https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 01:56:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850929 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 12:06:29 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2850929@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: well that is helpful, my pump didn't have that and I didn't want to just buy the medela adapter so we bought a converter that plugged into the cigarette lighter but then just took a regular plug<br /> oh yea and nursing covers are helpful while pumping, I can get on board with nursing in public but not pumping uncovered in public </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850928 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 12:06:13 +0000 Ms. RV 2850928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Buy a power inverter for your car. It gives you a regular 110 outlet for your pump. I EP'ed for 8 weeks and pumping while driving saved me. It allowed me to use a Medela Symphony while driving. Any time I was driving for more than 5 minutes I pumped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850923 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 11:53:07 +0000 Mrsbells 2850923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peachykeen: thanks a lot. Yes I attempted to try a nipple shield but all the ones i have seen online are 24mm or smaller. I tried the 24mm but its definitely too small for me. Thanks for the heads up about supply issues I will keep that in mind.</p> <p>@snarkybiochemist: thanks for those tips! The good thing is the new medela pump has a built in rechargeable battery for on the go pumping so that helps </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850919 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 11:36:38 +0000 peachykeen 2850919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP'ed for #1 and it was SO stressful that I utilized all available resources to be able to BF #2. Both of my girls reacted very similarly with screaming at the breast and not wanting to latch at that age. The thing that helped with #2 was a nipple shield. It was a pain to use, but it was temporary and I'm still successfully BFing her at 14 months. </p> <p>The thing about EPing and supply is that it's easy to produce a lot in the beginning, but if baby doesn't latch it can be very difficult to maintain that supply. I had a huge decrease in supply at 7 months with #1 due to stress (my mom died) and couldn't build it back up. I quit pumping at 9m because it wasn't worth the effect for the small amount I was getting.</p> <p>So basically I would try a few things at this point if you're interesting in BFing for the convenience since it's very unlikely to be able to switch to the breast in the future. The nipple shield simulated a bottle for #2 and helped slow down my fast letdown and flow. At 10 weeks or so we finally weaned off of it and BFing has been SO much easier and less stressful for me. It can be so hard to leave the house when you are EPing.</p> <p>Whatever you decide, I send you love and good thoughts! It's really not easy! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850918 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 11:32:08 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2850918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Adding my experience. E has always been combo fed breast, formula and pumped milk and at 4 months refused to latch I pumped 4-5 times a day until 7 months when I was getting btwn 4-6oz total all day. I hated the experience of pumping and was happy to give it up, even if I was sad to stop giving E breast milk. I found a few things that made it easier, the right size flange (I had to go small which was so hard to find), an outlet converter for the car so I could pump in the car if we took a trip (I never pumped and drove, I was always a passenger while my husband drove) and keeping my pump parts in the fridge so I didn't have to wash them after each session. Good luck with whatever option you find works best for you and your kiddo. I'm sorry this isn't working out exactly how you expected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850909 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 11:04:31 +0000 Mrsbells 2850909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: thanks I will look on facebook.<br /> @2littlepumpkins: yes good point. I am also item to formula all my kids got a combo of breastmilk and formula at some point.<br /> @thepaperbutterfly: thanks for sharing that. Yes that was basically what the pediatrician said too! Its hard to accept that breastfeeding isnt working out the way we hoped.<br /> @Alba4: fed is best, So true! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850904 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 10:56:58 +0000 Alba4 2850904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I combo fed both my babies BM and formula since I had lots of trouble breastfeeding both times. Both had tongue and lip ties that were rectified, but latching never got better. Mastitis and many many tears were shed- it was rough. We finger fed, used Sns systems, nipple shields.... so much flipping stress. I ended up pumping for 6 months for DS1 and for 3 months for DS2. But to be honest, it was such a relief to stop pumping and just feed them formula. Pumping is so much work and I always felt like it was time taken away from holding and playing with my babies. </p> <p>The decision is very personal, but I really feel like fed is best and you just have to find what works best for you. It doesn’t matter if it BM or formula. Breast or pumping or bottle. A happy and healthy baby is a fully fed baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850821 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 01:04:37 +0000 thepaperbutterfly 2850821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was an exclusive pumper for many reasons. So I worked really hard to make breastfeeding work. I got off to a rocky start because my milk took more than a week to come in ( I had a C-section along with severe preeclampsia and had to be dehdrated for 2 days due to the magnesium drip), I have a slow letdown, my baby had a shallow latch (she was even evaluated for a tongue tie and/or lip tie by an ENT MD and she didn't have either), and basically my daughter hated it. We used a nipple shield and syringe to feed her formula so she was mimicking breastfeeding AND I had to pump multiple times a day. Whenever we tried to breastfeed she just hated it and would cry, and she really hurt my nipples. I could get her to do a deep latch but then she would adjust her mouth to a shallow one. At about 12 weeks my daughter was starting daycare, and I was going to work 4 days a week so I gave up even trying and just pumped. It was so much easier, honestly. I spent so much emotional energy worrying about breastfeeding. Feeding her with the nipple shield and syringe