I really wanted to write this post as a follow-up to my original breastfeeding journey post because I want to offer support to other moms who may be going through the same thing. But before I get started, I wanted to share with you a movement called “I Support You,” created by three bloggers—Mama by the Bay, Fearless Formula Feeder and I Am Not The Babysitter. The movement is about women supporting each other no matter how they choose to feed their babies—without judgment—whether the child is formula fed, breastfed, or both. It’s about understanding that no matter how a mother feeds her child, she is feeding with love. I looked through the gallery of photos and I was quite moved by some of them. Check out the article here on the Huffington Post.
I was trying really hard to nurse Harper. Everyone kept telling me to just put her to the breast as often as possible and that’s what I was doing. If she wanted to eat every hour, that’s what we did. I was still using the nipple shield but it was my hope that I could eventually wean her off of it. I knew I couldn’t do it on my own and needed the support of a professional so I booked an appointment with a lacation consultant at the hospital where I delivered Harper.
Truth be told, I had already been pumping for a lot of Harper’s feedings by that time, but seeing a lactation consultant was my last-ditch effort to try everything I could to get Harper to breastfeed more effectively (better latch, sucking actively, etc).
Well wouldn’t you know it, like Murphy’s Law coming to life, when we met with the LC we started Harper’s feeding with a nipple shield and removed it after my initial letdown and Harper nursed like a champion. We needed some guidance with her latch, but overall she nursed well. We did a weighted feeding and she took in almost 4 ounces, which is what she takes in a bottle of expressed breast milk at each feeding. I was floored. I couldn’t believe she has nursed without the shield and also that she had taken in so much. “This was it!,” I thought to myself. One visit with the LC and we were on our way to exclusively breastfeeding…or so I thought.
I remember feeling elated that day. I was thrilled to think that it was possible for me to nurse her effectively. Of course in the back of my mind I knew I’d have to pump when I went back to work, but I was happy that breastfeeding seemed to be improving for us.
That excitement was sadly short lived. When we got home, I tried to nurse her and Harper would get fussy, or wouldn’t latch correctly, or would keep de-latching. She would sometimes scream. “It’s okay, we will get through this,” I thought to myself. Persistence is key. I tried to continue to nurse her with and without the shield and I was noticing many things—that she would feed for a very long time on the breast (40 minutes to an hour), but not actively suck the whole time or she would fall asleep. She would be hungry soon after breastfeeding, whereas with pumped milk she usually napped for an hour or two between feedings and I could tell she was satisfied after the feeding. I also noticed that oftentimes after breastfeeding her poop would be greenish. I read that this could be due to a foremilk and hindmilk imbalance, which made sense to me as she would nurse well at first and then slow down and so she probably wasn’t getting that rich, fatty hindmilk that she needed.
Kevin was so supportive throughout this journey and even went to the LC with me. He saw how frustrated I was sometimes (there were tears, for sure) and he just told me “you know, it’s okay if you just want to pump, if that’s what works and makes you feel good.”
Did you know that most standard bottles fit onto Medela pumping parts? It’s a great way to save on how much you wash to just pump directly into the bottle!
This is one of the early “Harper Kits” my husband puts together every single night so I can have clean, ready-to-use pumping parts all night and morning.
He was right. It was okay for me to give her pumped milk. She thrived on it and I thrived, knowing exactly how much she was getting—a blessing since she had trouble gaining weight when she was born. From the very beginning, early into my pregnancy, I always said “I don’t care how she gets my milk, as long as she gets it.” So why did I suddenly become so preoccupied with trying to get her back on the breast?
I loved the closeness of breastfeeding—but I disliked the feelings of frustration and inadequacy I felt when Harper was hungry again soon after a feeding and when I would open her diaper and see the change in color in her output. I wanted her to have my milk—and I was producing milk—so did it really matter how she got it?
It doesn’t look like this happy baby cares how she gets her milk!
The truth is, I still sometimes wish that feeding at the breast would have worked for us—and I do feel I tried hard to make it work. But I also feel that pumping is so fulfilling for me and for Harper, who is happily nourished from my milk that she drinks from a bottle.
I had a lot of people tell me that they hate pumping or that I should try to breastfeed her because I will come to hate it too. The weird thing is, I never hated pumping. In fact, I am fascinated by it. It continues to amaze me that my body is even capable of producing something that can nourish my baby (especially since I wasn’t even sure my breasts would be able to produce milk because of the surgery). I sometimes look down when I’m pumping and I just marvel at the milk shooting out into the pumping parts. I am literally amazed by it because it’s not something you get to “see” when you nurse. Everyday, even though I’m pumping every three hours, I am still taken aback by watching the bottles fill up with my milk as the pump makes that familiar suctioning noise.
Is pumping more work? Most people would probably say that it is. You have to hook yourself up to the machine and constantly wash the parts (I even bought more parts but you still feel like you’re washing them all.the.time). You can’t really stay out for more than 3-4 hours at a time unless you bring your pump with you (I haven’t done that yet as we can run most errands in a shorter time and go back out again if we need to). Even with all of this extra “work” I still enjoy pumping because I know I’m doing what’s best for my baby and for me. The one thing that is very difficult about pumping is waking up in the middle of the night to pump as well as staying up late to get one last session in before going to sleep. I am absolutely exhausted most mornings, even though Harper is sleeping 8 hours consistently. But I do it because it’s important to keep my supply up.
My goal is to pump when I go back to work so I can continue to provide my milk for Harper. There are some days where we supplement with formula (maybe one feeding a day, so 4 oz) and some days she gets only breastmilk. I also still breastfeed her every once in awhile. Sometimes I think we both crave that closeness and I can just follow-up with some pumped milk if she’s still hungry. Mostly though, I would classify myself as an exclusive pumper.
Love her little chubby legs—pumping gives me the reassurance she’s getting what she needs nutritionally
I thought I would comment below on my pumping schedule and other FAQs about pumping and I welcome you to ask additional questions in the comments.
What type of pump do you have?
I have a Medela Pump in Style Advanced and I absolutely love it. A lot of the girls at work have recently had babies or are pregnant so they got us a hospital-grade pump that we can all use (with our own tubing/parts obviously) which I’m so thrilled about because hospital-grade pumps are awesome and it also means I will not have to tote my pump to and from work in addition to all of the daycare stuff.
How often do you pump?
During the day, I pump every 3 hours and at night I pump ever 4-4.5 hours to keep my supply up. Some people have told me I don’t need to pump at night because Harper is sleeping through the night, but I still wake up at 3 a.m. because it’s important for me to signal my body to keep making more milk because I do worry about my supply down the road. The reason I am able to pump so often is because Harper is a very good sleeper. We got lucky, there’s nothing we did to try to make her nap better or sleep through the night, it’s sheer luck. There are times during the day or at night where I go longer between sessions for one reason or another, but generally this is the schedule I like to stick to.
