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We had latch issues and found that life was easier for all of us if I just pumped, especially since I went back to work at 6 weeks. We do supplement with formula, but it's maybe 4-8 ounces of formula and 20 or so of milk on any given days. Some days she has no formula at all.

Pumping is easier for me. I have a handsfree bra and have pumped while driving, while DH is driving, while playing cards, while cooking, the ability to multi-task is great. Also, DH likes that he can feed LO. It's a great bonding time for them. And, there have been a few nights where I get to sleep more than 4-6 hours at a stretch because DH feeds LO. Those times are amazing.

@mrs. wagon: I'm glad you said it made you happier. I think that was my issue too. I was just so unhappy nursing. I just tried to stick with it b/c my mom told me I couldn't do it. I'm always one to prove my mom wrong!

@edelweiss: I feel like there's so much pressure now to breastfeed that it makes women feel as if what they can do isn't good enough...that's why I felt like I was failing. Pumping just worked out so much better for me...like Mrs. Wagon said, it made me happier, and I started to look forward to feedings rather than dreading them. It also helped DH bond with LO b/c he was able to feed him too.

here's the thread!

http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/exclusive-pumpers-thread#post-216335

i started EPing after a week because LO wasn't gaining her weight back. the ped told us to EP to make sure she was getting enough. found out later that she had a tongue tie and lip tie. she got her tongue tie clipped and her latch was still having issues where i think i got vasospasms from a shallow latch. at that point i'd been EPing for a couple weeks so i decided to just keep doing it. the pros for me were that she never went through any cluster feeding, i could put her on a schedule since i knew how much she was getting, less stress from trying to get her to latch correctly and to stay awake. the cons are that i wasn't able to keep up with her after her first growth spurt (it sounds like u have an oversupply tho so u might not have this issue) so i supplement with 1-2 bottles of formula, pumping is annoying, and its hard to know how much to feed her so im always afraid of under/over feeding.

if i were to go back in time i think i would've kept nursing and just supplemented with BM. for me, its just a pain being tied to the pump and its hard to balance pumping, feeding and playing with LO. a hands free bra helps but its still hard to move around without spilling milk

I EP'd until my LO was around 7 months due to latch issues. For me, the advantages were that LO was able to be fed by others, that I didn't have to nurse in public (awkward for me), and that I knew exactly how much milk LO was consuming. The disadvantages were that I was constantly worried about my supply so I pumped quite often, it was hard to keep LO entertained if I happened to be pumping and she was awake, and washing all the bottles and pump parts. Ugh that was the worst.
When I was pumping, I really envied all the moms who were able to breastfeed but once pumping became routine, I didn't mind it so much and I'm glad I stuck it out for that long. My goal was to make it to 6 months.

@edelweiss: One thing that made EPing a LOT easier was keeping the pump parts assembled and running water through them after each pump instead of disassembling and washing each part after every pump. This was a total game changer for me and I wish I had discovered this trick earlier. Once I started doing this, I only had to wash the parts once a day (before I went to bed). It made a huge difference.

@simplyfelicity: I'm so glad! PM me if you want to chat more. Now that I'm further removed from the situation and expecting #2 in 2 months, I feel zero guilt for EPing and not breastfeeding. I'll likely do the same with #2 if I can.

I'm glad I read this because I am thinking of EPing as well. I want to try breastfeeding first but i'm feeling a little overwhelmed by it already and LO isn't even here for another 8 weeks! I like the idea of the little bit of freedom that EP gives me and that my fiancee can help feed as well.