Exclusive Pumpers Tribe

[mama-a-llama]

It looks like we could use a tribe for ep'ers. I'm on a group for ep'ers, but there's a more mainstream slant there.
A little intro. . . my son was nursing fine until about 2 weeks old, then started sometimes refusing to nurse, or popping on and off. He didn't gain weight between 2 and 4 weeks, our former dr was a jerk about it, and we found another who sent us by ambulance to Children's Hospital where we found out he had a heart defect. After surgery for that, he developed reflux. In the following weeks, he just wasn't nursing enough to gain weight, so ended up with a feeding tube. That was the end of December, and I've been ep'ing ever since.
Looking forward to hearing your stories and supporting each other.

[mom2ken1cam2]

I have been looking for a thread like this...still new to this forum stuff and not real sure about what I'm doing...but I just saw this and it's what I've needed. I've posted "my story" before but here's an overview! I had ds2 9 weeks ago and he's never really been great at nursing. They called him a sleepy baby in the hospital and once we got home I realized just how sleepy he was. It took hrs. to wake him for a feeding and as soon as we got him to wake up he'd fall asleep on the breast UGH! He dehydrated twice (2 IVs in the head) and that's when we knew we had to offer the bottle (we were syringe feeding). I had a low supply so we were supplementing with formula. It seems like it was a downhill spiral. He slowly stopped wanting to nurse which breaks my heart. I am still pumping after nine weeks and it is literally a one-feeding-at a time kind of thing. If I think any further than that I'll go CRAZY!!! Can I get some feedback on what kind of pumps you are all using??? Thanks for the support...us EPers need all we can get...it's exhausting!!!

[peaceful_mama]

I EP'ed for 6 months. I stopped because well, it's a hard, long, frustrating job and with being a working mom and an AP mama, well, that was when I got to the point I felt he needed more time with ME...that was when he really started getting 'particular' about who he wanted.

I know what you mean about the mainstream slant on the AP groups. That's the reason I PM'ed Cynthia a couple of times and basically begged for something to show up here for us. My last straw with it was when I expressed some frustration over how to handle it when you need to pump but your babe needs you too and I was given suggestions ranging from letting my child CIO in an exersaucer or something in the room with me to putting him in a separate room in a crib with toys...all with the gist of "he needs to learn that you need to pump"
I'm sorry, that's not the relationship I wanted with my child. I already went through enough not being able to nurse him, I wasn't about to also sacrifice my stance on CIO. To me, the whole point of breastfeeding being central to AP is the close relationship that goes on between the mother and the nursing child. (yes, of course, the milk is superior, but there's also the relationship. The comfort.) When challenges arise, unfortunately, I found at least, you start a balancing act between the importance of mother's milk and the importance of your attached relationship to your child--being able to respond to him when he needs YOU, the time you spend in physical contact with your child.
For me, I reached the end of being able to balance at 6 months....

[mama-a-llama]

Originally Posted by mom2ken1cam2

Can I get some feedback on what kind of pumps you are all using???

I'm using a Medela Lactina select. It's the pump I got from my local LC before we knew why ds wasn't eating well, and needed to rebuild/maintain my supply. When at Children's, I was using a Medela Symphony. Man I hated that thing--I could never get the suction even on both sides, and I hadn't figured out how to be hands free yet. So I would be in the pump room in the middle of the night, trying to fiddle with the tubing while holding both flanges on--not fun at all. I ended up bringing my rented pump from home.

Later, as we've been back for outpatient stuff, I sometimes use a different pump room. That Symphony is fine. In fact, I like it much better than the Lactina. I had to use the other room again recently, and that pump is even worse now. So I sort of want to switch my rental, but I'm nervous because it seems like each individual pump can have its own problems. The Symphony is finicky about how you set it up, I think, but works better when done right, while the Lactina is more consistent and "foolproof".

Thanks for the support...us EPers need all we can get...it's exhausting!!!

I'd been contemplating starting a thread like this for a while, but didn't think there would be much participation. Then zakers_mama's thread took off, and I thought we really did need support here.
I should go back to bed now. I turned off the pump 10 min ago, but wanted to finish my reply.