AND pumping was pure torture, and I dreaded putting her on my breast to feed because it would frustrate me and her, and we would both just cry. At one point my mom asked who I was doing this for, her or me. I realized it was for me. I felt like a failure because I couldn't breastfeed, and I'm not one to give up easily. My daughter didn't really care and loved the bottle. So from 3 months to 12 months I just pumped. Weaning was super easy because I just gave her more formula and less breastmilk. I'm due for my next baby in early December, and I'll give breastfeeding a good try. If it doesn't work I'll just exclusively pump. I'm not doing the nipple shield and syringe + pumping for 3 months in an attempt to breastfeed. Pumping does suck though because it's like the worst parts of bottle feeding (all those bottles and pump parts to clean) with the inconvenience of breastfeeding, but breastfeeding wasn't an option for us so I made it work. No regrets about switching to pumping. I just wish I hadn't spent so much time trying to make breastfeeding work when it just wasn't going to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850809 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 22:53:01 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2850809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the hardest thing pumping for the third baby is that you have two others to take care of. It was not a good option long term for me, but also I am not anti formula in any way. I made it for a couple months, most of which time DH was home. But around the clock pumping with 3 different sets of needs/schedules/etc. was not happening long term. Maybe if I had still been working ft though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850771 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 18:40:07 +0000 DesertDreams88 2850771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I switched when I went back to work bc it was better for the schedule overall, and I liked making sure she was fully fed so she could sleep at night.</p> <p>There is a GREAT facebook group for this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850758 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 17:52:56 +0000 Mrsbells 2850758@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for your input!<br /> Yes I will continue to try for now. I am happy to hear some of you had luck with your baby learning to latch later.<br /> @AngelicOne: Good point about the flange size, I think I might need to go up a size.<br /> @cam: yes I already bought a second set of parts. I got it for when I go back to work but can definitely use it now. I keep my pump parts in the fridge to reduce how many times I have to wash it per day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850753 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 17:31:45 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2850753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried going back and forth between trying to nurse and pumping/bottle feeding, and at 4 months (I think?) I switched to exclusive pumping. It was the best decision I ever made. Feeding was SO stressful before, and after that I was actually able to enjoy feeding him. No regrets at all. I made it until about 10 months and then used a combo of formula and frozen breastmilk until we switched to whole milk at 1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850752 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 17:28:08 +0000 SweetCaroline 2850752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP for 8-10 weeks because DD was not a good latched. I'd try every two weeks and would quit when I'd get frustrated. This did amazing building my supply, which was technically probably an oversupply, but I appreciated it. Eventually around that 10 week mark she learned to latch and we started nursing. I work FT though, so still did plenty of pumping and maintaining. When I quit at 8 months, we had stash that got us through to 13 months. Moooo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850746 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 17:03:17 +0000 cam 2850746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did combo bf'ing and pumping for my first and am also doing it for my second (5 weeks). I will say that if you'd like to breastfeed even partially to keep trying. 10 days is early and for me I was still partially engorged and producing excessive milk at that time. DS2 did have trouble eating when I was very full and we had some feedings that were hard (pulling off and crying). Once my supply settled down about a week ago the feedings have become much easier and less stressful. If you do decide to EP my advice is to buy multiple sets of pump parts because washing them is super annoying! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850741 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 16:49:11 +0000 AngelicOne 2850741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP'd with DS 4 years ago. We just couldn't figure latching out (big boob problems) and I wanted him to have BM for the antibodies for awhile, so I just EP'd for almost 11 months. I had an oversupply so he had milk until until he was 13 months old. It helped that DH works from home, so he was able to take breaks &amp; help me if I was pumping &amp; needed help. Only regret I have is not figuring out flange sizing sooner, because it used to hurt so badly for awhile. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850739 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 16:42:20 +0000 nicollette1189 2850739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I exclusively pumped with baby 1 because he couldn't latch and I had a strong letdown. He wasn't getting enough milk when he ate. I just pumped instead of triple feeding. Baby #2, I exclusively pumped for 6 months. He did start latching at 5.5 months and we we're exclusively nursing by around 6.5 months. I plan to do that with our next baby actually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-help-me-out#post-2850736 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 16:29:31 +0000 Mrsbells 2850736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So DS2 is 10 days old and really hates nursing. He cries and cries and gets super mad. He can latch on but doesnt want to. He doesn't have a tongue or lip tie. He just has a strong preference for the bottle. I am still trying to nurse him before each bottle but what I have noticed is that exclusively pumping has actually help me build up a good supply. With my older two kiddos I breastfed more and I ended up pumping a lot less. But this time I already have a decent amount in the freezer. He has already doubled his birth weight and his pediatrician told me that some moms find peace by just being exclusive pumpers. I'm curious for those of you that exclusively pump what made you decide to do that. Any tips, advice or regrets? </p>