Exclusive Pumpers Tribe - Page 82

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by PurpleMonkey

so my twins are almost turning one and my question to those who did it until your kids were 2, how often did you have to do it the 2nd year? Now, at the girls' 1st year mark, I'm having to pump every 4 hours still to maintain enough to meet all their needs. For one baby, did the frequency of pumping decrease for you significantly when you added other "milks"? (for me it's gonna be hemp milk cause we're vegan). I plan to pump until my girls are 2 because they need a cholesterol animal product and that would be me . Please if you will give me a ballpark how much your pumping decreased with how much your kids were taking in. I'm wondering cause I used to pump 60+ ounces a day to meet their needs (sometimes I would make 90 ounces a day!) and now it's down to 45-ish ounces a day at one year.

My dd was taking 45 oz of milk a day at one year. I think that is unusual, though as she was not eating any solids at all then. So I was still pumping a lot then. At 16 months I was pumping every 4 hours to meet her needs. Still, she was not eating food so her intake was unusually high. At 3 years old I am still pumping every 4 hours, and mixing her milk with water b/c she does not drink water or juice or anything. I do a 50/50 mix. She still does not eat much food so I think I have an unusual case of EPing here. Now that your twins are over a year old if they are eating well, dont feel bad if you sneak a little water into the milk to stretch it if you need. Once they are toddlers, really only 16 oz of milk a day is NEEDED. The rest can be water/food.

[aimeesmama]

The beginning of the end...

My little girl is almost 18 months old, and I have been EPing for almost 6 months, since she abruptly stopped nursing one day when she was just 12 months old. I am still having to pump every 3 - 4 hours (6 times a day) and am keeping one day ahead of her, so that what I pump today she will drink tomorrow, etc.

All of this time pumping has taken a toll on our family. DH has run out of patience watching the kids while I pump all of the time, and I do miss spending the time with my kids instead of pumping. So, I promised DH I'd stop pumping after DD is 18 months old (which is now 10 days away) - or at least try to bring it to a more manageable level. I have mixed feelings about this. In a way I am ready to not be constantly tied to the pump anymore, on the other hand, I would love to keep giving her my milk, especially since she seems particularly dependent on having her milk at certain times of the day (in the morning, before naps & bedtime).

Does anyone have any thoughts about weaning myself from the pump, and if there is a way to do it so that maybe I can still get some milk by pumping 2 -3 times a day? I really would like to figure out how she can still have some mommy milk, but I won't be spending so much time at it.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be very much appreciated. I am also feeling a bit sad that 5 years of being pregnant and/or nursing will soon be coming to an end.

[beewhisperer]

I have no real advice, just that i am facing the same dilemma. As soon as my DD starts taking more solids and is well into weaning I plan to drop a pump (from 5 to 4 a day). It's beginning to have a really detrimental effect on me, my relationship with my husband and my daughter and that scares me more than another kind of milk or anything else.

I'm not certain but if you dropped pumps could you still have enough to give your dd at those times she most seems to need it? I feel it tho...........................................

[GooeyRN]

I have mastitis again. :The 5th time in 3 years. And a cold. : and c-diff. My supply is TANKED.

[HandA]

Hello everyone,

I'm so glad to have found this group. I am a potential EPer. My son was born at 26 weeks weighing 1 lb., 13.5 oz...and will be 39 weeks gestation tomorrow and is just over 5.5 lbs now. He is still in the NICU. His hospital is 3 hours from our home, so we are living in an apartment nearby until he's able to come home. Needless to say, we're exhausted and are ready to bring him home with us.

The short version of our story: I started pumping the afternoon of his birth, with the telephone assistance of a precious LLLeader friend. He was only on IV nutrition (no breastmilk or anything other than IV fluids) for several weeks after his birth. They eventually were able to begin tube feedings of teeny tiny amounts of breastmilk. Those grew as he grew and we were able to start practicing (called non-nutritive feeding in the NICU...I pumped first, then we practiced suckling) nursing. After a few days of that, we were allowed to try real breastfeeding. He was so very tiny and wasn't able to latch on properly. After about a week of trying, we starting using a nipple shield. We held on to our dreams of only breastfeeding for about 3 weeks...but we just weren't making progress. So, we reluctantly agreed to trying a bottle, in an effort to get him home. That has gone much better, though it's not without it's own difficulties for him. Anyway, we're still attempting breastfeeds 2x/day, with 4 bottles (and 2 tube feeds so he can rest). The breastfeeds are really mostly for comfort and bonding...he's able to transfer anywhere from 0-15 mls. per attempt. The rest of his breastfeed is dropped through his feeding tube. Frustratingly, because of his extreme prematurity and small size, his breastmilk is fortified to add extra calories so that he can gain weight without having to consume huge amounts of fluids. At the hospital he gets a "human milk fortifier"...at home we'll have to add a preemie formula to his breastmilk until he's able to consume enough milk to get all of the calories he needs.

