Exclusive Pumpers Tribe - Page 77

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by BakerALM

Hey girls! I have been thinking about you all ALOT this week with the new arrival to my family, Serefina Marie!: I just wanted to send a out to everyone here still EPing for there little beans. You are doing the best for them no matter how hard it is!

Congratulations!!! : Serefina Marie is a great name! My middle name is Marie. So how is bfing going this time so far? I really hope things are going well for you!

[daisy0306]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

You deserve some new earrings! I, too planned on stopping for dd when she turned 1. Like yours, she wasn't doing solids yet. That ruined my plan. She recently began eating, at 2.5 years old. She still isn't reliable eating, though. sigh.

It's actually me holding her back I wanted to make sure she was eating solids because it was her choice, not mine. And I wanted her to be BF for as long as possible. I've been making more of an effort to have her eat solids every time DS has a meal or snack instead of giving her a bottle. I just worry about how much and what she is eating. She really only wants finger foods, she refuses to let me feed her. I worry that she is not getting enough fruits and veggies because I'm not sure how to serve them.

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

I am curious, what is everyone's MAIN reason for EPing? Is it for fear of allergies, later health problems, can't tolerate formula for whatever reason, the immunological benefits, hate the idea if formula, peer pressure, etc? What keeps you pumping?

I did b/c of better brain development, after a year my reason was so I didn't have to buy formula (she didnt do solids) b/c I am stubborn, and now it is mainly for the immunological benefits. My kid is never sick.

later health problems, immuno benefits, and a healthy case of mommy guilt for not being strong enough to ride the BFing/PPD roller coaster again

Originally Posted by GISDiva

Oh, and way to go Daisy!!!

Thank you

Originally Posted by BakerALM

Hey girls! I have been thinking about you all ALOT this week with the new arrival to my family, Serefina Marie!: I just wanted to send a out to everyone here still EPing for there little beans. You are doing the best for them no matter how hard it is!

congrats!! How is the BFing going?

[GooeyRN]

My dd (who will be 3 years old in October) asked to "suck mommy's booby" yesterday, twice. She climbed onto my lap, put it in her mouth, and just looked at me. Then she laughed and said "I did it!" seemed all proud, and then went on her merry way. I have such mixed feelings over it. I guess I though she was going to actually nurse for a second. I guess she just wanted to be like the baby. I was kind of let down. I wish I didn't still grieve the loss of a bfing relationship. How long is this going to take to get over? Am I pathetic? Most women would be "over it" a week or two after birth if things didn't work out.

[letniaLynne]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

Congratulations!!! : Serefina Marie is a great name! My middle name is Marie. So how is bfing going this time so far? I really hope things are going well for you!

Originally Posted by daisy0306

congrats!! How is the BFing going?

Thanks! The BFing is going well with some minor complications. She has been EBF since birth: almost a week now (I can't believe it!!). I have been having some SEVERE pain while nursing for the first 3days (like so bad I would have taken the feeling of transition in labor verses BFing!!). I thought the latch off and I was missing the fine details so I hired a IBCLC to come to the house and sort me out. Less than 2 days later and my nips are healing and the pain while nursing is MUCH MUCH better. I am still working on getting her latched correctly since she has some bad habits if she is not perfectly latched (chopping and pulling off so that she has a shallow latch and only sucks my nipple. But if I can get the latch really good it is pain free on the Right side and the left is getting there.

The ironic thing is that she has basically the same problems as my DD did with her latch but I had no education into BFing and everyone around me gave me horrible advice even the supposedly educated LCs. I am feeling very sad about it lately since with the right advice and eduction within less than a week since DD2s birth I am almost pain free and she is pooing and peeing as she should be. But because of everything that got us started on the wrong foot I ended up EPing for 22mths. AHHHh it just makes me scream!::

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

My dd (who will be 3 years old in October) asked to "suck mommy's booby" yesterday, twice. She climbed onto my lap, put it in her mouth, and just looked at me. Then she laughed and said "I did it!" seemed all proud, and then went on her merry way. I have such mixed feelings over it. I guess I though she was going to actually nurse for a second. I guess she just wanted to be like the baby. I was kind of let down. I wish I didn't still grieve the loss of a bfing relationship. How long is this going to take to get over? Am I pathetic? Most women would be "over it" a week or two after birth if things didn't work out.

