EPer defends MMML

fiasco · January 2009

Sorry, but I have to speak up on this one. You guys have serious reading comprehension problems! I've noticed in some other recent posts that ppl on these boards can be so sensitive that they fail to read, especially when the post is written by someone they don't care for. I took no offense to her post. I tried very hard to bf, but ds lost more than 11% of his bodyweight before I agreed to supplement or pump, so I know I have genuine supply issues and therefore was NOT included in the ppl she was warning about the dangers of pumping too early. In fact, I didn't buy my pump until the LC I hired at home suggested it. Now I produce only 1/2 the supply he needs, and I bust my a$$ for those meager 15-20 oz. I know she wasn't saying I should have starved my son, nor was she "bashing" those of us that started pumping as a last resort. I know in these situations she'd agree that providing some bm is better than none AND that yes, of course pumping if harder than bfing directly so should be commended! If you tried hard to bf she was not referring to you! She was commenting more about personal, societal and institutional overuse and early use of a second best method! Geesh!

jerseygirl81 · January 2009

I don't think the OP was all that bad, it's the follow-ups that got to me:

I never mentioned EPing but I do think that they need to be upfront with BFers that the price they pay for EPing is less supply than they could have. That's just a fact. OK they made that trade off good luck to them but it misleads BFing women.

* this isn't true in all cases, pumping leads many women to have an oversupply

Sorry Sunflower but unless she had a physical deformity preventing her she'd have taken if it you hadn't given in and fed her something else. That's what evolution has dealt us... I think it took 3 weeks because you let it take 3 weeks. Sorry, but I think you prolonged that by pumping. And I'm someone who had the pump at the ready before DS was born. But I had the sense not to use it until he was 4 weeks old.

* this was just pretty nasty to say

I never said that no one should use them, I said they were way overused. I stand by that. Judgmental or not. You're only hurting your own supply but it is the ignorance with which its being done that annoys me. Like people think they're doing BETTER than those who just feed the kid.

* again, just nastiness. I don't know any EPer who feels this way

its not a choice between some v none. It is a choice between FEEDING the kid v pumping into a bottle. One gives you the "control" of knowing how many ounces. The other one is better for your supply and your sanity.

* more nastiness. How am I not feeding my child? It's not about control

EPers are a whole different issue. You hopefully know you're trading best possible supply for EPing but if you don't well so be it. I wasn't talking about you.

* again, just not necessarily true

Stacyc625 · January 2009

you have your opinion she has hers. i have mine.

who cares?

KimW · January 2009

I think I'm one of those people that MMML is referring to. DD didn't latch on immediatly, so we pumped for the first few days, probably about a week. I don't regret my decision one bit though. Maybe she would have latched on had we kept trying without giving her a bottle, and maybe she wouldn't have, who knows. But I can tell you with certainty that I would have lost it emotionally and mentally during those first few days thinking that I was starving my baby while we were both learning to BF and I probably would have turned to formula.

gbtc01 · January 2009

I was told by my LC and my OB to pump after breastfeeding to help with issues of engorgement and to train my left side to come out better without a shield.

Turns out, on top of a really flat, no latching happening ever on this baby, kinda nipple I also have a really fast letdown on the right side. If I were to breastfeed and not pump while at home my poor daughter would be choking and sputtering and getting sprayed in the face with milk.

For our sanity and her comfort I EP so that she can at least get breastmilk for as long as I can supply it. FWIW I have enough milk (through pumping) to feed two babies.

beebe929 · January 2009

gbtc01:

For our sanity and her comfort I EP so that she can at least get breastmilk for as long as I can supply it. FWIW I have enough milk (through pumping) to feed two babies.

ditto! And FFS everything about breasfeeding, FF and such is personal choice. It is about what works for ME and my DD. The pump is working for us and I don't need to supplement.

I missed the OP but get off your high horse!

Tiffany Boyd · January 2009

By the end of it all, she pretty much just sounded like she was tired of listening to people complain about having BF issues. Well then get off the board. No one was forcing her to stay on and read them or even reply. Either way if someone goes to deliver a baby and the LC says you should start pumping, I doubt they are gonna say "oh wait no I can't until 4 weeks, cause someone on the internet told me not to!"

BM is BM no matter how it gets there.

For what its worth, it sounded like there were plenty of people that disagreed with her and were still pumping. So if someone needs advice then those are the people they are asking, not MMML who will just criticize them for not being just like her.

elainew · January 2009

I didn't see the OP, but I just want to say that the pump more or less saved my supply. Yes, I was one of those people who just got frustrated with BF because it was painful (DS had tongue tie and it took a while for it to get resolved) and if I hadn't pumped I would have had to switch to formula. But instead I was able to maintain my supply (i actually have an oversupply problem, but thats another story) and now we're back on the breast. EP was definitely NOT more convenient or easier that BF, it was just bearable for the sake of my own sanity during those first crazy weeks.

marrymemylove · January 2009

thanks fiasco.I fully think that had anyone else said there is no good reason for whole wards to be pumping on day 1 and that pumping too early hurts your supply it would have been totally uncontroversial. I kind of enjoy seeing it be controversial for no good reason, only because I wrote it. It is such a nice study in high school politics.

I still have seen no one come up with a refutation (credible or not) for those statements. Any amount of "oh I was different" stories doesn't change the facts that having MOST mums pumping from hours after birth is at best unnecessary and at worst detrimental to bfing rates and success.

When I see a good defence of the wider practice I'll respond, until then I am enjoying the show.?

jerseygirl81 · January 2009

marrymemylove:

I fully think that had anyone else said there is no good reason for whole wards to be pumping on day 1 and that pumping too early hurts your supply it would have been totally uncontroversial. I kind of enjoy seeing it be controversial for no good reason, only because I wrote it. It is such a nice study in high school politics.

I have no idea who you are and I still found your follow-up posts to be on the nasty side.

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