Pumping is going pretty well. I'm taking fenugreek and am able to pump about 750-800 mls. per day. He's currently taking 360 mls per day, so the rest is frozen at the hospital. I am concerned about what we'll do when he's taking more milk...and my supply hasn't changed. But, I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

This has been, by far, the most difficult part of our journey so far. My heart longs to feed my baby at my breast and so many tears have been shed since it just doesn't seem to be happening. I'm just so thankful that he's doing well and that my milk has been what has caused his wonderful growth so far. Tomorrow will mark 3 months of his sweet life...and 3 months of pumping thus far. Praying my milk holds out!!

[GooeyRN]

You are amazing for pumping for your preemie. You are giving your baby such a great beginning. Keep on pumping! Your baby is still very young, hopefully you guys can get bfing from the tap figured out soon.

[mamanurse]

Originally Posted by GooeyRN

I have mastitis again. :The 5th time in 3 years. And a cold. : and c-diff. My supply is TANKED.

That's especially crappy! How'd you get that Crystal?

Hi : I'm Jenn. I EP'd for my first dd for 15 months and escaped without having to give her formula. My second daughter was born 8 weeks ago and she is a nursing champ with next to no problems. I'm just here to give support and provide encouragement for any moms EP'ing or going to have another babe after EP'ing.

[GooeyRN]

I have no idea. Things are somewhat better except for the boob. I have to go to a specialist the 23rd. I don't know if it is an abscess or galactocele or what that is in there. There is a hard sore ball in there and the boob wont drain now for 13 days.

[HandA]

Thanks for the welcome, GooeyRN!

We got some bad news yesterday. We were suspecting that he was possibly aspirating due to some coughing he was having during feeds. They did a swallowing study, and as it turns out, he was actually "silently aspirating", or aspirating even without coughing. So, they are thickening his feeds to a pretty thick consistency (so far he's accepting them...phew!) to keep him from aspirating. I asked how long they would do this until they'd consider trying to wean the thickener, and since he was aspirating without any symptoms, she said they'd definitely want to do another swallowing study before weaning...and since it's pretty strong xray so close to his throat, she doesn't want to do it prematurely and will probably want us to wait at least 6 months. I was hoping it would be just a few weeks and that breastfeeding might be an option...but 6 months!

But, we're so thankful that he's been on breastmilk this whole time. I asked her if she was surprised that he hasn't gotten sick with this liquid going down into his lungs and she said that if you have to aspirate anything, breastmilk is the best thing since it's natural and not a foreign liquid. So, we're thankful for the protection the breastmilk afforded him before we knew he was aspirating. And we're also thankful that he seems to be accepting the thickener this time around (we tried it last week and he hated it!)...if he hadn't accepted it, they woudl have had to try a different thickener (that feels different in the mouth) that can only be added to formula.

Rolling with the punches here!

[KnittingTigers]

help! advice needed!

Hey EP mamas,

I don't post here much, but have a crisis and could use some feedback from the experts. I posted this as a separate thread, but wanted to post here as well. Any advice appreciated...

----
I EP for my dd with a hospital grade pump. I usually pump about 10 ounces per day. I'm home visiting family for the week, and didn't pack my hospital grade- just brought the Pump in Style that a friend gave me. I've used it when traveling before, but this time for some reason I'm pumping less than I do at home with my hospital grade rental. Usually I pump the same amount on the PIS. My question is this- am I going to lose my supply by pumping for the next four days with the Pump in Style? I'm getting about two ounces less per day- 8 instead of 10. Should I hunt down a hospital grade rental for a few days, or do you think it's okay to just wait until I'm back home on Monday?

Today is Christmas, so I wouldn't be able to get a rental til tomorrow, Friday. Then I'd have to return it Monday morning so we could drive home. What do people think? I'm terrified of losing the small supply that I have, but also don't want to spend my few days with family running around dealing with breast pump errands.

My one thought is that I could add pumpings in with the PIS, and hope that the additional pumpings would make up for the lack of power/volume.

Thoughts? Advice? Reassurance?

Thanks. And happy holidays!

[mamanurse]

Sorry if this answer is too late Angela. I'd add in a pumping. Maybe even getting up in the middle of the night when your hormone levels are high. Even if your supply drops now, you can try increasing it again when you have your trusted hospital grade pump again.

Hope your Christmas was a good one!

