SO: those exclusively pumping

I had no idea there were so many of us around here with newish twins that are exclusively pumping. I read your feedback on the other thread and wanted to post back, but wasn't sure if you would see my post.

Your stories are so similar to mine and results as well. I am curious to hear how it goes for Caryann when she tries to build her supply with fenugreek, etc. Please let me know! I had a freezer stash in the beginning, but DD would not drink frozen milk. DS did and we used it for him when I had hernia surgery.

I was doing really well and getting about 45-55 oz/day, but last weekend I had a really emotional few days, cried a lot and on top of not pumping enough, I was STUPID and took decongestant for my congestion. Since then I can only seem to get 40 oz/day with my four pumping sessions. I seriously cannot go back to pumping 5-6 times/day like I did in the beginning. So we supplement with formula as well two feedings/day so that I'm not stressing about it constantly.

The weird thing is that they seem to like the formula and drink more of it than my milk in a single feed. I wonder if my milk is richer or thicker or something? Anyone else have this happen?

Anyway, I just wanted to cheer you ladies on and pat us on the back. Pumping for the twins is really hard work and no one really gets it (esp DH). I want to quit all the time, but keep telling myself I've made it this far, how much further can I go? It has been a life saver in other ways since DH has always helped with feedings as well as my mom who gave me so much relief and sleep when I needed it.

I never planned for things to go this way, but they did and I'm so glad I've been able to pump and produce enough to give my twins a good start in life. DD went from 3.10 lbs to 9.11 lbs in 8 weeks and DS went from 4.15 to 12.4 in 8 weeks. I'm so proud of us!

 

Good for you mama! :Clap: I pumped for 9 months. I get sad that they're not getting BM anymore, but I just couldn't keep up w/ them and make time to pump too. Keep up the good work- it's totally worth it IMO. I know a lot of women thought I was nuts (of course all of them were singleton moms to full term babies :nea But you have every right to be proud of yourself!!!

 

I second the PP! You rock! I pumped for my babes too. I started out at 8 times a day, then when they started sleeping through the night I went down to 5 times a day. At 6 months I went down to 4 times a day, and then the Holidays started me on a major downward slide. Now I'm down to 2 times per day! And I'm only getting 4 oz TOTAL at each pumping. So I'm probably going to give it up soon.

I never thought I would last this long. Back at 2 months I remember thinking "I'll never make it to six months!" But here I am, and I will probably make it to 8 months.

Way to go pumpers!!! :clapping:

 

I posted on the other thread as well, I pumped exclusively for 2.5 months when I just couldn't do it any longer and oddly enough my twins also did BETTER on forumla than BM...

I'm glad they got BM for as long as they did but they honestly eat better with less gas and spit up and reflux issues on formula (not special formula either just costco brand milk based formula)

Anyway, MAJOR kudos to you and EVERYONE out there, BM and especially pumping is tough, you guys deserve a MAJOR pat on the back!

 

I'm proud of all of you. You're amazing!

 

A serious :banana: :bow2: :clapping: to you ladies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember you can still visit the bfing forum for tips/advice/vents there are lots of other ep'ers who visit there!!!
I pumped at work for 15 months and could NOT wait to stop, lol!!!

 

I pumped exclusively for my son 3 1/2 years ago and lasted for almost 10 months. My twins were born Jan. 25 and I lasted again for almost 10 months. It's a hard job, but I knew that I was doing something that no one else could do for my babies. Everyday I wanted to give it up, but I just kept telling myself one more day! Toward the end I had to supplement because I was not pumping that much. The babies would suck down the breast milk, but the formula they would take their time to drink. My girls are turning one this month and I have to be honest I don't miss pumping at all!!!

It's a tough job, but take pride that we who have breastfed our children are giving the best start for our children that we can.

 

You EPers are absolutely AMAZING! Pumping is such hard work - you are really going the extra mile to give the best to your babies! :bow2:

 

my girls hate my boobs (really upset about this), marina will take it sometimes, so i've been exclusively pumping for the past 3 months. i really don't mind it too much. because it's a decision i made, and i want so badly for my girls to have my milk in one form or another. the only thing that sucks is i have to take my pump everywhere with me. i even got a car adaptor for it, just in case! unfortunately i'm not making as much milk and the girls are demanding, so we have to supplement a night feeding (they're biggest feeding) with formula. (i've done fenugreek and even reglan. it didn't help).

