https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 07:43:27 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-297120 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:26:22 +0000 winniebee 297120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aw, HUGS!</p> <p>Here's my whole story: <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-to-throw-in-the-towel</a></p> <p>Basically, DS was low birth weight (5 lbs when born, under 5 when left hospital). I was always VERY concerned about his weight and we never got into a good nursing groove. Fast forward to 6 weeks when he cut nursing sessions to 5 mins and was only taking 1.5 oz so I was faced with supplementing and also pumping to keep up with his demands. Ultimately, I decided to exclusively pump. I've made it to 18 weeks - DS has grown by leaps and bounds and is an adorable healthy baby.</p> <p>My supply had dwindled by the time I started EPing so I made sure to pump whenever he ate and drank tons of water and also pumped one additional time a day (so, yeah, I was pumping every 2-3 hours). Once my supply increased (maybe after a week) I pumped just every time he ate. My supply has been awesome since - I used to always pump for 20 minutes including after night feedings. When he was about 12 weeks I started reducing pumping to every 3-4 hours during the day and only when he ate at night (roughly 5 pumps a day). Around 15 weeks, I dropped pumping at night. Now, I pump just 4x in 24 hours - once when I wake up, once roughly 4 hours later, again about 5 hours later, and then right before bed. I pump to empty in morning and night and try to during the day, but sometimes I can't. I pump 20 oz when I wake up (crazy) and overall pump about 40 oz a day, saving 10 oz a day. But, I do have a really good supply.</p> <p>I have to say that pumping is harder than BF in many ways. It was time away from my baby and/or less free time during naps. Pumping in the middle of the night was particularly brutal because rather than being up for 30 minutes to feed, I was up for almost an hour. </p> <p>I do think exclusively pumping was a good decision given our situation, but with a future child, I don't think I could do it again.</p> <p>If you have specific questions, let me know!</p> <p>GOOD LUCK! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-297114 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:07:12 +0000 leelee 297114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to switch to EP when LO was a week old due to severe jaundice. While its annoying having to clean pump parts all the time it's been so much easier with DH being able to feed her at night. I have a medela pump in style and so far after 3 months it still works great. I started pumping every 4 hours and was getting about 6 oz each session. Wanting to increase it I started pumping every 3 hours for about a month, I now get an average of 10 oz a session. make sure to empty your breast so that you're body knows to make more milk. Good luck :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-297002 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 23:26:19 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 297002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister had to do the exact same thing. With EPing she was able to measure supply which gave her a lot more control over managing her baby's weight. It's time-consuming since you have to pump and feed at separate times, but it'll give you more sense of control I think.</p> <p>At the beginning she actually used this little tube thing so he was drinking pumped milk from the breast. But she quit because it was a pain. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-296974 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 22:38:08 +0000 Mrs. Train 296974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just did a guest blog on breastfeeding my twins. I did have to supplement for about 6 months. I did 1 four oz bottle for each a day. When they started eating a bit of solid food I didn't need the formula any more. I also used the slowest nipples so they wouldn't become lazy eaters. You can also try other shapes like the mam bottles that are supposed to be like real nipples. It supposed to make going back and forth easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-296969 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 22:26:19 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 296969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember about that time was when I thought the same thing (that my supply was dwindling) but it was just my LO wanting to comfort nurse. That's ALL she wanted to do! I actually started to give her a bottle of formula before bed so my husband could feed her and give my poor nipples a break. When she hit 6 weeks she definitely chilled and was happy after each nursing session. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-296963 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 22:18:55 +0000 junebuglim 296963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried nursing my twins at the hospital but because they lost more than their 10%, my milk hadn't come in, and concerns about jaundice, we had to supplement while in the hospital and then after. I have been renting the medela symphony from the hospital for 5 months going on 6... It's due back in a few weeks (&amp; I'm in the process of weaning). I tried nursing them, but it was too stressful for me - i think it was challenging for me knowing exactly how much they were drinking in the bottle to not knowing, and then thinking they didn't get enough because they were hungry again in an hour! I do wish I could've tried longer (saved so much time without having to wash bottles/pump parts, etc), but glad to have been able to provide them with breastmilk regardless. </p> <p>It took a while for me to get my supply up, at first it was seriously droplets of milk mixed in with formula, but then my supply starting increasing and I was able to have at least 80/20 breastmilk/formula balance for them for a good number of months. I increased my supply by pumping every 3 hours.. It was a pain but it worked.. At night I'd pump after every feeding so you know, with twins, that's like being up all night long, but I figured I was up anyway..... With both the breastmilk and formula combo, my babies went from being low bw (they were 5 lbs 2 oz and 4 lbs 13 oz) to being in the 60th/75th percentiles for weight (not adjusting for their prematurity by 5 weeks). they are chunky