How much do you get when you pump?
I would say I average about 4.3 ounces per pumping session, but sometimes it’s less (3.7 oz) or more (about 5.4-5.8 ounces). I get the most output at night and in the early morning and I always get more from my left breast than my right.
What are breast compressions and why should you do them?
I started to do breast compressions on my own when I began to pump and a few weeks later I watched a video online about the benefits of breast compressions during pumping so I am going to link that here because the video explains it better than I ever could. Basically you get much better output if you compress during pumping and you can ensure you fully empty the breast. Every last drop counts and fully emptying is important so that your body knows to produce the same amount next time because your baby needs it.
What are you eating/drinking?
It’s so important to eat a good diet when you’re breastfeeding or pumping because you body burns a lot of calories. I have not changed my diet from before or during pregnancy I just try to eat more and I do not at all watch what I eat. That means if I want ice cream or candy, I eat it, without guilt. A typical day for me starts with a bowl of Kashi cereal and almond milk and a latte made with vanilla almond milk or Van’s protein waffles with Nutella or raspberry jam and some fruit or a bagel with fruit. For lunch I will have a turkey and cheese sandwich on wheat bread with some pickles or toast with peanut butter and some fruit or soup. For snacks I like to eat nuts and nut/dried fruit mixes, crackers and fruit and for dinner we will eat some type of protein with veggies or a big salad or pasta. It just depends what we’re in the mood for. For desserts I really love mini oreo cookies, cookies n’ cream ice cream and swedish fish (ha). I also drink a TON of water and a few cups of Mother’s Milk organic tea per day.
Do you have a fridge and freezer stash? How did you start it?
Yes, to both. I have a stash in my fridge and that stash includes any milk that I pumped that exceeds 4 ounces (so the extra milk from a single pumping session). I basically put it in the fridge and use it between 5-8 days after expression. This refrigerated milk helps me on days where Harper wakes up or wants to eat sooner than expected or sooner than I’ve had a chance to pump her next feeding. I started my freezer stash using the Medela breast milk freezer bags a couple of weeks ago. Harper’s last feed is at about 9 or 10 p.m. every night and that is either warmed up refrigerated milk or milk that was expressed at my last pumping session (or some days, it’s formula). Then, I stay up late and pump at 11 p.m. and that milk goes in the freezer because I know she won’t need it because she sleeps through the night. I also freeze any milk that I pump if I have a lot in the fridge that I need to use up. Basically I am always “assessing” the situation and figuring out the best move—feed at next feeding, refrigerate or freeze. Every freezer bag contains one 4 ounce feeding.
My fridge and freezer stash
How do you transport milk when you’re out and about with Harper?
Praise the Lord, breastmilk stays fresh at room temperature for 4-6 hours. When we leave the house, I pump a bottle of milk for her before we leave and tote it along with us. I don’t cool it because we are always in A/C for most of the outing. However, if we were going to be outside for awhile, I would bring Medela’s cooler bag. We haven’t had to do that yet. I also always have some ready-to-feed formula with me wherever we go, just in case.
How long will you pump for?
My goal is to continue pumping for however long my body will produce milk, with my first goal being six months and my ultimate goal being one year. If I don’t make it, that’s okay. This is just what I hope will happen.
Harps and me, just chillin’ after one of her bottle feeds
She sleeps after nearly every bottle
What about when you go back to work? When/where will you pump?
I am going back to work very soon (sadface) and I will pump every 3 hours at work. A lot of my co-workers either have young babies or are pregnant so there will be an office set aside for us to pump in, which is wonderful–and a hospital grade pump for us to use which is above and beyond. I have even heard that some women pump during their commute. I am not sure how safe that is so I’d have to really think about it, but if there was a safe way to do it (i.e.: setting it all up before you begin to drive and not touching it again until you are fully stopped) then I might consider it.
What are some things that make pumping easier?
Relaxing when you pump and drinking water during pumping make me feel good. I like to have my iPhone with me as well so I can surf online while I pump, which is also relaxing. Also—this is the most crucial thing—you must have a supportive partner. My husband cleans all of my pumping parts and bottles every single day before he leaves for work and he often cleans them after work too (I clean them as well, it just depends who has the time). I think this is what really facilitates my experience because everything is ready-to-go. The emotional support also helps me feel even better about what I’m doing for Harper and he keeps me motivated to keep at it even when I’ve had a pumping session where I get less than usual he will remind me “remember last night you got over 5 ounces?” and that makes me feel great. One last thing—patience is key. I am not a patient person but pumping has tested that for me. I often have 3 letdowns when I pump and sometimes I feel discouraged that it doesn’t look like I’m getting a lot of milk but if I just wait a few minutes I will get another letdown and I start to do compressions again to maximize that letdown. So be patient and just let your body do its thing 🙂
What are some things that make pumping easier?
Relaxing when you pump and drinking water during pumping make me feel good. I like to have my iPhone with me as well so I can surf online while I pump, which is also relaxing. Also—this is the most crucial thing—you must have a supportive partner. My husband cleans all of my pumping parts and bottles every single day before he leaves for work and he often cleans them after work too (I clean them as well, it just depends who has the time). I think this is what really facilitates my experience because everything is ready-to-go. The emotional support also helps me feel even better about what I’m doing for Harper and he keeps me motivated to keep at it even when I’ve had a pumping session where I get less than usual he will remind me “remember last night you got over 5 ounces?” and that makes me feel great. One last thing—patience is key. I am not a patient person but pumping has tested that for me. I often have 3 letdowns when I pump and sometimes I feel discouraged that it doesn’t look like I’m getting a lot of milk but if I just wait a few minutes I will get another letdown and I start to do compressions again to maximize that letdown. So be patient and just let your body do its thing 🙂
Overall, I just want to share a positive pumping experience. Are there nights where I feel exhausted from having to wake up to pump? Yes, almost every night. Is it sometimes tough to always have to think about pumping before leaving the house/make your plans around pumping? Sure. But at the end of the day, I enjoy pumping and most of all I love that it enables me to give Harper something very special in a way that works for both of us. Maybe the way I feel about pumping will change down the road, but right now, I’m glad it’s an option for me.
I also want to give a special thank-you to some of my readers who have emailed me about pumping and offered support and encouragement. It really means a lot to me.
This read was exactly what I needed to hear. I am due in December and will return to work after 6 weeks. I have told people that I want to exclusively pump as I feel this will be more feasible since I will return to work so soon. I've gotten so much backlash about it- "your going to be too tired," "its easier to just breast feed," "all your going to do is be washing your pump parts." This makes me feel so much better about the choice I will be making.
