r/ExclusivelyPumping

You know how there are calculations out there of the average amount of time spent (direct) breastfeeding for a year, and it totals just less than hours worked in a full time job annually? Has anyone done the math on pumping?

By my estimation it’s SO much more time. It takes roughly the same amount of time to feed a baby a bottle as it would to nurse them. Then there’s the pumping time - mine is between 1.5 to 2.5 hours a day (currently trying to see if I can do just 4ppd at 8 months pp). THEN there’s the washing pump parts and bottles, AND the milk admin of pouring and prepping bottles, freezing some if you’re lucky, etc etc etc.

I feed my baby almost every bottle, partner sort of gives it a shot once a day. I’m feeling resentful about pumping today (can you tell??) and the time involved, so curious of anyone has actually rallied up their time? Or is better at math than me and done a real estimate? Because this is nuts, hats off to all of you!

Wether it’s twins or 2u2..

How much is your daily output? What are your babies ages? & Do you pump enough for both?

I’m pumping for my 17 month old & my 2 month old 🥰

Getting about 45oz/day

My 2 month old drinks 21oz/day

My 17 month old’s intake… fluctuates (but on average 20-24oz)

But i assume my 2 month old’s intake will increase soon and i might not have enough for both

My 6 month old is sleeping through the night most nights. I do 4 pumps a day but none during the middle of the night anymore. I’m worried that I’m ruining my supply. I’ve only been getting 4oz a pump. I feed my boy a combination of 4oz breastmilk and 2oz of formula. If he needs a bottle in the MOTN I just use formula. Anyway, is there a way to get my supply back? Do I just need to pump more? How long does it normally take. I’d like to not have to pump in the MOTN still… if at all possible

Many times a day do you pump? Were you able to keep the number of times the same while somehow increasing output as your baby grows? Please say how much time post partum you are if you can.

I currently pump about 3-4 times a day, 3 weeks post partum. I have started to build a stash but I would love to make so much more if possible (going back to work in 2 weeks), and worry that I may not increase my supply without pumping more often than I do.

This is probably going to be a bit all over the place, but I just need to vent. I hate pumping. I just want to be able to whip a boob out and feed my baby, and I thought we were getting there, but today was awful.

LO is 19 weeks (13 corrected) and recently seems to have turned a corner with nursing. She was premature and struggled with latch at first, so I started pumping. My supply is fine, and eventually her latch got better so we were nursing more, but then she dropped a few percentiles so we went back to pumping. Over the past week though she's been nursing longer and seeming more satisfied afterwards. My pumping output has been pretty low after feeding too. I really thought we were getting there.

It's my birthday today. We went out with family for about 6 hours and I didn't want to take my pumps. I hate carting them around, having to pump in public and store the milk. I was reasonably confident we could just nurse (though I thankfully brought two bottles of milk just in case).

As soon as we got there she was ready for a feed. I found a quiet place to sit down, got the boob out, and she just screamed. She's never done this before, even with her struggles latching she's always been happy to give it a go. I tried for a while with no success and eventually gave up. My mum gave her a bottle while I did an escape room with my sisters, and I tried to just put it down to weird baby stuff.

The later we were sat in a restaurant and she was getting hungry again. Once more I offered her the boob. Once more, she just screamed at it. At this point I'm sure we were causing a scene: a loudly screaming baby and a woman with her boobs out in the middle of a restaurant. She certainly wasn't bothered about maintain my modesty. I gave up again and fed her the second bottle, by now worried as I didn't have any more milk with me, and beginning to feel a bit engorged.

A couple of hours later we set off home, and about halfway through the 30 minute drive she decided she was ravenous. We got back and I realised I'd stupidly left my pumps unwashed in the sink. I'd taken the last of my fridge supply out with us and only had frozen milk left. She didn't seem keen on waiting, so my partner suggested it may have been the position I was having to feed in while out, and maybe overstimulation, and to try her with her usually preferred side lying position. Nope, more screaming at my breast. At this point we were both crying, and the look of relief when I finally gave her the bottle my partner got ready broke my heart.

So now here I am, once again going to bed too late so I can pump. I'm getting so much milk after going so long. I feel like we're back to square one. I hate pumping, I hate bottle feeding. I hate all the washing, and worrying, and having to take so much out with me just to feed my baby. With my oldest two I was one of those people who breastfed with no issues from day one. I nursed number one throughout my pregnancy with number two, then tandem fed until halfway through being pregnant with my third. I thought I was a pro. Healthcare workers would congratulate me on breastfeeding so long, and I'd feel like a fraud because it always seemed like the easiest option, but this shit is hard. And really stupidly, part of it is that my feelings are hurt. My baby rejected me! Logically I know that's not the case, but it's how it feels.