[earthcore]

I EP'd for 16 mos. for my DD. i used a hospital grade pump for the first 12 mos. Then it died. I used an Ameda Purely Yours after that.

You go mamas! EPing is one of the most difficult things I ever done, but sooooo worth it!

[clovergirl]

just wanted to give a shout out as a former EP'er... 15mo with my first DD. i used a medela lactina for 4mo and then bought a pump-in-style (when i finally realized nursing was not in our cards). i was a very lucky EP'er in that i never had to supplement. it was really exhausting, but i'd do it again in a heartbeat.
i also wanted to give you mamas who are on kiddo number one hope for the future if you are planning on having more kids- although we had another very rocky start with DD#2, she's now 2yrs old and still nursing.

[sehbub]

I having only been EPing for 6 weeks now, but am also dealing with supply issues on top of that, and don't see any end in sight as far as my DD (a 30 week preemie...now 6 weeks old) being able to nurse any time soon. It is exhausting, and I was using a hand pump up until a week ago, which probably was the root of many of my self-doubt and frustration problems. I'm now using Medela Lactina Select, and while I still see my pump more than I see my husband, it has made life easier. I am almost pumping enough to feed my DD (2 oz per feeding) and hopefully will be able to increase my supply as time goes on. It is exhausting, and defeating, and all I want to do is feed my babe the way nature intended. Unfortunately, that's not in the cards for us at the moment. We weren't designed real well for each other. I've got large, flat nipples, and she has a teeny tiny mouth. Fingers are crossed that I won't be participating in this thread for much longer. Not that there isn't a wonderful group of women here, of course.

[melbb]

I EP. DD is 6 months old. She didn't BF at birth. She wanted to thrust everything out of her mouth, and she had jaundice, so she was sleepy and her suck was weak. She started BFing at 3 weeks, only to refuse after 3 weeks. I pumped for 2 weeks and then got her BFing again using a nipple shield. That lasted 2 months, when my supply plunged (long story). I have gotten my supply back up, but she only screams at my breast. I only pump about 26 oz/day, so I have to supplement. I have tried domperidone, herbs, lactogenic food, etc. Nothing has increased my supply further. I was using a PIS, but just rented a Symphony to see if I can increase my supply. If it doesn't, I am thankful for the break the Symphony is giving me. It is much gentler than the PIS.

[orangecanoe]

My youngest dd has severe reflux and started showing an aversion to nursing/eating around 4-5 wks of age. Her intake was suffering and an LC advised that I should rent a pump and offer/force feed her bottles if need be. Unfortunately, two of the prophylactic antibiotics we had to try for her kidney reflux gave her really bad nausea/diarrhea/vomiting and that seemed to kill her appetite and I could no longer get her to nurse at night, which was all we had left.

It's been a couple weeks now and I'm still trying to get the most efficient pumping schedule/routine in place. I had rented an Ameda Egnell Elite and that has worked well, but the LC thought I would do okay with the Purely Yours so I'm using both til the rental is up. My toddler is still nursing so it's a little tricky at times to keep track of pumping and how many oz. I've gotten for the day and when she usually nurses.

Some days it feels like all I ever do is pump, wash stuff and bottle feed so I guess I'm still trying to find some balance. Since my supply is adequate, what helps me is to pump at breakfast and then not again til around noon so I have that window to play with the girls or get out of the house w/o worrying about pumping. So far so good.

[Swirly]

I am delighted to see this thread. I have a 14 week old daughter and have been pumping since the beginning. She4 is upset now, so I gotta go, but will be back with our story when able.

[GooeyRN]

I am an EPer. DD (now 7.5 months old) had some issues at birth and could not nurse properly until 2 months, and then refused the breast after 3 months. I use a Medela Lactina Select. I pump hands free. I have a huge oversupply. (about 75 ounces a day, its both a blessing and a curse) I purchased my third deep freezer about 3 weeks ago.