Thank you!
I am so glad this was helpful 🙂 I feel like there isn't as much support for moms who choose to exclusively pump and I wish you the best when your baby arrives!
It's such a bummer how much negative energy there is around this topic. You're doing what is right for you and that baby, which is always the BEST choice! 🙂
What an amazing story; I am so happy to hear that you and Harper are thriving! You are absolutely right, it does not matter how Harper is getting your milk, just that she is getting it! Motherhood is about making the best choices you can for your family, whether breastfeeding, co-sleeping, working, etc. You just gotta do what works for you guys, ya know?
I want to add that I am one of those that hated pumping. Absolutely hated it. I actually have a similar breastfeeding story as you, and followed the same pumping schedule. I think the reason I hated it so much was because I did not produce nearly as much milk as you are- so to work that hard and have to supplement 1/3 to 1/2 of my daughter's feedings was just so depressing and horrible for me.
That would be very frustrating 🙁 You know what though? You tried it and you did what was best for you and your baby and that's all that matters!
So glad you found what works for you. 🙂 As long as she eats, the method really doesn't matter!
I pumped and breastfed with Georgia (pumped a few times a day to keep up supply) and they are both work!
Have you tried the Medela microwave bags? They were great to use for in between washings. I would also refrigerate my pump parts for 1-2 sessions rather than wash them every time.
I have the microwave bags but dont you still need to wash the parts? I have heard of the fridge thing but have never done it…maybe I will try it when I return to work 🙂 thanks!
YES!! Dont waste your precious time washing pump parts in between. Atleast after they are 2 mnths old! I pump at work and I always carry a huge ziploc bag with me everyday. After each session , I would put them in teh ziploc seal and put in the refrigerator. I would go back and use the same for the next session. You can do at alleast for two sessions. My boy is 10 mnths old and I can say that it working great and save SO much time.
This is so helpful, thanks V! I love that you have such great information about a lot of things on your blog that I can always come back to when I need it down the line!
Long time reader – infrequent commenter 🙂
Thank you for sharing the HufPo piece. It brought back a lot of emotion for me, even though my twins are only 15 months. I have only recently stopped feeling guilty for "only" pumping for 15 weeks, and that we weren't really able to make nursing happen. We definitely need to support each other. Being a new mom is HARD.
I can also relate to the notion of having a supportive partner. My husband supported me, but pumping at work in a less than ideal work situation for pumping, and then at home constantly to keep up with two hungry babies was just plain too hard for our family.
I look at my two smart, sweet, funny, and BIG toddlers and wonder why I ever stressed so much.
I am so glad you have found what works for you. And if things get hard when you go back to work, always remember to do what is best for your family.
Thanks for leaving a comment 🙂 producing for twins would be super tough and good for you for doing it for as long as you did!
Long time reader – infrequent commenter 🙂
Thank you for sharing the HufPo piece. It brought back a lot of emotion for me, even though my twins are only 15 months. I have only recently stopped feeling guilty for "only" pumping for 15 weeks, and that we weren't really able to make nursing happen. We definitely need to support each other. Being a new mom is HARD.
I can also relate to the notion of having a supportive partner. My husband supported me, but pumping at work in a less than ideal work situation for pumping, and then at home constantly to keep up with two hungry babies was just plain too hard for our family.
I look at my two smart, sweet, funny, and BIG toddlers and wonder why I ever stressed so much.
I am so glad you have found what works for you. And if things get hard when you go back to work, always remember to do what is best for your family.
Thanks for sharing! My son is now 5 years old but like your daughter, he didn't latch properly and was a "lazy eater"…he lost so much weight the first few weeks we had constant visits to the Dr….talk about stress! To add to that, I wasn't producing enough milk…well, long story short, we decided it was best for him to take formula and we never looked back. He's a very healthy boy, always has been in the top 95% for both height and weight. Yes, I do have regrets about not be able to breastfeed but things work out as there supposed to…this is my belief. Harper is beautiful, enjoy every moment because they grow up before you know it!
Best, Lisa
Instagram/Twitter: @LittleMama71
I support you, Lisa 🙂
I am a NICU nurse, so I get to see all sides of the EBFing/pumping/FFing thing, and it makes me sad when women feel like what they are doing is "wrong." Obviously, the most important thing is that everyone is feeding her baby, no matter what the food of choice is. Although I am not a mom, I appreciate that you took the time to share your experience with us.
thank you! feeding with love is all that matters 🙂
GREAT JOB!!! I wasn't able to breast feed any of my quads due to their prematurity, so I pumped religious for 8 weeks before I had to quit. I never really produced that much, but I DID produce enough to feed them all completely the first few weeks. Especially the colostrum they needed so much. When they first got a feeding tube they were only taking a few cc's each (they had an IV for nourishment in the meantime), so it was important to me to provide for them at least through the beginning. After a difficult recovery from my c-section and so many tears and frustration with not producing more and severe exhaustion to the point of depression, I called it quits. I felt guilty for a few weeks but I do know I tried very hard and I at least provided for their most important days. Being a mother is always a challenge, from one phase to the other, and the bottom line is to have no regrets and do your best! You're doing an excellent job!
Thanks Amber 🙂 I can;t even imagine what you were going through but how amazing that you were able to give your babies that colostrum. Those first feedings are so critical especially for premature babies! Thanks for the support!
You have to do what works for you! With my first I miserably bf for six months. Turns out I didn't have enough milk and he was famished. With the second I supplemented right away and he was so much happier. Whatever works for your family is what you should do.
exactly! feeding your child what he or she needs, no matter how is the best way to feed your child, period 🙂
I pumped exclusively for my first child (she was born with teeth!) and was a total vampire! I tried to bf but it really hurt and was in pain, after speaking to my doctor he thought I'd be able to pump for 3-4 months, I ended up pumping for 14 months! I traveled a lot for work, as far as China and would have the hotel freeze the milk for me and pack it in ice, when I got to the plane I'd add more ice and have the flight attendants get me bags of ice every couple of hours, in my eyes it was liquid gold and I would not leave an ounce behind. I now have a 3 month old girl and bf is working out, I admit I feel closer to her bc of the bf, I also pump once a day bc I've had an over abundance of milk from the beginning. My freezer in now more milk than anything else. Either way I'm happy I was able to provide both my girls with breast milk. Good luck! I love that you care so much!
that is so amazing and inspirational 🙂 thank you for sharing this! I also am all about the liquid gold and try to never waste a drop! It killed me to pour it down the drain after I had my surgery and had to pump and dump!
Oh, and I want to add that I love how supportive your workplace is about breastfeeding! Having a supportive boss and colleagues around you who are in similar situations will make it so much easier- I hate when I hear stories about women who have to pump in a utility closet or are given grief for taking time to pump every few hours.
