https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:58:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554436 Mon, 23 May 2016 07:34:06 +0000 Anagram 2554436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EPd for my first until she was 13 months. I nursed LO2 until she was 6 months (pumping at work), but because of her continuing latch issues, I switched to EPing after she turned 6 months. She's 9 months now and just in the last month, I've had a big supply drop even though I'm not doing anything different.</p> <p>She has a dairy sensitivity, so at first we started using frozen and then that stash became so low, I introduced a little bit of formula just so I wouldn't stress about what I'm not producing. She's currently getting 5 oz BM and 1 oz Alimentum in every bottle. It takes a lot of stress off of me, and I'm down to 4 pumps a day.</p> <p>I'm going to continue until she's a year because now I feel like I'm on a downward slide to 12 months. But introducing the formula has made it mentally easier and less stressful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554432 Mon, 23 May 2016 07:30:38 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2554432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Big hugs! EP is tough! I just pumped at work and that was crazy enough. I would suggest cutting just one session out of your day and see how that goes. If you need to cut another one, cut another one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554415 Mon, 23 May 2016 06:54:22 +0000 BelugaBean 2554415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for the encouragement! It helps for some reason to hear/read all of this. I think I might cut back to 3 pumps a day soon and supplement. </p> <p>@autumnleaves: I don't have a ton left. Maybe enough to pull out a bag a day for about 2 weeks before I have to supplement? Maybe not even that much. I do have a car adapter but it's never felt as strong, which always bothers me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554341 Sun, 22 May 2016 22:34:24 +0000 Mrs. Deer 2554341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You are a rockstar! I EP'd a few weeks during a nursing strike and felt like it was one of the hardest things ever. I think tapering down your sessions to maybe a morning and evening pump session, using your stash, and supplementing as needed may be a gentle change that allows you to still feel good about providing some breastmilk. Follow that mama gut and kick the guilt to the curb, sounds like you're doing awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554314 Sun, 22 May 2016 21:35:56 +0000 littlebear16 2554314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I exclusively pumped for about 7 months for my daughter. I also wanted to go a year, but it just got too difficult once she became mobile. Personally, I started to enjoy motherhood so much more when I stopped. So much more freedom! I felt really guilty at first, but my baby was still happy and fed and we got to spend more time together so I forgave myself. No matter what you decide, you've done a great job! Eping is hard work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554271 Sun, 22 May 2016 20:51:01 +0000 autumnleaves 2554271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BelugaBean: 7 months is awesome! I felt the same way with LO1 - my goal was to make it to 1 year and I hated pumping - felt it was isolating, time consuming at work and home, felt like I was moving into work every day taking the pumping bag and all that goes with it. At the same time I was really happy that I was able to provide breast milk for a year to LO1. I never thought I would do that.<br /> Now with LO2, I am not sure if I can make it a year but will do my best and take it one day at a time.<br /> How much of a freezer stash do you have left? I may try to have enough to provide a bottle a day as the 1 year mark nears.<br /> I also may try to pump in the car on my commute this time around to save time at work and home. I bought the car adaptor only at 7 months with LO1 and wish I had gotten it earlier as it made pumping a lot easier when on the road, on a day trip, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554253 Sun, 22 May 2016 19:46:55 +0000 milano14 2554253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ep'd with DS2 because of heart condition and barely made it to one year. Thankfully, like you, I had an oversupply to start so out freezer was full to help once my supply started to dwindle.<br /> You need to do what feels right and as hard as it is to make true, don't feel guilty. You have done wonderful by your baby so far! I would suggest cutting out the most inconvenient pump first and see what happens. Your supply may stay the same or may drop but either way your body will start to tell you what the right thing to do is.<br /> Exclusive pumping is HARD ! Good luck figuring it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554231 Sun, 22 May 2016 18:55:51 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2554231@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stopped at 10 months with lo 1 and 4 months with lo2. Both times the decision was hard but once it was done i didnt regret it for a second. Do what feels right for you momma &lt;3 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554229 Sun, 22 May 2016 18:53:41 +0000 Charm54 2554229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EPed both of my girls for 6 months. By then I was over it and switched to formula. Both girls are super happy, healthy, bonded, etc.</p> <p>For me, the main reason I EPed was to save $$. I personally think the benefits of breastmilk are exaggerated, so I had no real qualms or guilt stopping when pumping got to be too much of a logistical nightmare.</p> <p>Do what you gotta (and wanna) do - your baby will be fine either way :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554219 Sun, 22 May 2016 18:34:45 +0000 gingerbebe 2554219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I almost exclusively pumped for DS1 with one bottle of formula a day (I never quite made enough). We did this for 9.5 months and then one day I was just over it. We were moving and bought a house and I was pumping for 30 minutes 6 times a day. I took 2 weeks to wean and used up what little stash I had and by 10 weeks he was totally on formula. He never cared and actually started bottle weaning at that point too. He was totally fine and I feel like he got plenty of breastmilk. He got like 3 mild colds the entire first year and he didn't get any more or less sick that the EBF babies I know once he was in daycare. You do you mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554194 Sun, 22 May 2016 16:58:36 +0000 Alba4 2554194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pumped for 6 months and I stopped because I felt like I was going crazy. My DS never latched well despite having a frenulectomy for his posterior tongue-tie. I hated taking time to pump when I could have been hanging out with my son! </p> <p>I weened myself from the pump st 6 months and never looked back! I had major guilt over not being able to breastfeed, but I gave 1000% and it just didn't work. </p> <p>I felt great after weening from the pump! Formula is a wonderful invention and I hope weening goes well for you, whenever you decide to do it. Just remember you have done an amazing job so far! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554192 Sun, 22 May 2016 16:53:22 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2554192@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree you mighty really ease your burden but still lessen guilt if you cut down to just one or so pumps a day, just too be a little milk. And if that doesn't work, then stop! It's hard to stop no matter when you do... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554191 Sun, 22 May 2016 16:50:17 +0000 birdofafeather 2554191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am in awe of mamas that exclusively pump! You've done awesome! I would probably just pump as often as convenient for me and my family, whether that was 1, 2, 4 times a day because I would want to give LO breast milk. But supplement as much as you like! Or give yourself the space to stop and give yourself a clap for a job well done! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusively-pumping-and-torn-on-continuing#post-2554181 Sun, 22 May 2016 15:53:14 +0000 BelugaBean 2554181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I've been exclusively pumping with LO2 since about day 2/3 of her life. I thought I was all prepared to nurse until a year this time after I stopped at 6/7 months with LO1 for other reasons. Then LO2 couldn't latch and we were told her palate was way too high to make it easy and comfortable for her. So I started pumping and soon had an oversupply that I could freeze.</p> <p>She's now 7 months and my supply has gone down a bit. I've had to thaw a bag a day from the freezer to make sure she has enough everyday. That's discouraging but then I'm also so unsure about how long I want to go. Originally I had planned to go to a year but it's just so inconvenient. I have to make sure I can pump every so often and I feel like there are things we can't do as a family because of it.</p> <p>But at the same time, I feel like I should go to a year, even if we supplement with a bottle or two a day of formula. </p> <p>Any advice is welcome but I needed to get it out. I want to have the freedom that not pumping gives us but I don't want to feel like I failed LO2 or was selfish about it. </p>