[GooeyRN]

I second adding in another pump session, best in the middle of the night.

[GISDiva]

Happy Holidays fellow EP'ers! I just wanted to save my 1000th post for you ladies!

So we're down to 4 pumps a day because I just can't take it anymore. EP'ing with a low supply is demoralizing and I'm considering weaning off the pump in another month or so. I'll have made it 10 months and even though a lot of you made it far longer, I consider it a personal success. I'm so glad to have had all the support here, you have made it possible for my DS to get a bit of breastmilk this long, and he's so healthy because of it! While I dread what might happen once he's not getting any BM anymore, I think for my sanity I need to quit soon.

May the new year bring us peace!

[beewhisperer]

I'm phasing out too... Over the last month both DH and I have been sick with virally infections and stuff and while my supply has stayed fairly constant I am totally exhausted and so am slowing down. We are having problems with dd holding weight even though we're introducing solids and have been for some time. I don't know what will make a difference - if anything.

I'm aiming to be "In control" at this end of it, rather than the screaming frantic mess I was at the beginning. My dd will be 7 months on Saturday and I never thought I would make it this long and I feel happy over all that I have done it. She will have as much bm as I make for as long as I make it and we'll go on from there even if it's just one bm feed a day. As it is, my DH has said to me "I really think you should stop soon" - and he's never said that to me before, so I know he's worrying about me.

On a positive note though, my health visitor (I am in the UK) has asked me if I will speak to some other Mums about pumping at the breastfeeding group, and that's kinda cool.

Happy New Year to all you pumping Mama's.

[azgirl]

hi girls! I EP for my preemie and use Dr. Brown's bottles. I bought some Weego baby bottles but they don't work with babe's thickened milk (with the Dr. Brown's inserts and the thicker rim of the glass bottle, the thicker milk won't flow well) Just wondering if anyone wants my Weego bottles. They are very lightly used, the nipples that came with them are brand new. I have 4 8oz and 2 4oz. PM me if you want them!

[pazerific]

hi ladies! i just wanted to hop on and give you all a big . once upon a time i EPed for my dd1. it was so hard, but so worth it. things are going great with dd2 as of now, although my situation with dd1 definitely taught me to not take that for granted. you all are doing something so amazing and special for your babes! good job mamas! :

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by pazerific

hi ladies! i just wanted to hop on and give you all a big . once upon a time i EPed for my dd1. it was so hard, but so worth it. things are going great with dd2 as of now, although my situation with dd1 definitely taught me to not take that for granted. you all are doing something so amazing and special for your babes! good job mamas! :

I am so happy to hear things are going great with dd2!!!!! : Isn't it a wonderful feeling?

[PurpleMonkey]

Originally Posted by pazerific

hi ladies! i just wanted to hop on and give you all a big . once upon a time i EPed for my dd1. it was so hard, but so worth it. things are going great with dd2 as of now, although my situation with dd1 definitely taught me to not take that for granted. you all are doing something so amazing and special for your babes! good job mamas! :

thanks for your encouraging post. It makes me feel all I do really IS worth it

[nummies]

I hope that is ok to post here. I need some help.

5 days ago my 20 month old went on a nursing strike. I have tried everything to get him back to the breast but to no avail. I began to pump because I really want him to have 2 years of breastmilk.

However, because he was nursing only 4-5 times a day before the strike, my supply with the pump is really low. I get about 1/2-1 ounce a day. With each session, I get barely enough to cover the bottom of the bottle (from both breasts). I am using a PIS.

Any tips on how to increase my pumping output? Is there any hope to this? Or should I just give up on the whole pumping idea?

Thanks so much mamas! I have been reading this thread and you all are so wonderful!!

[GooeyRN]

Originally Posted by nummies

I hope that is ok to post here. I need some help.

5 days ago my 20 month old went on a nursing strike. I have tried everything to get him back to the breast but to no avail. I began to pump because I really want him to have 2 years of breastmilk.

However, because he was nursing only 4-5 times a day before the strike, my supply with the pump is really low. I get about 1/2-1 ounce a day. With each session, I get barely enough to cover the bottom of the bottle (from both breasts). I am using a PIS.

Any tips on how to increase my pumping output?

Thanks so much mamas! I have been reading this thread and you all are so wonderful!!

Is your body used to pumping? If not, I wonder if your issue is that you aren't letting down for the pump... Do you feel really full, like you do have milk, it just wont come out? If that is the case, it may help to try to roll your nips a little manually to get a let down, then pump. I am really sorry to hear about the nursing strike. I hope your little one goes back if you arent ready for weaning yet. Do you think they may be on strike due to low supply? In that case, it may help to try to up your supply some.