Anyway, happy birthday to me. And congratulations to all of you parents out there feeding your babies in whatever way you can. You're amazing.

Hi, FTM here and new to the community. I have been exclusively pumping for the last 4 days (son is only 8 days old!) I’m considering this route since it’s been significantly easier and less painful than latching, and he has a tongue tie which doesn’t help. Also my husband can help with feedings during the night while I heal from c-section.

So I came here to ask, what made you choose to EP? Looking forward to hearing your perspectives :)

Would it be crazy to use three different pumps throughout the day? It feels like it would..

My main pump has been the Baby Buddha from insurance, then I've used my Willow Gos when on the go and I have a Medela Pump in Style I got second hand from a friend. I would love to take the BB to work, but I know myself and I would forget it at one spot or the other probably ever other day. So my current plan is to take the Medela to work and leave it there, use my Willows in the car, and keep using BB at home. Anyone have experience or advice to share?

I worry that going a day or two without pumping that I’ll kill my supply and won’t be able to bring it back. I guess everyone is different though.

I have been going through too many plastic baggies, and it’s messy to pour out my milk into when I’m on the go.. by on the go, I mean sometimes in the car sometimes at my mother‘s house, a restaurant basically anytime I’m not home but will be home in a few hours.

I don’t wanna keep using milk bags that I’m not gonna freeze so I’m basically looking for a container for in the go. I feel like if I use a yeti cooler if I stick that in the fridge, it’s not gonna cool inside.

maybe I’m looking for something similar to a glass jar container anyone going through the same thing what are you using?

SOMEBODY TALK ME OFF THE LEDGE

I've had this lump for almost a week. Got mastitis, and I'm on day 2 of antibiotics. The lump isn't getting any smaller. My theory is that there's something in my nipple preventing the milk from coming out. Somebody tell me it's not a good idea to just pump the shit out of that side in hopes something will come loose. I want to either pump for a really long time or turn my pump settings all the way up.

For more info: The lump feels like a tube that runs from under my armpit down to a lump about the size of a quarter right under my areola. I also scared myself by looking up great abscesses. I had a friend that had one and I've been TERRIFIED. I'm like 3.5 month pp

Well I made it 9 weeks and after my last post I decided to take the overwhelming advice and stop pumping.

Oh. My. God.

I was not prepared. I started getting heartburn two days ago and thought “that’s weird” because outside of pregnancy I’ve never had heartburn. Well last night I woke up insanely nauseous and thought maybe it was the Chinese food. But after two hours of writhing in pain I was like… this doesn’t feel food related. This feels like hormones. This feels like first trimester. That thought had barely crossed my mind as I RAN to the bathroom holding both ends of my body and then I basically had a full digestive tract exorcism/detox.

I then looked it up. Yup. Weaning can cause severe nausea/diarrhea and irritability (sorry hubby).

So here I am washing clothing that barely survived the night… something I normally only have to do for my newborn and toddler.

Just when I thought my body was out of the woods The fact that we are an apex species is just baffling to me. Everything about procreating is humbling.

I am 2 months PP and getting around 25-28 oz per day for the last several weeks. I am at 6-7 ppd. I am EP. Is this good? Should I be aiming to pump more? I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up eventually. First time pumping mama! My baby is eating about 3 oz every 2-3 hours throughout the day.

So when you’re alone with baby and need to pump, wtf are we doing here??? My baby wants to be held majority of the time and my wearable pumps very much get in the way of that. Are we just letting them scream it out for 10/15 minutes? Any tricks that work for your Velcro babies?

On Friday I got hit with a 24 hour stomach bug. It’s now Sunday night and I’m power pumping as I’ve lost my supply over 1/2 from just 24 hours. I am an exclusive pumper and only missed one pump session.

I’m feeling so discouraged and upset. What can I do to get milk supply up at 4months PP? Has anyone had stomach bug while pumping and it somewhat naturally went back up?

Who gets up to feed baby during the night? Do you and your SO take shifts? Do you get up and pump and feed your LO? Does your SO get up and feed your LO?

What is your routine?

I found out the hard way that apparently my milk supply VIOLENTLY does not like allergy meds including Zyrtec or Claritin…

How are we navigating seasonal allergies without any meds? I’ve been going through tissues and snot rags like crazy 😂😂