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Are you exclusively pumping? Unfortunately, you’ll need to pump a lot more than five times in 24 hours to establish and maintain supply. The best tips I have are to get a cart, leave it in the place that you will pump during the day, buy tons of spare parts and keep the carts stocked with water, snacks, and all of your pump parts. Roll the cart into your bedroom so that you are set up to do your overnight pumps. As far as flange sizing, highly recommend buying a digital caliper on Amazon and using that to measure. I exclusively pumped for a year with my first so I get how time consuming it is. Looking back, I probably should have more seriously considered just switching to formula. You can stop whenever you want to, but I recommend not quitting on a bad day just in case you you regret it in the future.
I'm trying to get back to nursing. So far with 5x pump, I have enough for LO.
I'm horrified of over supply, clog duct and matitistis since I'm trying to transition to nursing.
Had to pump cause baby has jaundice and need to feed her more and still practicing on latching
I had about 8 sets of pumping parts so I don’t have to wash them as often. You can also put your pump parts in the fridge in between pumping sessions.
I stopped at 5 months and felt like a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. So if you feel like you want to stop and switch to formula, it’s completely okay!
Mentor
Have enough parts to last 1.5-2 days, use the refrigerator hack for pump parts, make sure you UNDERSTAND your pump settings… I EP’d with my 2nd kid and it took me 48 minutes of just pumping to empty. With my 3rd kid I saw a qualified EP LC who showed me how to toggle between massage and letdown modes and fitted me properly with flange size and I went from 48 minute pump sessions to 24 minutes.
Mentor
Pumping is tough. I find it to be such a mental drain and it really bums me out. If this is you too, quit. It will be ok, I promise 💕
Mentor
The first months were like this. I was triple feeding as per the instructions of my LC. So breastfeeding, bottle, and then formula, followed by burping and nap. The short 30 min gap I had was for pumping for next feed. 10x a day everyday for 2 months.
It was hell.
After 3 months your supply establishes and you can pump faster on a higher setting because your nipples are dead. I don't lube my parts. I just adjust in bra and pump 20 min, transfer to bottles and get back to my day. Pump in the same spot each time so your snacks stash is already there. Just refill water bottle when putting things in the fridge at the end, and chug as you walk away.
Gotta optimize your process or you'll never sustain it as baby gets older and work starts again. But just rest the first 6 weeks, after that you can figure things out.
Came here to post this. This is me at the moment. Baby born underweight and so doing the same feeding plan you did for your first two months (my bub is 3 weeks). Considering throwing the towel in and pumping only especially because each feed when I start w BF bub normally gets hysterical at some point but if I go bottle only he will take it. As someone who has been here, how did it turn out? Should I stick w nursing or is going to pump only something I might NOT live to regret….?
You don’t have to keep doing this, you know. Your health and sanity matter. I breastfed for 4 days and hung it up. My son slurped down that bottle, fell asleep for 3 hrs and we never looked back. Best thing I ever did and if I have another kid I will not attempt to breastfeed. I will also hire a night nurse and not kill myself.
I second this. I gave up after a few weeks and it was the best thing I could do for myself (more sleep and sanity as I was getting deeply depressed at my lack of supply and how ridiculous triple feeding was) and my baby (more cuddle time with him!)
I have a pumping station where all my stuff is (pump, water etc) and I pump there most of the time. I highly recommend getting the flange right as that affects how effectively you pump and impacts timing ( I usually only pump 30 min in my first am session since it’s been all night). Also, recommend the lavie warming massagers and coboo spray from Amazon, both of which can cut down on time. I wash every 2/3 pumps and just pop them in a Tupperware in the fridge in between (not per cdc guidelines but most EP moms seem to do this). Lastly, it gets easier and not efficient with time!
Fridge hack between pump sessions, pitcher method for storing, and microwave lansinoh pads for heat on flanges. Also the lactek flanges are amazing. Check out bemybreastfriend on insta for lots of pumping tips.
And feel free to quit- on a bad day, on a good day, on a Wednesday- formula is an awesome option.
If you’re happy to throw down in dollars, or if you work at EY and can get them for free, highly recommend the limerick flanges that are fully silicone and truly one size fits all
Pumping is exhausting. When kid start to latch and drink milk life becomes better. Try power pumping.
I had my pump in a backpack. So when I pumped at home I could be anywhere. I loved the mobility of it. When I was at work during a break I’d run and grab a large milkshake to boost my calories. My son didn’t latch but I wanted him to have my breast milk. Plus it meant dad could feed in the middle of the night also.
If pumping is stressing you out, use formula. The most important thing is that you enjoy this time with your baby and that there is no resentment over something that doesn’t have to be an issue!