Its been a difficult road so far. DD is a high needs baby, who wants to be constantly held. And she hated slings and carriers. It *had* to be my arms. Or she would scream like she was in a horror movie. It was rough in the begining, since dd could not tolerate being put down for even a second. So I mostly pumped while she napped. (Which meant no sleep for me and no housework getting done for quite some time) I also learned to pump hands free. I was then able to lay her on my lap while I pumped. Never to this day have I let her cry while I pumped.

As she got older (after 4 months) She was able to tolerate being put down for short intervals. This made pumping much easier, since she does not nap more than 1/2 hour a day now. I sit indian style in the middle of the floor, with her exersaucer, bouncer chair, swing, and a play matt and mobile in a circle around me. I also keep a basket of toys next to me. When she gets bored in the exersaucer (about 5 minutes) I move her around the cirlce. Pumping hands free is great, since I can play and pump at the same time. She still loves to be held, so I hold her at all times while not pumping. She seems to be happy with this arrangement, so I am as well.

A tip for other EPers... You can do almost anything while you pump! I can pump and drive, pump while I cook dinner and clean the house and do laundry! (dh is home then so he holds her) This can even be done with my huge Lactina pump! Put it in a backpack zipped up with just the cord and tubing out. Put on the backpack. Attach the cord to a very long extension cord and plug it in. Pump hands free. I know it sounds crazy, but it works! (I am too cheap to spend the $200 on the battery pack) I also pump during the night. I sleep while I pump! I sit propped up with pillows in bed and pump hands free. I set a cooking timer for 20 minutes. When it dings, Im done! I keep a mini fridge in my bedroom so I don't have to run the milk downstairs. Keep several sets of horns up there so you don't have to constantly wash them. Or I just reuse the same set all night, by storing them in the refridgerator between usings.

As you can tell, I got good at this pumping stuff. Sure I have other problems (very sore nipples, thrush, NO free time for myself unless I pump while on the computer like now, frequent engorgement, etc) but My dd is happy, and she is getting my milk! Even if I quit now at 7.5 months, she would have enough of my milk to last her to over a year old. So even if breastfeeding the traditional way does not work out.... There is another way to get your baby your milk! It is so much work, but so worth it!

Some family and friends of mine think I'm nuts, but I am doing everything I can for my baby. She is so healthy, never had any illness. I am so glad that I didn't give up.

All of you EPers out there are great mommy's for going the extra 10 miles to give your babies the best! Keep it up!

[MaryJaneLouise]

All I can say is WOW to you full time EPers! I pump part time WOHM, and it is a pain in the @ss! Keep up the good work.

[sehbub]

Wow, GooeyRN.

I've only been EPing for about 7 weeks now. How do you pump hands free with the Lactina Select? I think I'm missing something. Every time I pump I sit at my desk and lean against the edge of the desk to hold the horns on. LOL. My DH laughs at me, but at least that way I have my hands free and can catch up on e-mail/pay bills/hold our baby (she's under 6 pounds) etc.

So hands free? How's that work?

[MaryJaneLouise]

Here's the rubber band trick for hands free pumping:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/h...e-pumping.html

There are also special bras you can buy, or you can take an old one and cut out circle where your nips are. Stick the horns in from the inside, then attach the rest to the outside.

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by MaryJaneLouise

Here's the rubber band trick for hands free pumping:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/h...e-pumping.html

There are also special bras you can buy, or you can take an old one and cut out circle where your nips are. Stick the horns in from the inside, then attach the rest to the outside.

The hair band method is the fastest to set up, so I use that at home. But cutting a one inch slit in a sports bra keeps things the most stable for driving. You can turn your whole body to merge and things dont pop off. The only prob. w/ that is your nipples then stick through the holes. But nursing pads solve that problem.

[sehbub]

Fantastic! Thanks!

[mimid]

Maybe this is where I belong?

I wa trying to come to terms with the idea of not being able to bf my girls, but it never sat well with me. Perhaps this is the way to go? My story:

At 33w 5d I had an e-c/s and brought my 3 beautiful babes into the world. 2 were in the NICU just to grow and learn to suck and the third had respritory problems, too. I had a baaaad reaction to the Duomorph and was so doped up from the mag, benadryl and the morph that I didn't start pumping until 2 days later. (DH wasn't able to be at the hospital as often as he would have liked and even though I said I wanted to bf, the nursing staff was pretty much unsupportive of anything but pumping for triplets.) I was still pretty loopy and my 2 hour pumping schedule was often messed up. I ended up getting 20cc per breast ever 2 hours by the time the girls came home at 2 weeks.

