https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:31:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1282538 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 13:14:50 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1282538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: I started pumping with a cover in front of (some) guests. Otherwise its so isolating! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1282525 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 13:07:31 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1282525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: I have the simple wishes one and the medela one, both are fine. @ChitownRo: is right, def only wear it during pumping! I just put it on and pull down the tops of my nursing bra/tank and then zip it up. Get it, it'll change your life :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1282514 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 12:57:46 +0000 ChitownRo 1282514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: just during pumping. Your nipples pop through the bra so it wouldn't be comfortable to wear all day </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1282491 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 12:33:01 +0000 Charm54 1282491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: this might be a stupid question but do you wear your hands free bra all day or just during pumping sessions? Are they comfortable? Definitely going to look into buying one this week! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1282471 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 12:18:32 +0000 ChitownRo 1282471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some questions to get to know each other...<br /> 1. How long have you been EPing?<br /> My LO is 3.5 weeks old and I gave up on him latching after 1.5 weeks<br /> 2. Why do you EP?<br /> Wouldn't latch. He got accustomed to bottles early on bc I couldn't bf in the hospital due to an allergic reaction. Also he was just lazy at latching </p> <p>3. What's your best pumping tip?<br /> Agreed with pps - buy at least two hands free pumping bras (they do need to be washed fairly frequently bc milk drips onto them sometimes). I bought mine on amazon- simple wishes hands free pumping bra. </p> <p>4. Best part of EPing?<br /> Having others be able to feed him bottles</p> <p>5. Worst part of EPing?<br /> Awkward to do in front of extended family. We have had so many visitors post birth and I feel like I have to go<br /> to the bedroom to pump. I think BFing with a cover is more socially acceptable to do in front of others</p> <p>6. Anything else you want to add??</p> <p>I actually like EPing. My LO just eats sooo much (32 oz per day, I am just barely keeping up with him). I am going to buy the mothers milk plus herbal today from whole foods </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1282462 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 12:10:08 +0000 Charm54 1282462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@beaker: Which hands free pumping bra do you use? I'm looking to buy one as trying to juggle two pumps is getting annoying!</p> <p>@maybebaby: @Jennimac: I can't say if it was EPing that boosted my supply, but I do use less formula now than when I was BFing and supplementing so I know I'm making more. It could be a combination of me becoming a more effective pumper/taking domperidone/finally establishing my milk supply. The fact hatchet you ladies pump while at work and dealing with all the demands it entails earns you complete rock star status in my mind! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1281127 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 21:53:14 +0000 singingbee 1281127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: and @char54: I was wondering about switching to pumping only when I head back to work. LO has been getting a bottle the last three nights so I know exactly how much she is gettig and will hopefully sleep longer in the night. It's worked the past two nights and I mentioned to DH that I like knowing exactly how much she is getting each time. With nursing it's so unpredictable and judging by the way she was acting this afternoon, she didn't get as much as she does in the morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1281093 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 21:26:28 +0000 maybebaby 1281093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@char54: Great thread! I wonder sometimes if EPing would take a lot of the emotional guesswork out of things. Do you mind if I ask if once you started pumping you continued to supplement? I am back to work and my supply has taken a hit, I sometimes wonder if I EPed I would get better at the pump and be able to produce more than pumping AND nursing...I feel like he is such a frustrated nurser these days. Sorry, didn't mean to threadjack! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1280859 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 18:46:31 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1280859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. How long have you been EPing? About three months.</p> <p>2. Why do you EP? DS2 was born at 32 weeks, and has issues with oral feedings, so he only eats via g tube.</p> <p>3. What's your best pumping tip? Hands free pumping bra :)</p> <p>4. Best part of EPing? Knowing how much milk he's getting + the benefits of breastmilk despite all the obstacles he faces</p> <p>5. Worst part of EPing? All the time it takes! Plus organizing frozen milk is annoying.</p> <p>6. Anything else you want to add?? When I had DS1 and was breastfeeding I couldn't imagine doing this... Kudos to all of us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1280490 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 15:41:53 +0000 Charm54 1280490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. How long have you been EPing?<br /> I started pumping almost immediately after LO was born due to low supply. It was a vicious cycle of BF, supplement, pump, repeat. By the time LO was 2 weeks old (in the middle of a complete and utter hormonal breakdown) I became an EPer. </p> <p>2. Why do you EP?<br /> Mostly due to the low supply, but also because I never really enjoyed BFing in the traditional sense. I hated being the only one able to feed LO, not being able to be away for more than an hour, the frustrations in trying to get her to latch, etc. I continue to EP because it's a low cost option and easy for me to do while on maternity leave. </p> <p>3. What's your best pumping tip?<br /> The store your parts in the fridge tip has made my life SO MUCH EASIER! Also the tip that cheap gerber bottles fit on to Medela PISA pumps has saved me a ton of $$.</p> <p>4. Best part of EPing?<br /> I love that DH (and other family members) get to regularly feed her. I love that's it's free. I love the freedom and flexibility it gives me. I'm also convinced it's one of the reasons my LO started STTN at 4 weeks. </p> <p>5. Worst part of EPing?<br /> Cleaning bottles and parts, ugh. Sometimes when I'm exhausted at night the last thing I want to do before bed is pump, but I know in the morning my boobs will be killing me and I'll pay for it!</p> <p>6. Anything else you want to add??<br /> I'd love to make it to 6 months...LO is 3 months now so I'm halfway there. At 6mo I'll reassess and see if I want to continue pumping longer or throw in the towel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread-1#post-1280476 Fri, 13 Dec 2013 15:35:53 +0000 Charm54 1280476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought I'd make a thread for us EPers to go to for support/questions/venting etc.... </p> <p>I used to think I was strange for EPing, but at my baby group, 4 of the other moms EP as well! I actually really enjoy pumping (well, as much as one can enjoy being attached to a sucking machine) and will do it again for future LO's even if I could BF in the traditional sense.</p> <p>Some questions to get to know each other...<br /> 1. How long have you been EPing?</p> <p>2. Why do you EP?</p> <p>3. What's your best pumping tip?</p> <p>4. Best part of EPing?</p> <p>5. Worst part of EPing?</p> <p>6. Anything else you want to add?? </p>