Not sure if I will ever get over it. I totally feel for you!

[daisy0306]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

My dd (who will be 3 years old in October) asked to "suck mommy's booby" yesterday, twice. She climbed onto my lap, put it in her mouth, and just looked at me. Then she laughed and said "I did it!" seemed all proud, and then went on her merry way. I have such mixed feelings over it. I guess I though she was going to actually nurse for a second. I guess she just wanted to be like the baby. I was kind of let down. I wish I didn't still grieve the loss of a bfing relationship. How long is this going to take to get over? Am I pathetic? Most women would be "over it" a week or two after birth if things didn't work out.

It's been a year and I'm not over it Last night I dreamed that DD nursed

Originally Posted by BakerALM

Thanks! The BFing is going well with some minor complications. She has been EBF since birth: almost a week now (I can't believe it!!). I have been having some SEVERE pain while nursing for the first 3days (like so bad I would have taken the feeling of transition in labor verses BFing!!). I thought the latch off and I was missing the fine details so I hired a IBCLC to come to the house and sort me out. Less than 2 days later and my nips are healing and the pain while nursing is MUCH MUCH better. I am still working on getting her latched correctly since she has some bad habits if she is not perfectly latched (chopping and pulling off so that she has a shallow latch and only sucks my nipple. But if I can get the latch really good it is pain free on the Right side and the left is getting there.

The ironic thing is that she has basically the same problems as my DD did with her latch but I had no education into BFing and everyone around me gave me horrible advice even the supposedly educated LCs. I am feeling very sad about it lately since with the right advice and eduction within less than a week since DD2s birth I am almost pain free and she is pooing and peeing as she should be. But because of everything that got us started on the wrong foot I ended up EPing for 22mths. AHHHh it just makes me scream!::


Not sure if I will ever get over it. I totally feel for you!

I hope everything continues to go well.

[GISDiva]

Congrats, welcome Serefina! I'm so glad things are sorting themselves out and that you had good help this time. Woo-hoo! At least your previous experience helped you with your new little one, if that's any consolation at all.

Gooey, I wonder how long it will take to get over it every single day, and the answer is probably never completely. But we carry on anyway and we learn to take joy in all the other things our children do and the things we do for them.

[bright-midnight]

Hi ladies!

I'm just checking in with all of you, I haven't posted in this tribe/thread in ages.

I've been EPing for 21 months (and not planning on stopping any time soon!) and AGAIN today I was asked by my grandmother "and why are you still pumping? DD is old enough to have normal milk now!" I'm so sick of having to explain myself to my family about this. They just don't grasp the fact that if my DD were nursing, she would still be nursing. It drives me batty!

Half of my family is not supportive of extended EPing, but it feels great that I have proven them wrong. From the beginning they made bets to see how long I would last with BFing (yes they are that petty.) I'm glad I have stuck to it though.

Sorry for the rant, but I don't have anyone IRL to rant to about these things.

[bright-midnight]

Originally Posted by BakerALM

Hey girls! I have been thinking about you all ALOT this week with the new arrival to my family, Serefina Marie!: I just wanted to send a out to everyone here still EPing for there little beans. You are doing the best for them no matter how hard it is!

Congrats on the birth of your LO! I love her name

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by bright-midnight

Hi ladies!

I'm just checking in with all of you, I haven't posted in this tribe/thread in ages.

I've been EPing for 21 months (and not planning on stopping any time soon!) and AGAIN today I was asked by my grandmother "and why are you still pumping? DD is old enough to have normal milk now!" I'm so sick of having to explain myself to my family about this. They just don't grasp the fact that if my DD were nursing, she would still be nursing. It drives me batty!