I feel very very lucky! A lot of the girls at work have babies so it benefits us all and will make us happier moms 🙂
I was you a year ago! When I had my daughter last May, she didnt come to the breast well and I had to use the nipple shield. She is my 2nd and I gave up on breastfeeding at 9 weeks with my first so I really wanted to push through with my little girl but also was ready to give up. I researched exclusively pumping her and decided to do it. People also told me "oh pumping is such a pain" and i thought it would be bc i hated pumping with my first child. However, I was so motivated to provide breast milk for my little girl pumping didnt seem like a chore! After awhile I got into a rhythm with pumping too, and it became like my third arm. I was able to pump for a whole year, and I was so proud of myself (is it okay to say that?!) but I was SO HAPPY when I was done, lol! Good luck to you!
I feel the same way you do—I am so motivated to provide the milk that I see it as a blessing that i am able to pump it for her. 🙂 thank you for your comment!
I was you a year ago! When I had my daughter last May, she didnt come to the breast well and I had to use the nipple shield. She is my 2nd and I gave up on breastfeeding at 9 weeks with my first so I really wanted to push through with my little girl but also was ready to give up. I researched exclusively pumping her and decided to do it. People also told me "oh pumping is such a pain" and i thought it would be bc i hated pumping with my first child. However, I was so motivated to provide breast milk for my little girl pumping didnt seem like a chore! After awhile I got into a rhythm with pumping too, and it became like my third arm. I was able to pump for a whole year, and I was so proud of myself (is it okay to say that?!) but I was SO HAPPY when I was done, lol! Good luck to you!
Good for you. There's definitely no reason to feel "less than" for exclusively pumping and I'm sorry that some people have made you feel that way! It's amazing that you're able to provide Harper with breast milk in the first place! I hope you continue to be successful with pumping!
You go girl!! I was devastated when I was only able to breastfeed until my son was 4 months old (I was fine by it eventually because I was supplementing anyway and I never had a good supply) I was actually happy I was able to breastfeed for those four months. My milk supply decreased as I went back to work but I didn't know a lot about teas and ways to increase it. I also didn't pump at night so I commend you for that! You're doing an amazing job!
I read your entire post. i am right here on the same page as you girl. i've had a post typed up for months but can't seem to press publish. it gets me emotional when i think about how hard i am trying and how i don't think my supply or scarlett's suck will ever change. my lactaction consultant who i see twice a week told me… "what if i just told you to let it go, and stop trying. to breastfeed her and give her a bottle after. and ultimately stop stressing about it." and that really hit home with me. i really realized how happy scarlett is when she is fed breastmilk AND formula, and that maybe i just need to accept it. i have. i do need to get better at pumping though because i could just give her my milk if i had a routine down to pump more. you've motivated me though. after S's next feed, I am going to pump 🙂
Hey and question… Do you know when you will start solids? S's 4 month appointment is next week and I am hoping our dr gives us the go ahead. i just think it will relieve some stress from the whole feeding process if i can give her something more fulfilling. plus she is showing the 'signs' that she is ready. just curious if you had the same feeling since we've both been struggling in the Bf department.
I am so glad you wrote me this comment 🙂 you are doing amazing! Just remember that what's best for your baby is what works for momma and baby 🙂
I plan to wait until 6 months probably because of the new AAP recommendations and news stories that parents are starting solids too early. Unless my pedi recommends sooner 🙂
I am not in a rush to give solids but I think it's because the AAP thing freaked me out. I am excited for her to eventually try them but for now I guess I just think BM and formula suffices 🙂
Thanks for sharing your story, I had planned to breast feed as soon as I found out I was pregnant but did not produce enough milk even with persistent pumping would only produce 1 or 2 mls so had to go to formula. It's hard as you feel guilty for not being able to give your baby the best and judged too as every midwive and health visitor have there own opinion.
There were a few tears shed but the main thing is my wee girl Honey who is 11 weeks on Friday is thriving and doing well .
Thanks again for sharing all the info you do , Harper is a gorgeous girl xxx
I have a friend who went the "pumping only" route with her most recent baby and she loved it! It gave her the best of both worlds- her baby got breast milk and yet anyone in the household could feed her daughter (her hubby or other children) by grabbing a bottle in the fridge. She felt like she was less a slave to the breastfeeding routine- she could pump when it was convienient for her and yet her baby was always supplied with fresh breastmilk. Plus, it is so much easier to feed the baby in public or at others' homes. I think pumping only is the perfect solution- it's better for mom and yet baby still gets breast milk. It's what I would do, too. 🙂
Thanks for always being so open Veronika's. It's truly why I've loved your blog for so long.
It sounds like you're doing great so keep it up and don't get discouraged. You know what's always best for you and your family!
By the way, that's amazing about your workplace. To be honest, I don't even know what the heck we provide (and I'm in HR!) for pumping/breastfeeding women. I mean, we have a Wellness Room but it's not entirely private. Our office building is brand new too, so perhaps we should look at offering a more private room for women. In any case, so great to hear you will be in a welcoming, comfortable environment!
Much love!
thanks so much for your comment 🙂 workplaces actually have to legally provide a private, clean place for women to pump. I have heard of women having to pump in storage closets which sucks. I bet there is a lot of great info online 🙂 thanks for thinking of the women you work with who are lactating 🙂
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you shared a positive exclusive pumping story. Good for you for having such a positive outlook. I also exclusively pump. I have done so since my son was around 6 weeks (he will be 5 months old next Saturday). He experiences reflux and it was more comfortable for him to bottle feed, then once he was used to the bottle he refused to breastfeed. I will try to nurse him from time to time and he either laughs or screams:) It has taken me a really long time to get to a place where I am positive about it and my experience, but now I am so glad I have stuck it out and hope to keep going.
I have found almost all exclusive pumping stories to be pretty negative. I myself wasn't wild about having to pump and resented having to do it. Originally the motivation was health for my son, and $$ for my budget. Talk about some factors to make you feel guilty! I have been lucky enough to produce milk so I felt so guilty about wanting to quit. I think the biggest thing that helped me was finally realizing it didn't have to be all or nothing and introducing some formula supplementing. This really helped because I could get a bit off my pumping schedule and not stress about not having enough ounces of pumped milk for the day. Allowing myself more flexibility (as much as you can have while trying to maintain your supply) really helped me stay on track.
