Exclusively Pumping

Hi, I'm a first time mom and an exclusive pumper. Here's my story:

I was dead set on breastfeeding before my DS was born, but had lots of trouble right away. He had to go to the NICU for the first 24 hours (he had a high temp, but ended up being just fine), so he didn't get a chance to breastfeed right away. They also gave him bottles in the NICU even though I didn't want them to. I tried breastfeeding whenever I could, but DS really wasn't latching right. The nurses told me my nipples were very flat (they are) and that it might be the problem. After we came home from the hospital, I kept trying to breastfeed for as long as I could and then he would scream and I had to give him formula because he wasn't getting much of anything from me. I sought out the help of the hospital's lactation consultant and an LLL leader, went to an LLL meeting, read books... pretty much everything. Breastfeeding was excruciating for me and frustrating for DS. I had cracked nipples (from the bad latch) and got mastitis THREE times over about 6 six weeks. I was, needless to say, miserable. I dreaded feedings, cried all the time, and found myself getting frustrated with DS, which is totally unfair because it wasn't his fault. After 8 weeks of this, I talked to my dr. again and she recommended that I try exclusively pumping. I had been pumping some before that, but pretty much only when BF wouldn't work and we had to give him formula. I thought she was crazy, but I decided to try it. DS is now almost 5 months and I'm still at it! I don't pump quite enough for the amount DS eats (I blame the mastitis), but I am able to pump an average of 21-23 oz a day. I pump 5-6 times a day (I work full time), which is usually 7 am, 11 am, 4 pm, 7 pm, 10 pm. If I don't have a really busy day at work, I can get in an early afternoon pump as well. I recently bought a hands-free pumping bra and got some of my life back! (I am currently pumping while typing this!). Anyway, just wondering how my schedule compares to other EPers. I stopped pumping during the night when DS started SSTN. Well, that's my story, thanks for reading :)

Hi and welcome to the board! I've been EPing pretty much since DD's birth - she refused to latch properly and since she was so tiny (5 lbs 13 oz) the nurses kept pressuring me to feed her every two hours. During her first 12 hours of life, she may have gotten a few drops of colostrum. I started to panic, thinking I was starving my poor baby, so when a nurse offered to bring me a pump, I jumped at the chance. I tried BFing again after we got home fromt he hospital, but DD wanted nothing to do with it. So the rest is history.

Thank God for this board - I don't think I would have made it this far without the wonderful support I get here. It's just so nice to know there are other moms out there who do this.

Oh, my pumping schedule was 5x a day - 2 am, 6 am, 11 am, 5 pm, and 9 pm. I continued to pump at night even after DD started STTN, but as of tonight (yay!) I am dropping the 2 am pump, and moving the 6 am pump to about 4:30 or 5 am, just to give it some more even spacing. I currently have a bit of a supply issue (was a HVP until my supply mysteriously dropped one month ago) and I take Dom in order to just barely keep up with what DD eats in a day. My original goal, before my supply dropped, was to EP for one year, but these days, I consider every day an accomplishment!

Thank you Joelle (mrsmoejoe) for my amazing siggy!

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I'm so happy you found us...your Dr isn't crazy at all! ;o)

I too have flat/inverted nipples and was told in advance of my 1st baby that BF'ing likely wouldn't be an option for me and this time around I simply picked EP'ing and here we are!

I think it's great that even working you are pumping as much as you are and are able to provide almost all your LO's nutrition...Congrats! 

As for my schedule, Abigail 5 weeks+ now and I currently pump 7x's a day for 15-20 minutes each session.  My daily sessions go something like this: 3am, 6am, 9am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm and 10pm.  Sometimes it varies a bit since I also have a toddler to run around after, but most days it's scheduled pretty well the same.  My supply is decent for 7 sessions a day, even though I know I should be doing at least 8, but I'm comfortable with my schedule as it is right now and have been making it work with decent supply, so I'm alright for now!

I think your schedule is a good one for you, you need to do what works for you and each of us are different in schedule and supply with no right or wrong!