https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:22:32 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1248281 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 20:15:55 +0000 sarac 1248281@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you WANT to breastfeed, do not give up! An IBCLC should be able to help you overcome most latch issues. But if you think that EPing might be for you, you're totally set up for it. Just depends on what your goals are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1248265 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 20:08:15 +0000 sunshineandsushi 1248265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the decision to EP is extremely personal and individual. What works for one may not work for bother for a variety of reasons. I tried BFing my twins but struggled with low supply. After three weeks of BFing and supplementing with formula, I switched to EPing and didn't look back. After 6 weeks my supply caught up with pumping and I was able to give them only breast milk. At almost 11 months I am still pumping and starting to reintroduce formula. Have I loved my time pumping? No, but I have loved being able to provide my two boys with breast milk for nearly 11 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1248251 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 20:04:33 +0000 Mrs. Taco 1248251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am an EPer (at 6 months now). Like many PP, we had latch issues as well as severe over supply. My LO just seemed so much happier and at ease with a bottle rather than the breast. Looking back, I wish I would have seen a LC and tried just one more shot at BF...</p> <p>Pumping is a lot of work, particularly in the beginning. I now only pump 4 x a day so it's really just a pain more than anything. There are definitely pros and cons. Since the cons are very well laid out by @anagram (AMEN to everything you said!), here are some pros to consider... </p> <p>Pros<br /> -Others can help with feedings<br /> -You know exactly how much they are eating (definitely helped with sleeping...I figured the minimum she needed to STTN)<br /> -Convenient while out and about (this may only be because it was SO hard to BF in general, out or at home).<br /> -If you are going back to work, you are going to be pumping 2-3 times a day anyways so all you are doing is exchanging maybe 2 or 3 feeds for pumping</p> <p>Good luck in whatever you do, I know how stressful it can be :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1248170 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 19:22:06 +0000 Anagram 1248170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To offer a different opinion... I've been EPing for 4.5 months because of latch issues and hate it. Not sure I'd do anything differently if I could go back, because I had An LC come to my house, went to twice weekly BFing support groups, had my LOs tongue and lip ties clipped AND took her to physical therapy because she had trouble opening her mouth... And ultimately none of those things were successful to get her to latch properly.</p> <p>Having said that, I think I'm an extreme example and I think a lot of people have an easier time BFing after some initial hurdles.</p> <p>Things I hate about pumping: no bond with baby ( through the feeding process I mean ) and in fact, I feel like pumping takes a lot of time that I could/should be spending playing with LO. Pumping and feeding with a bottle will take twice as long as just BFing or formula feeding. Pumping can be isolating. You can learn to bf in public, but you can't really whip out your double electric in a restaurant, park, or mall. You are tied to your pump and have to be there with out every 3-4 hours or you risk losing your supply, whereas a BFing baby can go anywhere with you and feed on the go. Washing parts sucks. And sucks more with each month.</p> <p>I write this while standing and pumping in my own bathroom as we have guests over and my baby is taking a nap in our room, so I'm relegated to pumping in the bathroom in my own house.</p> <p>Pumping has been quite literally one of the most thankless, annoying tasks I've ever set out to do. Which is why I'm quitting at 6 months.</p> <p>I think it's telling that lots if women enjoy breastfeeding but very few enjoy pumping. My two cents! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1248060 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 18:21:03 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1248060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You have a lot of great answers here but I just wanted to add from my limited experience if your goal is EBF, I would push boob as much possible because soon it may not be possible. I think a lot of babies have a hard time learning to latch. Sounds like you have had a lot of additional hurdles, but you have a golden opportunity to get back into a rhythm if you desire to do so! I would push boob for at least three more weeks and then reconsider EP if you decide you really don't like it. But every month it gets so much easier, and I'd hate for you to regret your decision to EP later when things are less hectic than they are now. I had a hard time keeping my supply up with EBF and had to start pumping around 8 months. There is no way I would have made it to a year if I had EP, I don't think a pump could have done it for me! Of course all that is up to picas your individuals goals. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1248033 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 17:58:38 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1248033@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: I just wanted to clarify that our situation was abnormal because LO was only 5 lbs and a lot of the reason it took as long as it did was because he needed to grow a bit to have a bigger mouth/stronger latch. I would check the specifics with an LC. Also, I wanted to add that you are stronger than you think you are, and whatever you decide the bees will support! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1248007 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 17:33:40 +0000 ChitownRo 1248007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for all of the advice. I will show your responses to my DH. I don't think I am as strong as you, @Baby Boy Mom: I couldn't do that nursing/ pumping schedule. </p> <p>@char54: those are some pretty great positives, EPing seems more enticing now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247381 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:42:11 +0000 Charm54 1247381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used a nipple shield and it helped, but by 3 weeks we were EPing. I have to admit - I love it! I love how others can feed her, the bottles fill her up (she started STTN at 4 weeks) and it's convenient while out and about. I like the "me time" pumping provides and I throw the bottles in the dishwasher each night so it's not too big of a pain. </p> <p>That being said I never had my heart set on bfing and never enjoyed bfing so EPing is a great happy medium for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247360 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:36:06 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1247360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried a nipple shield? It was the only way LL would nurse! We made it nursing/pumping until 4 months and then he went on a nursing strike and I switched to EPing...I made it until 8.5 months and just started weaning from the pump because I was starting to have to give up way too much time with little man to the pump...but I know lots of bees have successfully made it to a year. </p> <p>Whatever you decide, you are a good momma, and breastfeeding is not the measure of your worth as a mom! Hugs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247341 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:32:50 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1247341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ok, so we were in a similar situation. At a week old LO was basically not latching at all because of bottles that hospital was giving him etc. I had an LC come to our house who diagnosed nipple confusion, and basically put us on a regimen of syringe feeding and practicing at the breast, and pumping of course. I'm going to be brutally honest- it was rough! each feeding would take an hour, then I would pump, then I would have an hour "off" and the whole cycle would start again. Part of this was complicated because my LO was tiny, so it took several weeks until we could nurse at the breast full time. BUT for all the exhaustion and frustration of that first month, we ended up with an amazing BF relationship (and I am still nursing at 29 months)! I don't want to minimize the effort it took initially, but it was DEFINITELY worth the hard work. When I think of 6 weeks in comparison to two years of breast milk that's really just a drop in the bucket, and I know that there's no way that would have happened if I had to EP. If you have any more questions or need some encouragement please let me know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247257 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:13:11 +0000 Boheme 1247257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An IBCLC will be worth every penny, and you can see if your insurance will pay or reimburse it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247242 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:07:08 +0000 Alivoo01 1247242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was itty bitty when he was born so we had to supplement with high protein formula from day 1 so that he didn't lose too much weight since colostrum wasn't enough for him. Once my milk came in, we fed him that. I pumped while at the hospital to get things started. I'd put him to my breast to see if he would latch each session, but he wouldn't so we'd give him a bottle of pumped milk. Magically, when he was 6 weeks old, he latched on and nursed like he'd been doing it since birth!! </p> <p>We never saw a LC, and I was okay with EP if that's what it took for him to take my milk. We were lucky it worked out so well for us. If you want to see a LC, I think that'd be a great idea to see if they can offer additional advice! The NICU nurses gave us tons of advice while we were at the hospital so that's why I didn't see a LC. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247236 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:02:57 +0000 kodybear 1247236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in a similar situation as you. I eped bc of a bad latch when she was a couple weeks old. Then eped til she was one. If I were to go back in time I would've tried harder to bf. the main reason being it was hard to keep my supply up with just pumping. So I had to supplement. Also washing pump parts and bottles was a pain. But if eping is working and you r happy with it I would go with it. I was happy I was able to give LO at least half her milk in BM. I just wish I had done it alittle differently. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247225 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 11:59:40 +0000 Revel 1247225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would see the LC. My insurance reimbursed I think $100 of the cost of mine, maybe yours does something similar? </p> <p>Like @Foodnerd81: I knew I didn't want to EP so it was important for me to get BF sorted as soon as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247210 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 11:53:54 +0000 Foodnerd81 1247210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How would you feel about EPing long term? For me, I knew I wouldn't want to do that if I could avoid it, so it would be worth $200 to do everything I could to BF straight from the source. But if EPing is working for you, there is certainly bringing wrong with it. </p> <p>I never saw a private LC though, and I hear there are varying levels of helpfulness. You could try calling a helpline (similac has a free LC help line, and Isis Parenting has a similar free service) or see if your ped has any advice. </p> <p>Either way 21 oz on day 8 is amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247203 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 11:52:33 +0000 immabeetoo 1247203@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: I would see an LC if I were you! $200 would be worth it to me for the chance of not washing bottles etc. Is there a la leche league near you or a support group at the hospital?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/falling-into-vicious-cycle-turning-in-eper#post-1247194 Wed, 27 Nov 2013 11:48:57 +0000 ChitownRo 1247194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 8 days old. He never had a good latch at the hospital. I almost immediately started pumping my colostrum and giving it to him with the SNS (tube /straw thing). He had low sugar at 16 hrs post birth so was given formula. Then, when I had my anaphylactic reaction at 36 hrs pp, I couldn't even attempt BF bc my eyes were swollen shut for 12 hours. Anyway, the LC inpatient thought it would improve once my milk came in... </p> <p>Now that we are home, the same problems continue. He won't latch (arches his back, pushes away, or just hovers over my nipple). To stimulate my supply, I began pumping frequently on Sunday. Now my milk is in (21.5 oz pumped yesterday). We have pretty much been feeding him exclusively pumped milk and occasionally trying the breast. This is sooo much easier than trying to coax him onto my nipple.</p> <p> Should I be pushing the breast more? Or just go with EPing? What do you think? I have the contact info for a LC but it is like $200 for her to see us. I wonder if it is worth it and if she would have good insight </p> <p>Thanks for the advice bees! </p>