https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 22 May 2026 09:30:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1353594 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 14:14:19 +0000 Ms.SK 1353594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmate: I could definately offer you advice to keep you going but sometimes it isn't what Mom really needs to hear. Rather I would say you are doing amazing so far, every extra feeding of breast milk is a gift you are giving your baby and sometimes Mom's need permission to put yourself first. Do what is best for you and your relationship with your kids first.</p> <p>It was really hard with the twins but I just took one feeding at a time don't think about the next one while you are in the middle of a feeding. Nursing is a mind game more than you realize. It will affect everything from how you feel, your mood to your supply.<br /> I had a lot of short term goals and never thought beyond them. First was to learn how to latch both of them at the same time (only achieved by visiting an IBCLC and a lot of practice), then it was replacing a bottle session with a nursing session one by one (I was completely nursing and not feeding pumped milk during the day by 3 weeks), then it was to make it to 1 month, then to transition to learning how to nurse on my side so I could feed them at night in bed...etc.</p> <p>This is going to take time for both of you to get a routine and if you are determined with the right support you can do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1353462 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 13:43:44 +0000 daniellemybelle 1353462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First of all, you are awesome! I tried pumping after nursing to increase my supply for about 2 weeks &amp; it drove me crazy. I nurse &amp; supplement now, and pump once or twice a day.</p> <p>I feel like 2 weeks is so early on, that maybe just try a little bit longer? You are still in the stage where you could increase your supply, and it sounds like if you could get closer to providing all that your LO needs, you'd be happier. Also, I hear that many EPers can drop pumps gradually starting at 6-8 weeks and not lose supply. I have major low supply knowledge after all I have been through so let me know if you'd like some suggestions!</p> <p>Having said that, you have to do what makes you a happy healthy mama. I maybe could have increased my supply more if I had stuck with pumping longer but I was glad I gave it up. You have to do what is right for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1352177 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:58:45 +0000 mrsmate 1352177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms.SK: my goals were to try nursing but to stop when I wanted to, and to give DD as much BM as long as I could keep it up. My *expectation* was that I would be able to go longer than 2wks w/o already thinking about throwing in the towel!</p> <p>I nursed DD days 1-2 thru bloody, cracked nipples. I saw 2 IBCLCs at the hospital, and had every shift nurse check my BFing technique. They all said I had "great equipment", I was "so close", and to just keep at it, but I knew I didn't have it in me to endure this level of pain for 2-6wks, which is what I've heard it takes for moms and babies to figure it out. I know birth trauma is a thing, is nursing trauma a thing? Every time I think about nursing DD it gives me the shudders! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1352130 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:52:05 +0000 danda 1352130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmate: I bought the collection cup/adapter kit to hook up with my Ameda pump. I don't use it for my everyday pumping at work, but I've used it several times when it is easier or more appropriate to be able to leave my regular clothes on and just slip the collection cups inside my bra. You still end up with tubes coming out of your shirt and whatever the pump is going, but it Is otherwise very discreet. For work pumping I stick with my regular flanges because I have two sets and clean the dirty/put the clean one in work bag every evening, and I don't want to spend more money for an extra set of Freemie parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1352108 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:49:19 +0000 erwoo 1352108@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I give all the moms here props who EP. I can just imagine how much harder it is b/c of all the bottles. I pumped and nursed the first 3 months with my oldest and it was pretty hellish. I was trying to up my supply so nursed, give previously pumped milk, and then pumped. Luckily, someone told me about storing my pump parts in the fridge afterwards and wash and sterilize once a day so that's what I did. Made a world of a difference! </p> <p>Give it some time. I think once you get into a routine it'll get better. Also, you can probably drop pumping sessions as your LO gets older. That Freebie thing @danda: mentioned looks dreamy! I wish I heard about that a few years ago! Seems like such an interesting product! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1352076 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:41:23 +0000 mrsmate 1352076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: it is so helpful to hear from a STM who has EPed. I'm so glad BFing is working out for you w/DS2. If I end up quitting soon I'm not going to feel as bad bc of your story. I did not count on EP being harder w/more than one LO.</p> <p>@Anagram: and your story gives me hope that maybe if I can keep it up just a little longer I can drop sessions and still provide a good deal of BM to DD. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1352075 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:41:16 +0000 kjpugs 1352075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was the same way. I had a very low supply (lower than you- I rarely felt pain from not pumping for too long) and started out with less than 3 oz a day. I got it up to 9 oz a day when LO was 6 weeks, but then in one week I had Thanksgiving, my insane in-laws visiting, got my period, and went back to work. Supply PLUMMET. Honestly? I was glad. I hated being tied to the pump. The not going out for too long thing sucked but worse were people (cough... MIL) who weren't understanding and didn't care about scheduling anything around my pumping. It made it very difficult. I hated it though, so I gladly slow weaned and at 2 1/2 months I was done. It sounds like you're producing more, so I'm sure it'll be different, as all cases tend to be! Remember that any BM that you give is better than none, and that you're doing a great but VERY hard thing. Focus on the positive- while you pump, you're giving BM! When you stop- you have more time with LO's!! Either way it's win/win. Good luck mama, congrats on working so hard arleady. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1352049 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:36:32 +0000 mrsmate 1352049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@danda: I have never heard of this! Do you own one? The manual pump looks promising! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1350877 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 17:56:19 +0000 Anagram 1350877@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yin: Your story gives me hope for when we try for LO #2! I know I won't EP again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1350728 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 16:57:30 +0000 yin 1350728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP'ed with my first for a year, and honestly, I was miserable. I told myself that I would quit if I couldn't produce 50% of his intake. I gave myself small goals and eventually reached a year. I was so stressed out over the the lack of sleep, washing bottles and parts, clogged ducts, and inability to care for myself. I broke down almost daily. </p> <p>With my second I knew it was impossible to EP again and really hoped breastfeeding would work out. Luckily it has been a dream, and I am so grateful for it. My plan was to try breastfeeding. If that didn't work out, formula would be my only other option. I can't imagine the stress of pumping and taking care of two kids. I congratulate you for being so strong. It's a lot of hard work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1350487 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 15:39:51 +0000 danda 1350487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Car adapter for the pump plus a Freemie makes it simple to pump in the car - that's my recommendation! Freemie is pricey but I think it's cheap compared with longer term formula use (not a dig at formula use at all, just trying to explain economic justification for spending money on pump accessories). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1350130 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:22:44 +0000 Anagram 1350130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmate: EPing exclusively sounds hard with an older child at home. It was hard for me with just my baby there! I pumped 8 times a day the first 6 weeks, then dropped to 7, then 6 times a day at 3 months.</p> <p>When LO turned 5 months, I dropped to 4 pumps a day and NOW I finally feel like pumping is somewhat manageable. But had I pumped less sooner, I don't think I would have the supply to pump only 4 times (if that makes sense).</p> <p>Either way...I agree with you that formula isn't bad and if the costs for you outweigh the benefits, then do what what is best for you. =) Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1350046 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:02:27 +0000 pmerr 1350046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have advice (other than to do what makes you less stressed), but you can get waterproof cotton nursing pads on etsy. They have a backing so BM doesn't go all the way through. I have them and haven't had any issues! I also EP at 4mo, but I don't have a problem with getting enough BM. I go about every 4hours, (4-5 times per day). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1350008 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:52:59 +0000 dagret 1350008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>are you using reusable pads? What about using disposables instead? Just a little more comfortable... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1349953 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:38:01 +0000 Charm54 1349953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP and found that by 4 weeks I was able to drop ppjng sessions and life was much more manageable. I have to supplement a bottle a day with formula but I've already decided that if my supply drops to anyhing below 50% I will switch to all formula. It's too much work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1349951 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:37:40 +0000 Ms.SK 1349951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What are your BF goals? I can give better advice if I know that. It sounds like you want a way to balence having an exclusive breast feed baby with the schedule of your 1st born. My best advice if I am correct in this assumption is to start weaning from the pump and start nursing. It is really early in your BF relationship to be using a pump at all if those are your goals. Have you seen an IBCLC? They will get you set up to achieve your goals in a healthy way for you and baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1349950 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:37:33 +0000 skibobrown 1349950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My advice -- don't stress. If that means that you quit pumping, then do it. I killed myself over my lack of supply for my daughter -- then turned into a miserable housebound mommy b/c I was trying to pump all of the time. I basically shot myself right into a severe case of PPD in the aftermath. Everything was so much better once I decided to stop pumping, feed DD whatever milk she could get from me, and formula feed otherwise. </p> <p>Like you, I would like to try breastfeeding again on our second child, but I've promised myself that I'm not going to beat myself up over not being able to breastfeed if it doesn't work out. Our daughter has turned out just fine despite being FF for most of her first year. </p> <p>If you do want to keep up the pumping, I've seen moms who pump in public under a nursing cover. As long as it's in a reasonably noisy location, nobody even notices what's going on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1349930 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:33:19 +0000 PurplePeony 1349930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hear you -- my DD is 6 weeks and I'm still finding it hard to go anywhere. Is it possible for you to get a battery pack and/or car charger attachment for your pump? At least then you could leave the house and pump when you're out. Also, I think the Charlie Banana nursing pads are great, they wick moisture away and I haven't leaked through one yet (even at night). They don't have the greatest fit, but if you wear a padded bra or thicker shirt or sweater, it's not noticeable. Hope things start to improve soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1349923 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:31:56 +0000 DillonLion 1349923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed a tiny bit/mostly pumped until 8 months, and then EPd until she was 1. I only ever made enough for half her intake. It is hard, but doable.</p> <p>Get a car adapter for your pump so you can pump on the go! Keep your parts in the fridge or a cooler bag so you only need to wash amd sterilize once a day </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-i-ever-get-to-leave-the-house-again#post-1349886 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:24:11 +0000 mrsmate 1349886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD2 is 2wks old and I'm pumping 8x/day. I'm fine with it, except my boobs get sore about 2hrs after the last pump and start leaking thru my cotton nursing pads after 3hrs. I am afraid to leave the house. It's a problem bc DH goes back to work next week, and DD1 is an active 3yo. Staying at home all the time is not really an option.</p> <p>Breastfeeding did not work out with DD1 at all, and at 2wks in I was already starting to pump wean. This time, I rented a hospital grade pump bc I wanted to make more of an effort to provide BM, but I think maybe in my effort to establish a good supply I'm screwing myself on the schedule/activity front.</p> <p>Any advice? The kicker is I'm on an EPer's schedule but I'm only able to provide about half the BM DD2 needs, so she's already on formula. I feel like I'm just delaying the inevitable (100% FF) and stressing myself out in the meanwhile. </p>