Half of my family is not supportive of extended EPing, but it feels great that I have proven them wrong. From the beginning they made bets to see how long I would last with BFing (yes they are that petty.) I'm glad I have stuck to it though.

Sorry for the rant, but I don't have anyone IRL to rant to about these things.

I am glad you won your bet. My mom didn't believe that you could pump long term and she tried to talk me out of it. She said pumps weren't meant to be used long term, only for a few weeks. Silly me, I was inconveniencing her when she wanted to do something and I had to go pump. So what better way to sabatage things than to say I can't? So, here I sit pumping right now, 33 months after she said that.

[ScoobySnacks]

Hey Gooey - how far apart are your pump sessions?
Did you ever have supply probs? My DD has started sleeping longer stretches, and I'm suffering w/ my supply. Was already a low supplier to begin with.

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by ScoobySnacks

Hey Gooey - how far apart are your pump sessions?
Did you ever have supply probs? My DD has started sleeping longer stretches, and I'm suffering w/ my supply. Was already a low supplier to begin with.

I don't have a schedule now. I pump after the baby nurses, and during the night I pump one side and nurse the other, all on baby's schedule. It ends up being about 8 times a day, 10 mins each time roughly. Usually 3 of those times are over night. If I am going somewhere for less than 6 hours I dont take the pump, I will skip one session. I never had low supply, I always had over supply.

[ScoobySnacks]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

I don't have a schedule now. I pump after the baby nurses, and during the night I pump one side and nurse the other, all on baby's schedule. It ends up being about 8 times a day, 10 mins each time roughly. Usually 3 of those times are over night. If I am going somewhere for less than 6 hours I dont take the pump, I will skip one session. I never had low supply, I always had over supply.

Oh, OK. Lucky you!

[GISDiva]

Originally Posted by bright-midnight

I'm glad I have stuck to it though.

Good for you! I know I won't make it that long...

[daisy0306]

Originally Posted by bright-midnight

Hi ladies!

I'm just checking in with all of you, I haven't posted in this tribe/thread in ages.

I've been EPing for 21 months (and not planning on stopping any time soon!) and AGAIN today I was asked by my grandmother "and why are you still pumping? DD is old enough to have normal milk now!" I'm so sick of having to explain myself to my family about this. They just don't grasp the fact that if my DD were nursing, she would still be nursing. It drives me batty!

Half of my family is not supportive of extended EPing, but it feels great that I have proven them wrong. From the beginning they made bets to see how long I would last with BFing (yes they are that petty.) I'm glad I have stuck to it though.

Sorry for the rant, but I don't have anyone IRL to rant to about these things.

The most important thing is that your baby is fed, happy and healthy. Good for you for hanging in so long.


We're doing good here. I ponder quitting everyday, but it just doesn't feel like the right time yet. If Grace was nursing she still would be, so I keep on pumping. Something about making it through the first year has really lifted the burden off my shoulders. My new goal is 18 months

[AliOpe]

Where to buy herbs online?

I am looking for something like mother's love tincture for increasing my milk supply. I need to find an online site I can trust. Has anyone bought them online? kellymom.com suggested motherslove.com has anyone bought from them? Thanks!

[ScoobySnacks]

Originally Posted by AliOpe

I am looking for something like mother's love tincture for increasing my milk supply. I need to find an online site I can trust. Has anyone bought them online? kellymom.com suggested motherslove.com has anyone bought from them? Thanks!

Yes, they are great. Just got my order from them last week. Their stuff is the only thing that seemed to help my supply. I don't think Domperidone did much, so I've weaned off of it.

The owner of Motherlove will even answer emails and makes herself very accessible. I was impressed with them. Make sure you get an 8 oz. thing of whatever you buy - it's a lot more cost effective in that size.