I agree with your suggestions of what helps your supply. If I am extra stressed or tense my milk flow is extra slow. Water, good healthy food including fats, oatmeal, and fenugreek really help. I haven’t tried any of the other supplements, but would really suggest fenugreek to other mamas. I have also had success using a manual pump from time to time. I have found it stimulates things a bit differently and will help to re-jumpstart my supply. Pumping while at work is better than I was worried about. It is really nice to have a protected break where I can decompress in private. It has only been trouble when I have had to be out of the office for events or trainings… and then you get creative about where to pump!
When I was really struggling with pumping I told my husband I would go to 6 months and then I reserved the right to quit or change my mind. Now that I am only weeks away from that original goal I almost can't imagine quitting now after how far I've come. I think the best advice I received is to be proud of what you are doing, because you are doing the best thing for your baby. Whether they get 1 ounce of your milk or 3 days, or months, etc. Be proud of whatever you have done and don't discount what you have achieved. I am glad to hear there are other exclusively pumping mamas out there… we need some sort of online chat group for those middle of the night pump sessions:) Thank you for sharing your story.
Jessica—your last sentence totally resonates and it's the truth—no matter what, be proud that you tried and be proud you're providing as much or as little as you are. Being a momma is a lot of work and it has its emotional ups and downs so the best thing moms can do is give themselves a break every once in awhile and pat themselves on the back for doing all they can. Thanks for your comment 🙂
I'm curious about what your routine will be or what you plan to do once returning to work. I was lucky and had 17 weeks off but I have struggled with figuring out how to do my early morning pump, get myself presentable, and my son ready for daycare in time. Any tips you discover I would love! I pack a lot at night and that helps to have our bags ready. I'm thinking about getting another set of pump parts. I have two currently but maybe three would be better. Take care:)
I'm curious about what your routine will be or what you plan to do once returning to work. I was lucky and had 17 weeks off but I have struggled with figuring out how to do my early morning pump, get myself presentable, and my son ready for daycare in time. Any tips you discover I would love! I pack a lot at night and that helps to have our bags ready. I'm thinking about getting another set of pump parts. I have two currently but maybe three would be better. Take care:)
I really wish I would have had this to read when my daughter was born 14 months ago! No matter what we did she would.not.latch. Everybody kept saying keep at it and I saw 3 different lactation consultants and none of them could get her to latch. I cried and cried (thanks to hormones and people making you feel like a failure because it's so "natural"). She would just scream and I would cry. Finally, I decided to just exclusively pump. It was hard – for me every time I pumped it would just remind me that I couldn't breastfeed my own child. There comes a point where you have to make peace with yourself and say my child is happy and healthy and that's all that mattered. My milk dried up at about 8 weeks, but my husband was very supportive and reminded me that she had 8 whole weeks of breast milk which was amazing (and he helped me through when somebody told me I would be poisoning my child if I gave her formula). I am due with our second daughter at the end of October and I am going into it saying if she breastfeeds, that would be amazing, but if she doesn't, that's ok too. Thank you for your honesty and for telling your story. Whenever I would try and talk to someone they would say they have never had that problem and that their child(ren) breastfed from the start. Sometimes you just need somebody to talk to who can relate. Reading this has given me a new found confidence for our next baby. Thank you very much!
Alyssa—I am so glad this post has been helpful for you 🙂 It is hard to hear about how natural breastfeeding can be for some women. Most of my friends did struggle initially but went on to successfully EBF. I am happy for them, but I am happy for me too because I fond something that works. I wish you the best of luck with your next baby!
Hi Veronika! Can you please explain the "Harper Kits" in more detail? What's in them, etc.? I'm due in October and I plan to EBF, but if not, will be pumping as much as possible, Thanks!
Hi Theresa!
The kit is a tupperware container and it contains 3 sets of pumping parts (for my 11 pm pumping session, middle of the night pump and early morning pump) and two 2 ounce bottles of formula (just in case). It also contains a clean pacifier in case she drops hers and it has a bottle nipple that attaches to the formula bottle in case we need it. Now, I pump directly into Dr. Browns bottles so one side of the pump is the bottle and the other is the Medela storage container. 🙂 Hope this helps! We also keep gas drops in there, just in case.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who still eats mini Oreos and ice cream everyday! 🙂
Have you tried dipping your Oreos into cool whip? Yumm!! Great post and great job with sticking with the pumping, it's hard work!
I love that you start off with no matter how you feed your baby, you are doing it with love. It's SO important for mothers to support one another no matter what! Having two boys, my feeding stories aren't easy but I did what was best for them! Since you are such a public blogger, I hope your influence will encourage more women to feel safe sharing their stories and not feel judged! Thank you for allowing women to feel safe talking about this sensitive subject!
What a beautiful post. I don't even remember how I found your blog, but I've read for awhile now. (In fact, your blog is one of the ones I surfed while exclusively pumping with my second son.) Your story will really resonate with many woman, and hopefully encourage them to feel less, or even better – no – guilt about feeding choices. I love that you started this post out with a gentle reminder that we should all be encouraging and empowering one another, and trying hard not to judge. My boys are 3 and 1, and being a mom is hard work (regardless of what "mom category" you fall into). Thank you for sharing your story. Many blessings to your beautiful family.
Thanks for sharing Veronika! I think any kind of vulnerability regarding feeding is so courageous because people can get so critical at times. And I think it's wonderful that you're so open to the different options and are being positive about pumping. I definitely have a HEAVY letdown and that caused a problem for a few weeks, but after going to this website things have gotten a lot better! I'm just sharing the link with you IN CASE you want to take a look at it since you said that you sometimes breastfeed her directly. 😀 Have a great day~
I'm not sure if you'll even like the website, but perhaps it can only help? 🙂 https://www.breastfeeding-problems.com/
Good for you! Its so important to have confidence in your choice and more importantly, to do what works for you and your family.
I never hated pumping either – I exclusively bf my boy and we had a pretty easy time of it establishing but I went back to work f/t early on like you and had no trouble pumping at work every 3 hours like you plan to. I did it happily for 8 months and without a supportive workplace so I'm sure you will have no problems.
Thank for sharing – you can read my story here if you would like to https://gcrealestategirl.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/it-doesn-hurt-if-you-doing-it-right.html
xx
I exclusively pumped for my daughter because I could not get it to work!!! I did the nipple shield, lactation consultant meetings, and I read all the books. Nothing helped. She would just scream and scream. When I had my son, I put him to my breast and he started sucking, simple as that! I did absolutely nothing differently. I think it totally depends on the kid.
I exclusively pumped for my daughter because I could not get it to work!!! I did the nipple shield, lactation consultant meetings, and I read all the books. Nothing helped. She would just scream and scream. When I had my son, I put him to my breast and he started sucking, simple as that! I did absolutely nothing differently. I think it totally depends on the kid.
