spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

why not round out the conversation =)

I EP'd from almost the beginning bc DD had difficulty latching and she seemed to be hungry alll the time, I cant say that she /we couldnt breastfeed and I always wonder if I should have tried just a bit longer but ultimatly I think it was more my patience ran out and I had no suopport (in fact the opposite) for trying to continue at the breast so I moved on to pumping.

Just wondering why other EP chose to /had to EP?

spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

In my case I BF for about a month. DS always fell asleep while on the boob so I would end up having to BF every hour. I got so frustrated so I decided to give pumpong a try.
My supply isn't grow so I also supplement with formula occasionally

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

Yes, lets discuss since I still get looks and am asked why would i everI do it I mean I'm home with DD 24/7 why can't I just stick a boob in her mouth

In the hospital and for like 1 day at home, we tried the boob... Dd would latch and unlatch repeatedly. She couldn't stay on. Come to find out, she's got a tongue tie so how can the poor thing grip onto something when her tongue barely reaches! I got frustrated. Dd was frustrated. Not a good time...

I wanted her to have BM so in comes the pumping option. 10 weeks and still going... I don't pump as frequently as I used to and I make pretty much what she drinks in a day. I'm glad I froze 100 oz or so though just in case.

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

I pumped while trying to breastfeed and supplementing with formula for my twins. The attempts at breastfeeding lasted all of 2 weeks bc they would latch, but just wouldn't suck which dragged out feedings to like an hour minimum. But I'm still doing the pumping 3 months later. To me, its not as convenient/easy as straight up breastfeeding, but they are still getting the milk, so I see it as worthwhile.

I'm not sure how long I will keep it up as I always said I'd just shoot for 3 months, but I think I can manage it a bit longer as i slowly replace feedings with formula.

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

I pumped for nine months. I wanted her to have breast milk but I did not want to breastfeed.

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

I never had any desire to breastfeed but I wanted my kids to have the benefits of breastmilk. Plus I didnt want to be the only one who could feed them. And I didn't want to play guessing games with how much they were getting each feeding.

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

I tried to BF in the hospital and DD was getting jaundice bad. She was close to needing photo therapy so my ped told me to pump, measure and supplement with formula until my milk cane in stronger. I did this for a month and never made more than an oz per side.

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

ME! I have twins, they were preemies. I tried a few times in the NICU. I just freaked out they were so little I wanted to know exactly how much they were getting every single time. I pumped for 13 months only stopping when my pump died. In the process of waiting for an brand new one to be sent to me and using a hand pump my supply was virtually gone. I pat myself on the back for going that long. I pumped at work as many times as I could and I didn't even have my own classroom. I had to constantly ask people to use their rooms.

spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

Going in to the hospital to have my DC I still hadn't decided on whether or not I would BF. He was born 6 weeks premature, so I ultimately decided I wanted to BF -- i knew he would really benefit being a preemie. I started pumping in the hospital and had all intentions of directly BF when DS was able to. He never really latched well. He spent 17 days in the NICU - we tried and tried, but it just wasn't happening. So, I stuck with pumping and did it for 13 months. It was hard at times, but I'm so glad I stuck with it.

spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

DD loved to drink a little, sleep, drink a little, sleep, one feeding was taking like two hours, then we were all of a sudden ready for the next feeding. I saw no difference in pumping, she was still getting my milk, so I started to EP. I did it until she was 4 months old, then I went to formula because the whole process was very time consuming. I felt she had a good 4 months of breastmilk, and formula is not the devil, it's been given to billions of babies who are just as healthy and smart as breastfed babies.

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

Thanks for bringing this up, I feel pumping mommas always get lost in these convos. Anyway, began with BF the first 2 days in hospital. DD's bloodwork came back with abnormalities and opinions started flying so we tried formula. She wound up going to the NICU and I just figured all hope was lost for BF. I was too emotional, she had been given a bottle and wasnt latching as well, I was at a loss. The NICU nurses suggested pumping and I had never even thought about it. It went great.

The more I thought about it the more it made sense and was the best option for me. These were the postives in my opinion: anyone could feed her (DH did almost all night feedings), wasn't always feeding, knew how many ounces she was getting, benefits of BM (really wanted this bc of several health concerns) and it made it much easier to transition going back to work rather than if I was BF. I EP for 7 1/2 months and will def. do it again in the future.

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

I thought I was the only one who pumped exclusively. I tried BF in hospital and day 1 home. DD lost alot of weight, I was an emotional wreck the first week, back and forth to doctors because of weight loss. Ped. said do pumping and feed every 3 hours until she gains weight.

Well, by the second week, DD didn't want the breast, only bottle. I have tried to offer breast but she cries. At this point, I just do the pumping round the clock. THis way DH can feed her too.

I have been pumping 10 weeks and will continue as long as I can. She gets benefits of BM, bonds with daddy and I know exactly how much she is eating. She has doubled her birth weight already and she is healthy. That's all I could ask for. Thanks for bringing this subject up.

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

My twins were in the nicu for 6 weeks. I didnt have a choice but to pump for they were too little to suck. We needed to teach them how. Once they were a little bigger the LC's and I tried to get them to nurse. We tried for the first 3 months they were home, but the babies were too inconsistent.

spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

I have been EP since DD was born 3 months ago. She was in the NICU and was FF before they even let me try to BF. I didnt even get to attempt to BF until she was 3 days old. I tried for a month to get her to latch but it never worked. So, my pump and I are BFF. I go back to work in September & I dont really see myself pumping there. I started giving her 1/2 formula and breast milk bottles about a week ago at night and he has been sleeping thru the night for the first time ever! I feel proud of myself for pumping this long because it's not easy! I wish I could whip out my boob and be able to feed her.... but, Either way she is still getting BM!

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

To be honest...

It just freaked me out the thought of my baby sucking my boob!!

I EP with dd for 5 months

I'm doing it with DS too going on 3 months....

I love it they are getting breastmilk but anyone can feed them.

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

DS lost over a pound in the hospital so the nurses asked me to start pumping to help with my supply. I BF and pumped for about 8 weeks and then switched to full time pumping. He wasn't gaining enough weight and I didn't want to supplement. Once I pumped full time everyone could feed him and I knew exactly how much he was getting. I am going on 7 months and planning on a year or until he grows out of his milk allergy! My pump and I have a love hate relationship

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

Posted by MCD0524

My pump and I have a love hate relationship

spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

Can you ladies tell me how often you pump especially in the beginning. I am really nervous about BFing and am open to pumping. TIA!

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

In the beggining i pumped every 3 hours but would go 4-6 hours in the middle of the night, so if DD got up 3 times I only pumped twice, once she got up 2 times I pumped once, once she started sstn--aruond 3 months I didnt wake up to pump but i pumped still every 3 -4 hours during the day , so 5-6 times. Around 5 months I think I cut down to 4 times a day abt 10 mins each, and its enough, it sort of depends on how great your supply is and how much LO eats and if you are supplemnting. I foind once my supply was estblished I could pump less often and still be ok

Re: spinoff -- Moms who exclusively pumped from the start

DS was in the NICU for 4 months and a majority of that time, he was physically unable to BF. I pumped every 2 hours around the clock but I was never able to get more than a few ounces every day. The LCs were very helpful and we tried so many different things, but the stress of the situation killed my supply. I tried nursing him when he was ready and he latched like a pro, but there was nothing left after 3 months. I knew how important BM was for a preemie and I really feel like DS benefitted from what I was able to give him.