I was trying to bf and supplement but had little help here with the girls so when 2 or 3 are screaming Ijust used a bottle. I did buy a SNS and some Dom and still have my hospital pump rental, but it seems like there is never enought time to feed 3 girls bottles, bf one girl and pump plus all the other things I need to do around here. I was thinking of waiting until the summer when I will have a mother's helper and then trying to relactate (I'm still getting some milk and the girls pften like to suckle and use me as a human pacifier.) But now I'm thinking exclusively pumping might be more doable.

I'm glad this thread is here!

[letniaLynne]

Hey all,

New to mothering.com but have been EPing for 17weeks. The week after my little girl was born was a breastfeeding nightmare! Things started out painful (as I expected) and then became toe curling stinging burning pain! My nipples were bright purple and so swolen my little girl could bairly fit them in her mouth. After about 6 LC said everything was fine I went totally crazy. : I could not belive that this was normal or ok. I finally figgured it out on my own and found a more experenced LC. My daugher was born biting. Every time she sucked she would clamp down and run her lower jaw up the side of the nipple hard. From the outside if you dont look carefully it is hard to tell anything is wrong.

We tried to break her of this but it is engraned in her, she cant even hold a passifier in her mouth because she does not suck on it properly. Also her temperment is Hyper & Stubborn! We had the LC sweating by the end of every session since my girl would just either scream bloody murder if you toutched her face to make a correction or just clampdown harder in protest.

This has been an extremly hard road! I have been though 6 pumps; 2 manual, 1 consumer electric and 3 hospital grade. Each time I switched I noticed an increase in supply. I am currenly still climbing and hoping to beable to feed her fully on BM someday.

Also I am in the middle of being diagnosed for thrush and or Reynaud's which I have had from the begnining. It is hard to tell the difference between the two since the symptoms are so similar.

I just joined a yahoo group exclusivly for EPers I would definatly recommend it !
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EPers/

So glad to find more of you! We need all the support we can get

[MaryJaneLouise]

Originally Posted by mimid

I was thinking of waiting until the summer when I will have a mother's helper and then trying to relactate (I'm still getting some milk and the girls pften like to suckle and use me as a human pacifier.) But now I'm thinking exclusively pumping might be more doable.

I'm glad this thread is here!

Miriam, if I were you I would try to keep up with some direct bf-ing, especially since they like to do it. As they grow and become more demanding, it is a good way to keep them pacified. Plus there are wonderful bonding and oral development pluses to the direct bfing.

One of my guys didn't really "learn" to directly bf until about 3 months old. Now he is a maniac. They learn to nurse by doing, and WILL get better at actually extracting milk.

It is very confusing to balance the pumping, feeding, and direct bfing with multiples. I remember how hard is was with two -- your household has to be a 3 ring (but fun!) circus.

whatever you decide.

Are you able to tandem feed at all? See below for photos etc.

http://www.karengromada.com/photos/index.htm

http://www.karengromada.com/images/p...ball_2days.jpg

ETA: I hope I didn't offend any of you valiant EPers. I'm not always good with words. I'm just saying that since EPing is SO hard, that she might want to TRY to continue the partial direct BFing.

[clovergirl]

BakerALM,
your story sounds very similar to what i went through with my daughters. have you ever heard of craniosacral therapy? here is a link to an article from LLL about how it can be helpful to infants with feeding issues-
http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleade...gSep01p82.html
we did not do any CST with Dd#1 as we didn't know about it then, but i credit it with helping DD#2 being able to nurse successfully. she had a very tight jaw and wasn't able to open her mouth wide enough to latch correctly, and once she was on the breast she wouldn't/couldn't move her lower jaw properly. after doing CST and mild chiropractic work on her made a huge difference. i now always recommend it to people having issues like ours, as it truly saved our nursing relationship.