provided a medela pump (I don't remember the exact model), you should check your plan!

charlestonchew · September 2017

@sandbar517 thanks!

labgrand2012 · September 2017

I BF my DS for 15 months. He was tongue tied, that went unnoticed for about 2 weeks. So I was pumping from about day 4 because of how sore I was. So DS was both bottle and boob feed from early on. I actually enjoyed this as then DH could help out and we did not have to try to do a transition before I returned to work. At about 9 months DS weaned and went to only bottle feeds so I exclusively pumped for the remaining 6 months. It was not the easiest of things, but wasn't too bad. What I really liked is that every night my DH would wash all my parts and bottles. That was his way of contributing

and that really helped me out so much knowing all I had to do was just make sure I packed everything for work and then put it in the bowl to be washed at the end of the day. I was also able to build a bit of a stash so he had milk for a few more months after I stopped pumping. I am hoping to get a bigger stash before I return to work this time. My DH and I went away for a weekend for a wedding and my mom did not know that DS would eat so fast and then cry because he did not realize he was full, so she used up a lot of my stash. That did out a lit of pressure on me the first few weeks of being back because I was hardly replacing what was used that day. I am not sure how long I will do it this time, I am just going to let myself decide at the time. We have my sister in laws wedding in April 2019, so it would be fun to be done before I go to that so I dont have to worry about that, but I am not sure I will be able to stop before the year.

TeacherMom2015 · September 2017

My son is 27 months and still nurses...like all the time lol. I'm so ready to be done. I need a little break before this new baby comes.

ccvslp · September 2017

I plan to try. Pumping will have to be a part of it, too, as we will have to use full time daycare when I go back to work in September (school speech therapist.) The good news is my sister is a nurse in OB and works with moms post partum, so supporting women breastfeeding is literally part of her job and she lives very close by!

@sandbar517 Wow, that is awesome that you BFed twins! My sister had said that she doesn't but even know if she would try it's so hard (and she's a major BF supporter!)

@labgrand2012 as a speech therapist I have a lot of dealings with tongue tie and it makes me so sad that it isn't something that is just routinely screened at birth so that moms don't have that frustration with themselves right off! I'll be the annoying mom digging around in my newborn's mouth...

sandbar517 · September 2017

@ccvslp Thanks! It took a long time to get them both used to breastfeeding in the first place by themselves but after a few weeks I was able to hold them football style on my amazing My Brest Friend twins pillow and feed them at the same time.

ivyvines6 · September 2017

@ccvslp I think we've lost our knowledge of tongue and lip ties in the medical community because those things don't effect bottle/formula feeding.

ccvslp · September 2017

@ivyvines6 It makes sense. It's really too bad.

FrancisD. · September 2017

I had a lot of trouble with breastfeeding.

She had an upper-lip tie that I didn't discover until after we quit trying.

She had jaundice and was too tired to suck.

Nobody told me that the first three weeks after birth are vital supply-building weeks.

My supply would not increase later on, even pumping for eight hours a day for a month.

My breasts point up, so in order to collect the milk, I had to pump leaning way over, ruining my back.

She became malnourished because I didn't realize she wasn't getting enough to eat. I woke up one morning and she looked way too thin. That was the day I filled the bottle with formula all the way to the top.

This time, I will try to breastfeed. At each feeding, I'll offer my breast first, then I'll pump while bottle feeding. I will pump until three weeks, and if the baby doesn't keep having good weighed feeds, the breast will be for comfort, because I'm not going through all that again.

VoldeMart has four cans of organic Parent's Choice formula for 59 bucks on their website. My daughter loves it, and at 9 months old, she's 28.5 inches tall and walking.

ivyvines6 · September 2017

@FrancisD. J was severely jaundiced as well. I know all about the nursing with the baby wanting to sleep for forever issue. The cool thing about having a second kiddo I guess is that you have somewhat of an idea of what's coming. Do you have a La Leche League near you?

FrancisD. · September 2017

@ivyvines6 Yes, I had several consultations about lactation last time.

Want a personalized experience?

Anyone plan on breatfeeding/pumping?

Rylee 2.18.09
Kaitlyn 12.20.09 (36 week preemie)
Ziva 8.12.13 (31 week preemie)

Losses: 2.3.17 - 4.19.17 - 7.25.17

Re: Anyone plan on breatfeeding/pumping?

Rylee 2.18.09
Kaitlyn 12.20.09 (36 week preemie)
Ziva 8.12.13 (31 week preemie)

Losses: 2.3.17 - 4.19.17 - 7.25.17

Rylee 2.18.09
Kaitlyn 12.20.09 (36 week preemie)
Ziva 8.12.13 (31 week preemie)

Losses: 2.3.17 - 4.19.17 - 7.25.17

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Want a personalized experience?

Anyone plan on breatfeeding/pumping?

Rylee 2.18.09Kaitlyn 12.20.09 (36 week preemie)Ziva 8.12.13 (31 week preemie)

Losses: 2.3.17 - 4.19.17 - 7.25.17

Re: Anyone plan on breatfeeding/pumping?

Rylee 2.18.09Kaitlyn 12.20.09 (36 week preemie)Ziva 8.12.13 (31 week preemie)

Losses: 2.3.17 - 4.19.17 - 7.25.17

Rylee 2.18.09Kaitlyn 12.20.09 (36 week preemie)Ziva 8.12.13 (31 week preemie)

Losses: 2.3.17 - 4.19.17 - 7.25.17

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Rylee 2.18.09
Kaitlyn 12.20.09 (36 week preemie)
Ziva 8.12.13 (31 week preemie)

Rylee 2.18.09
Kaitlyn 12.20.09 (36 week preemie)
Ziva 8.12.13 (31 week preemie)

Rylee 2.18.09
Kaitlyn 12.20.09 (36 week preemie)
Ziva 8.12.13 (31 week preemie)