monkeys. </p> <p>Your babies WILL gain weight and if you choose to pump to breastfeed your twins, please feel free to ask any questions at any time! Perhaps you can do a combo - of nursing and bottle feeding -then dh can help and you can bond with your boys by nursing (&amp; save yourself some washing to be done!). I'm sure you're doing great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-296873 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:56:34 +0000 runsyellowlites 296873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She tends to be fine nursing after she can get a little in her tummy for that feeding. I did have to be on top of feeding her before she got too hungry though or she'd fuss alot again. </p> <p>I've talked with lots of moms that were able to go from supplementing to ebf'ing again so it IS possible! Just may take some work. Have you tried oatmeal? I eat a bowl every morning &amp; can definitely tell a difference when I don't. I also drink the Mother's Milk tea and do nurse-in's as often as I need. Even bebe fussing at the breast, pushing on it, and latching/unlatching all help stimulate to produce more milk so, as busy as I can only imagine you are, putting them to breast as much as possible even if only to comfort nurse will all help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-296865 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:47:01 +0000 Shimmer 296865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: Thank you for the technique tips and the websites! I told DH about the technique and he's going to do it when we bottle feed them too. I want to do what I can to get them to be more efficient nursers again and to up my supply! When you gave DD the ounce of pumped milk to chill her out, did she take the breast better afterward or did it take a while to get her used to "normal" nursing?</p> <p>@sloaneandpuffy: I love the bonding time I have with my boys during nursing. I want to focus on the benefits of BFing but I also have to be realistic if my boys aren't adequately gaining weight. My ideal scenario would be for me to go back to EBFing! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-296846 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:29:16 +0000 runsyellowlites 296846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't EP but I do have some bottle feeding tips for breastfed babies!</p> <p>First, I always use the slowest flow nipple DD will take, which at 5 months is still a level 1 nipple. Next, I position her where she's almost sitting up and feed her with the bottle horizontal, parallel to the ground. I also don't "put" the nipple in her mouth but let her go for it just like she would if it were me. I can tell if she's been fed the "conventional" bottle feeding way b/c she will get REALLY fussy at the breast and just about refuse to eat..... in which case I will give her an oz of pumped milk in a bottle using the above^ technique so that she can get some in her tummy and chill out to nurse.</p> <p>Not sure what your pedi wanted them to be at but here's a link for kellymom and the weight gain needs for breastfed babies:<br /> <a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/weight-gain/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/weight-gain/</a></p> <p>Because of some tongue tie issues DD was on the slow side of gain until after 2months, but I was very reluctant to supplement b/c I want to nurse long-term and knew that it could be detremintal to my supply. I learned all I could about the gain ranges she SHOULD be having and just kept a close eye on her... we had 1 month where she only gained a pound so I up'd her nursing and ate more avocado &amp; dark meat to up my fat intake... it worked. Idk where you live but around here many pedis aren't well-versed in trends in breastfed babies so I had to really research so that I knew what was normal when the pedi had doubts. She's gaining great now.</p> <p>Also here is her link for multiples resources:<br /> kellymom.com/ages/newborn/bf-basics/bf-links-multiples/</p> <p>For your supply have you done a nurse-in lately? Spend the day in bed with the bebes and DH (he may be nice for help with dipes &amp; making supplemental bottles if needed) and just spend the day doing skin to skin and nursing and sleeping. I'll do one occasionally with DD when my supply feels low &amp; it always helps! =)</p> <p>I think you're doing an amazing job! Breastfeeding DD has been hard enough with all the restrictions on my diet and some early issues we had, can't imagine what it'd be like to nurse 2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-296845 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:28:00 +0000 mamimami 296845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't tried it but I am amazed by people who pump long term. If you're having supply issues I don't think it's the way to go, though -- most people I know (including me to some extent) see a reduction in supply when they start pumping with any frequency such as for work. also keep in mind the benefits of breast-feeding aren't just about the nutrients in breast milk! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/from-ebfing-to-supplementing-to-eping-supply-and-nursing-issues#post-296835 Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:11:49 +0000 Shimmer 296835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hey there ladies. I need some more help. My boys are 1 month old and I was told by the pediatrician that they aren't gaining enough weight... we were instructed to supplement them with 1-2 oz of formula after each nursing session to help plump them up. One of my twins was also diagnosed with reflux, the poor guy. </p> <p>Now that the boys have gotten bottles so frequently, I think they're getting used to the easier flow of the bottle nipple vs my nipple. They latch on, suck for a little while, then fall asleep and fall off. Twenty minutes later they're awake and screaming because they're hungry again since their nursing session was minimal. :(</p> <p>I also think my supply is dwindling. I started taking More Milk Plus 3 days ago but I don't see a difference yet. </p> <p>I'm wondering if I should start exclusively pumping so they get the benefits of the breast milk but the ease of the bottle. Plus, DH has been able to help and it's been wonderful.</p> <p>Did you start out EBFing and moved to EPing? How did you manage? What pump do/did you use? How did you up your supply?</p> <p>I need some (more) reassurance and guidance! Thanks! </p>