I exclusively pumped with my daughter (now 4). I just could not get it to work! I tried everything – the nipple shield, lactation consultants, books, Google! Nothing worked and she would just scream and scream. When I had my son (now 2), I put him to my breast and he started sucking like a champ. Easy as that! I did absolutely nothing differently. I think it really depends on the kid.
I totally agree! Every baby is different. If we have a second I would try to nurse again.
I have been a pumper for 16 months now! It is exhausting because f the late nights and middle of the night pumps….glad to hear someone else has the same feelings I did! W didn't BF at all until 3 months and after that it was few and far between.
Thank you for sharing your story! I breastfed my son for 2 months and had to stop b/c of medication. I have depression and suffer from anxiety so I didn't want the medication to affect him. I felt that I had two choices: I could either be sad, depressed and angry while breastfeeding or I could get the help I needed, switch to formula and be a happier mom for my son. You are right about having a supportive partner. Without my husband here to support me, I'm sure that I would feel extremely guilty about the choice that I made. My son is almost 9 months old and as healthy as can be. I have no regrets 🙂
🙂 good for you! a healthy mom is important for a healthy baby
What a great post! I'm 6 weeks away from meeting my first baby, a girl! I plan to breastfeed and pump so this is really helpful. Do you like the Medela bags? We haven't purchased our pump, yet, but we are looking at the same one you have, with Medela storage system and bags.
I do! They aren't accurate in terms of ounces, so just be sure to measure how much you're storing.
I ep with my first for 12 months and am currently ep for my second that us 7 months old. In my experience, exclusive pumping actually gets easier once you go back to work.
I have some tips for you as I have learned these the hard way:
1) be sure to rotate your freezer stash. I had an oversupply with my first and ended up having to throw away almost 1300 ozs of frozen milk stored in a deep freeze due to extra lipase in my milk. It's an enzyme that helps break down the milk in the baby's digestion system, but doesn't stop once its in the freezer. The milk isn't bad, per se, but is completely unpalatable to the baby.
2) human milk can actually sit out at room temp for a pretty long time. I don't doing anything more than just keeping my pump parts in a ziplock bag while I am at work and rise each time I use them. At home, I just keep the parts in the fridge and wash every night.
3) get a hands free pumping "bra". total game changer!
4) pumping in the car is totally doable. Just pop on your hands free bra and use a nursing cover. Medea sells a car adapter for the pump. I do this every day on my 30 min commute home. It gives me 30 more mins to play with my kids that I wouldn't have otherwise had in my day.
5) make pumping your #1 priority at work, no matter how busy you are. Bring your laptop into your designated pumping room and just keep on working. Schedule the times on your outlook calendar for all to see as a private apt.
6) once you drop the late night and middle of the night session, it gets so much easier. Before you go back to work, I highly recommend dropping that overnight one just so you can be as well rested as possible. Your body should adjust and just learn to make more at other times.
does everyone have extra lipase in their milk? what do you mean by "rotate the freezer stash"? thank you for the tips! 🙂
Here's some facts on lipase: https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk
By rotating the stash, I mean make sure you use this oldest milk first and don't just stockpile the milk for the future. Even if you make a surplus that u keep in the freezer, make sure you use it sooner than later.
Just constantly use your frezzer stash and replenish with newer ones. Remember human body produces milk according to the baby's needs. So milk produced at month may not be adequate for a 4 months old baby. Its still good enough , but wont be nutritionally upto date , if you know what I mean. So just keep using freezer and putting more current milk and dont just store. That way even if you do have extra lipase you will know and you can adjust your stash accordingly.
Also when you go to work carry a huge fresh ziploc bag everyday. After each pumping session at work just pop the pump parts into the ziploc and store in the refigerator along with your milk. perfectly fine. I've been doing it for 6 months now and its works great. And you can save time!
Also buy lansinoh storage bags..good quality , cheaper than medela. So you can pump in the bottle but transfer into the bags. they are freezer friendly and defrost and warm much more quickly than bottles! Good luck !
Oh and another tip I thought of is to use the glass Dr. Brown's' bottles. The glass helps warm the chilled liquid (vs frozen) milk a lot better than plastic. And you dont have to worry about anything from the plastlic leaching into the milk.
I actually do use Dr. Browns and they are BPA free so I'm not worried 🙂
I think it's wonderful you chose to share your story, I stopped breast feeding at 3 months and exclusively pumped until 4 months. My milk dried up and it broke my heart, thankfully I have a supportive husband who helped me through it. Your daughter looks happy and healthy- in the end that's all that matters :).
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with Harper! I love your blog and always look forward to your postings! 🙂 You're such a great mommy to sweet Harper!
Hi V. I am expecting in the next few weeks so I am anxious to hear feedback from experienced moms who breastfeed to prepare although I've read that everyone is so different. Just a few questions: I notice that some of your storage bottles (with yellow lids) have smaller pumped milk amounts, is that why you supplement with formula in case u don't pump enough for a feeding? Also, if u can't pump enough for one feeding can u use the stored milk to feed as well? Sorry if these q s are weird I am trying to get a good understanding of everything for when my baby comes. I bought a nipple held after reading ur story just in case. Do U recommend buying anything before baby's birth if I want to breastfeed? So far I have only stocked up on : medela pump, nipple shield, box of newborn formula in case, lanolin, and breast pads. Any help counts!
-J
Judy–No, I always pump enough for a feeding. ALL of the milk in the fridge is "extra" milk from a pumping session. So if I pump 4.8 ounces, then 4 oz is one feeding and then .8 I save in the fridge. I have to combine multiple bottles to make one 4 oz bottle but it's all extras. So if she is hungry again before the next time I pump, I make her a bottle from all of that extra milk by combining them and warming the bottle in hot water 🙂
I would not think about the nipple shield. Work with a LC if you need to to establish a good latch—they are a last resort. Your list sounds great to me! I didn't love my lanolin by Lanisoh but there are other products that are good.
Honey, you're doing a great job! I know it can be hard, but you are doing great and so is Harper. It's unfortunate how much negative energy there can be around this topic (and many other mommy topics!). It's no wonder why we all feel, at some point or another, whether we're failing at motherhood. I'm so thankful that I have mommy friends who encourage me when I'm doubting myself. I hope the same for all new moms! It's so essential. I think it's great that you're sharing your story. You're doing great 😉
Hi Veronica, this post hits home for me. I have been EPing for 7 weeks now. I wanted to ask a question: Do your nipples still feel like someone is cutting them with razor blades? I have tried different size 'horns', asked my Dr., looked online, and I haven't gotten a good answer. It seems that everyone's pain goes away after a couple weeks. It makes me cringe every time I pump, but I keep doing it. Just wondering..