[JeanineTheOT]

Need a recommendation

Hi Ladies,

I havent posted in a long time, since I weaned from the pump at 16 months p/p. Now, I am prego with #2 and need to buy a new pump. I used the PIS advanced last time and LOVED it. Ive heard that medela makes a new one, the freestyle, that is smaller and can be put in another bag. Id love to get this one, but am afraid that it wont be as strong or sturdy as the PIS. I hope I dont need to EP again, but if I do, I dont want to buy another new pump.

Anyone use the Freestyle?

[ScoobySnacks]

Question for you long term pumpers out there- what pump do you use? Is a hospital grade pump necessary? I'm currently using a Medela Symphony. Since I'm going to be pumping a long time, I was thinking of buying a PIS, instead of renting the Symphony for months and months.

Do you think I will get less milk if I use the PIS?

[daisy0306]

I use the Medela PISA, and the Avent Isis when we're traveling. pak

[rlynn08]

Originally Posted by ScoobySnacks

Question for you long term pumpers out there- what pump do you use? Is a hospital grade pump necessary? I'm currently using a Medela Symphony. Since I'm going to be pumping a long time, I was thinking of buying a PIS, instead of renting the Symphony for months and months.

Do you think I will get less milk if I use the PIS?

I use the medela swing, its a single pump. the LCs at the hospital tried to tell me that i wouldn't be able to pump longterm if i didn't use a hospital grade double pump...of course they also tried to tell me that i was unlikely to make it past 3 months. the problem however was/is that we are poor and can't afford to buy a new pump (the medela swing was a gift) or rent one monthly. aria is now 21 weeks and we are still going strong. she hasn't had any formula since she was 2 weeks old. i will say if you can afford a better pump that its likely to make it easier to succeed at EP'ing; however, i think its important to say that its possible to EP without a hospital grade pump. i use a lot massage and breast compression while pumping to get and keep the milk flowing...after pumping i also use hand expression to make sure i've emptied my breasts. a friend loaned me her double pump but to tell the truth i have gotten so used to using my single pump that i haven't actually used it at all.

anywho, i haven't been on in a while so i wanted to stop by and say howdy.

my husband, aria, and i will be going to florida to see the grandparents in about a week and a half. i'm so worried about pumping at the airport and on the plane...but mostly i'm worried how i'm going to keep the milk fresh as we travel. any ideas?

someone on another board asked whether i still feel sad about not being able to nurse. anyhow, this was my response...i thought it was fitting for this thread.

Yes, it does bother me that I'm not nursing. I keep thinking that I'm "over it" but then I'll read a sweet article about nursing mums or maybe read someone else's sad story about the day they gave up on nursing to exclusively pump and the tears well up again.

Its okay to grieve...its okay to still be sad about the bf relationship and memories you'll never have. I think part of the reason the sadness still sneaks up on me is that people (myself included sometimes) have convinced me that I shouldn't be sad...that I have no right to be sad. After all, my little one is healthy and growing and happy...what right do I have to be sad about anything? But that expectation is silly and unreasonable. I never dreamed I would be shackled to the pump simply to provide my baby with breast milk, I never questioned that I wouldn't bf, I just "knew" I would bf, so of course its painful to let go of those sweet memories that I never got to experience.

Does this mean that I spend my days wallowing in self pity? Of course not...most days, I am happy (exhausted but happy). I look at Aria and I can't believe that this beautiful,charming, smart little baby girl is my daughter. I am incredibly thankful for my baby and I am incredibly thankful that I can provide her with breast milk but that doesn't mean there is no room for the incredible sadness I also feel at the loss of a breastfeeding relationship that we never had.

Grief is so important in order to be able to move on. You can't skip it...you have to go through it to get to the other side. And realistically, I don't think I will ever be "over it"...I think there will always be a touch of sadness when I think about not being able to nurse but it'll fade and become less painful as times goes on.

anyhow, hope everyone is doing well and is having a delightful weekend. : )