Hi Casey! When I have my initial letdown the sensation is what I would describe as a tingly/uncomfortable pressure but that goes away as soon as the milk starts to shoot out. My nipples are very sensitive but they do not hurt like you are describing. Do they feel like that the entire time you pump? Try APNO (all purpose nipple ointment). Make sure you get it at a compounding pharmacy. My mom got some for me and it was great that first month.
For all the moms out here that have had a hard time with breastfeeding, thank you so much for sharing your story. It's so comforting to hear others who have had similar issues because as mothers we tend to mentally beat ourselves up over it and feel like failures at something that is supposed to come so naturally to us. Your baby really does not care how he/she gets their milk- as long as they get it and it's enough to satisfy their hunger. From reading your blog, you are a wonderful mother. Please continue to be the best mom that Harper can have because she really is blessed to have a mother such as yourself!
I exclusively pump and prefer it to actual breastfeeding. I know exactly how much my baby is getting and I can plan my day around it. I pump 4 times a day and am making enough for my 5 month old on a daily basis and sometimes have extra that I freeze. At each session I get about 6-8 ounces and pump first thing in the morning when I get up for work, lunch time and right before I leave from work then the last session is right before I got to bed.
I have been rotating my freezer stash, sometimes I take out a couple of bags then freeze the milk I just pumped since its only good in the freezer (not stored in a deep freezer ) for 3 months.
that is awesome! I wish I could pump 6-8 oz a session! The most I pump is about 5.7 oz.
Good for you, Veronika! I think you posted a very positive message here for many women. I'm seven months pregnant so have become all too aware of the judgment of women on breastfeeding/pumping/formula. I agree – whatever is best for you will be best for your baby and family (because we all do the best we can with what we've got). Take care and rock on!
I loved reading this! I'm getting myself prepared now to begin the breastfeeding journey again. I don't miss the waking up in the middle of the night, but I do miss that bond. It goes by so fast, can't wait to have that closeness with the newborn baby! Oh and those medical grade pumps are AMAZING!! Lucky girl!!
Luba
http://www.lubalovely.com
I used one at the hospital but haven't used one since…I wonder if the medical grade pump will increase my supply? that would be awesome!
SO awesome V!! Good for you and thank you for spreading such a healthy message about breastfeeding. Very helpful and encouraging!!! xo
I couldn't get my daughter to latch and didn't know their was actual help out there. I ended up quitting after a month and felt guilty for years. With my son, I had supply problems and he needed formula to gain weight. He did the same thing with only sucking until letdown, then sleep. I was feeding him every hour and pumping in between. I finally stopped feeling guilty and decided that as long as he was gaining weight, happy and healthy then it's no one's business. Thank you for sharing your story. 🙂
I couldn't get my daughter to latch and didn't know their was actual help out there. I ended up quitting after a month and felt guilty for years. With my son, I had supply problems and he needed formula to gain weight. He did the same thing with only sucking until letdown, then sleep. I was feeding him every hour and pumping in between. I finally stopped feeling guilty and decided that as long as he was gaining weight, happy and healthy then it's no one's business. Thank you for sharing your story. 🙂
exactly! every mom needs to do what is best for her baby 🙂 mom guilt just means you're a good mamma who loves her baby and cares for baby's well-being.
You are amazing! Thank you for sharing your story. Harper and my baby James are practically the same age. It's encouraging to hear other mom's stories about breastfeeding. It's hard and can make you feel like a cow, but is also amazing.
Aww I am going to check out your blog so I can see little James 🙂
Hooray for you for being so honest and open, and for doing what's best for that unbelievably beautiful, precious, sweet baby Harper! 🙂 I totally agree that women need to support other women and stop judging the decisions they make for feeding their babies. Every single baby, mother, and baby+mother is different so no one has the place to assume or judge.
She is just too cute!!!!
thank you Nora 🙂 you are too sweet!
Thank you so much for sharing your story! Its inspiring.
Given that this is the blog world, I will be honest – I am SO excited for my little one's arrival but I have developed strong feelings against ever even trying to BF. I can't share these feelings because of the judgment. I know it's best to give it a try – but something about it being a private body part and using it for a real "purpose" doesn't sit well with me. I also unfortunately don't have much support with all of this.
Did you always know you wanted to do it? I am hoping something might click after I see the babe but scared that it won't happen
I always wanted to BF but I work in the medical field and I work with some leading neonatal experts and have in particular read a lot of studies about breast milk. Although I support any mother for how she chooses to feel her child, I do encourage new mothers to at least try to BF—especially those first few days or weeks. You may end up enjoying it. You may realize after birth that your body is so amazing for creating and growing this amazing human life and maybe that might make you more comfortable with nourishing your child with your own body. If it's not right for you, then don't worry, but maybe just be open to it because you just never know.
I also tried breastfeeding my first baby and it wouldn't work at all for us, so I exclusively pumped and was able to keep it up (100% breastmilk) for my goal of 10 months. I was also able to build enough of a frozen stash that my son had a mix of frozen BM and formula the remaining 2 months, and then he transitioned to cow's milk at age 1. Kudos to you for sticking with it as it IS a lot more work than breastfeeding. (And I know — after fretting about whether I'd be able to BF my second baby, it turned out to be a complete breeze with her, so I can say from experience that exclusively pumping is indeed more work than breastfeeding. And I can encourage you that just because you have to pump for one baby doesn't mean that breastfeeding won't work out for the next!). Final note…one good side effect of exclusively pumping is that baby is used to drinking from a bottle, which makes it a lot easier/less stressful when you return to work. Also, pumping will be easier for you since you already have a routine going. Best of luck!
thank you for the support 🙂 so glad to connect with other pumping mammas!
Such an informative post and kudos to you for keeping up with pumping! My son was also a bad latcher and I tried EP, but gave up at 3 weeks because he was eating nearly 30oz. a day! I have no regrets about giving it up because it took so much stress and anxiety off of me. We're trying for baby #2 now and I'm thinking I may give pumping a go again…I really have no desire to breastfeed.
I pump about 30 oz most days so I am just keeping up with her needs right now. I know it's such hard work to always be stressed about your supply. Glad you did what worked for you, I support you 🙂
I'm glad you found what worked for you. With my first breast feeding was miserable, she refused to latch on correctly and she was loosing tons of weight so I pumped for 6 months. When my second came around he was a natural he got the latch from the first time and did really well but I worked and traveled a lot after I had him so I pumped more than breast fed. I flew all over the country with my breast milk in tow. The only time that was our time was when he woke up and went to bed other that that it was with a bottle and we did that for 13 months until he weaned himself and decided he wanted his sister's cow's milk instead of mine.
that is pretty awesome that you were able to pump for that long! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your story! You are truly amazing and have done so well. I agree, breastfeeding is not easy, it hurt a lot in the beginning and there were many times I just wanted to stop. The medela pumps are great – I have the freestyle and use the hospital grade pump (medela symphony) at work. I love using the symphony – its so quiet and is more effective at getting the milk out. I hope you are able to keep your supply up when you return to work (that's what I'm worrying about) and best of luck!
Thank you so much for joining us and telling your story for "I Support You"! I have crazy respect for EP mamas…wow…you are amazing! Your post is so honest and informative, and I know it will be really helpful for tons of moms who are learning how to pump (I learned some new things!). And a huge shout-out to your husband for washing the parts and making the "kits"!!! Having that help is key!
Kim (Mama By The Bay)
Hi Kim! Thank you so much for reading my post and most importantly for starting such an incredible movement. Can you imagine what a better place the world would be if women just supported each other- and not just with feeding choices, but many other aspects of life too. I know you can imagine the positive things that would arise from that because you helped create "I Support You." So glad that we can finally change the conversation.
You go Momma! Sofia has a milk protein intolerance and used to be on special formula, I never breastfed but it seems like the most rewarding experience 🙂
xx
Megan
https://hellonewlywedlife.blogspot.com/2013/08/whats-in-our-diaper-bag.html
Hi Veronika!
Thank you for writing about your breastfeeding experience. I think pumping is an option most mothers are unaware of. I had a son 8 months ago, and was also determined to breastfeed but it wasn't the best option for me at the time (little TJ was in the NICU for five days because of his jaundice, I was a full-time university student, etc.) so I researched online a lot and learned how to pump exclusively. I was upset at first but then I realized "hey, I'm still giving him milk! That's something!" Not to mention, I felt like I could see how much my son was eating, and the daddy was able to bond with him during feeding time. The only downside is that I felt like I was "bonding" with my pump more than my son, and I always felt tethered to home because I didn't want to pump in public. If you're able to push through the initial month or two, it's not that bad. I was able to pump for 6 months!
But, I digress. I just wanted to commemorate you for being determined to give your precious daughter those important nutrients. My baby is almost 9 months and has yet to be sick (and he is in the 95 percentile for everything!)
xx
Sarah
thank you so much Sarah 🙂 your comment is very encouraging!
I love reading your blog! Harper is so beautiful. And I love that your work has a pump for you ladies. It sounds so so supportive which is so important. Good luck on your first day back.
xoxo
IG: emilierivera
sophiaroserivera.blogspot.com
thank you emilie 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I had pretty much the exact same experience with my son. Same latching/nursing shield/pumping scenario. It was quite the emotional roller coaster. But you are absolutely right. It doesn't matter how your child gets your milk. And amazingly enough, with the birth of my daughter, I was able to nurse easily and with no problems what-so-ever. Every child is different in every way! HAHA! Best wishes!
Tina
Thanks so much for this post! I want to share mine soon too but my story is similar to yours in a lot of ways. I am a "mostly pumper" in that I supplement with formula some days but I'm so grateful to be able to give breastmilk though the pump since breastfeeding didn't work out. It was an emotional journey but I'm glad to hear about other women finding happiness and success in our journeys. Good for you. Good for Harper.
Hi V, is there a reason why you didn't try and nurse with the nipple shield instead of ex pump? I met with a LC recently and due to my anatomy (nipples), they recommended that I stick with the nipple shield and try to weane her off when I felt ready to try again in the future. I exclusively nurse with the shield and she seems to be getting the nutrition she needs but am curious if I am being naive to breastfeeding and should be pumping as well. My baby is only 1 week old but figured I should start pumping maybe 1-2 a day to store/keep supply up. When do you think it's best to pump? I currently feed her every 3 hours. Thanks again! All the love to you and Harper!
I did try to nurse with a nipple shield—you can read all about that in part I of my breastfeeding story. I am also back to working full time so I would have had to pump anyway. I am producing a great amount of milk with EP so I am happy with that 🙂
You should consult a LC about how often to pump (I am not an expert)—but if your baby is just one week old, you should nurse on demand and that will be best for your supply. Nurse your baby whenever he or she wants to eat.
I'm currently going through almost this SAME EAXACT THING!! I cannot tell you how much better I feel after reading this post. I have been feeling so guilty that I can't provide enough for my child 🙁
My lil one is 2 weeks and i am only able to pump 1-2 oz per session.
i'll be watching the compression video you posted, thank you for this!!
I love this post! My baby also refused to latch correctly and when he did he would suck for a couple of seconds and then push me away and de-latch. Its been driving me crazy and I have decided to EP. I do not know how to start my stash as I can only pump for his feedings, I have almost no left overs to save. I have tried fenugreek and lactation cookies, I drink lots of water every day, so I was wondering how do you start a stash? Do you feed your baby formula 1x day and save that pumped milk for later? or is there anything else you do to start a stash? Sorry but I can't seem to find an answer anywhere I look.
I started my stash by pumping at 3:30 am every night to "trick" my body into thinking my baby was eating then so I would produce more. Now, I produce more than she eats so I freeze some of the overage. The only way to start a stash if if you exceed what your baby needs. Try an extra pumping session per day. I only supplemented with formula for a little while but was able to go to completely EBM once I went back to work (and a little bit before that actually). Also, how long are you pumping for? Continue to pump even when you stop having letdowns to signal your body to make more. I pump for 25-30 mins each session and produce about 35 oz per day.
Hi Veronika, I am doing the 3:30 pump as well but since he is 2 weeks old he needs to have that feeding, so I only produce about 2 and a half oz each pumping session, 3 if I am really lucky which he finishes completely. I pump for 35 min or even more, most of the time I have to stop because he gets really hungry and/or I am in a lot of back pain. I pump every 2 1/2 hours to feed him every 3 hours, since he lost a lot of weight he needs to gain 1oz per day so I am really trying to make more milk to help him gain weight and to create a stash since I will be going back to work in 2 weeks. Thanks for your help!
Thanks Veronika! I felt guilty to exclusively pump but now I understand that it is ok and it will work for me as long as I am consistent and it's also hard work thank you again!
Thanks Veronika I felt guilty to exclusively pump but now I know that it's ok and will work for me thank you again you are a real motivation after seeing your IG post of all your milk supply
Thank you for this article! I've had so much guilt about pumping vs breastfeeding vs formula, and this is exactly what I needed to hear.
It is so inspiring to read other mom’s EP stories! I nursed my first 2 until they were a little over 2 years old, and never thought I’d be an EPer, but baby number 3 had other plans! I love your story! I hope you don’t mind if I share a ink to my EP story here. https://exclusivepumpingmoms.blogspot.com/
Hi there! I’m glad you like my post 🙂 I am about to have our second and I am hoping he is able to nurse well, but if not, I am ready to go with pumping again!