 

I've been pumping for my girls for over 7 months. I hoped I would make it to 6 and then I planned on quiting in April. Even though it is hard I think I'll try to go a year. My girls never got the hang of nursing because they are preemies. I only make about 30oz of milk a day and I supplement with formula and a friend's donated frozen milk. I take More Milk Plus and domperidone and still pump 6 times a day.

Keep up the good work! It is doable and you're doing a wonderful thing for your babies.

 

WOW! This is so cool! I had no idea that there were so many of us either! Exclusively pumping is working so well for me and I am so glad that I decided to do it this way. I love that I can give my boys the benefits of breast milk but still have help from others with feeding too.

I am interested to see how the fenugreek will work too! I will definitely keep you all posted.

Cary

 

WTG!! I exclusively pumped for my twins for 4.5 months and it was hard. I felt like I was doing double duty everyday, pumping and then bottle feeding EBM. I pumped every 3 hours and went 5 hours at night, but it was exhausting!

Great job!! :clapping:

 

Wow! I felt so alone! I knew there were a few of us-but not this many! I too have been pumping exclusively for the last 3 months. Breastfeeding didn't work for us-so I said I would pump and see how it goes. I told myself to take it one month at a time(we opted to rent vs buy) and see where it went. Well-it's been 3 months and I'm still going. We have it until Feb 7(the pump) and I REALLY want to stop. I'm tired. The boys are more alert, etc...It's just getting hard. And I NEVER pump every 2-3 hours-that's impossible. But I am able to pump enough for their feedings as of now. They do get formula at a night feeding, or when we go out-or after they finish a bottle and are starving for more. But average is 4-8oz.

Lately I have been very lazy about pumping. I've been sleeping more(trying to) and I'm just plain tired. If anything-I will get them through the winter-March/April...and then I will be done. But-part of me feels guilty for wanting to quit, and I feel guilty for having to buy formula because I am not working. The joys of motherhood!

So to all you other pumpers out there-yay for us!!!

 

QUOTE(megkc03 @ Jan 18 2008, 09:31 PM) [snapback]579211[/snapback]
Wow! I felt so alone! I knew there were a few of us-but not this many! I too have been pumping exclusively for the last 3 months. Breastfeeding didn't work for us-so I said I would pump and see how it goes. I told myself to take it one month at a time(we opted to rent vs buy) and see where it went. Well-it's been 3 months and I'm still going. We have it until Feb 7(the pump) and I REALLY want to stop. I'm tired. The boys are more alert, etc...It's just getting hard. And I NEVER pump every 2-3 hours-that's impossible. But I am able to pump enough for their feedings as of now. They do get formula at a night feeding, or when we go out-or after they finish a bottle and are starving for more. But average is 4-8oz.

Lately I have been very lazy about pumping. I've been sleeping more(trying to) and I'm just plain tired. If anything-I will get them through the winter-March/April...and then I will be done. But-part of me feels guilty for wanting to quit, and I feel guilty for having to buy formula because I am not working. The joys of motherhood!

So to all you other pumpers out there-yay for us!!!


Wow! I could have written all that... it's exactly how I feel. I want to stop too, but I'm going back to work next week and I work at a hospital that has a lactation room I have access to. So I will be able to use a hospital grade pump 2-3 times/day. I will actually be able to pump in peace for once. Well I pump in peace some nights at like midnight or 3 am but that doesn't count because I'm dead tired. I too am a lazy pumper and never pumped every three hours.

I feel guilty for wanting to quit if I can keep going. I don't want to spend the money on formula, but it will be ok if we have to. Hats off to those that went for so long - 10 months... a year... that's incredible. I don't know that I have it in me, but for now I persevere.

Thanks for the kudos and support. It helps to hear it from people who understand.

 

Can I chime in? I didn't see the other thread -- but I, too, exclusively pump for my two. I'm hoping to go a year, but I have good days and bad -- most days I want to take a sledgehammer to the @*#&$(@* pump.

I only pump three times a day, as I just can't do it more than that (I also have a preschooler). But, I do it for an hour each of those times. Unfortunately, it's time that I should be sleeping -- as soon as I quit, I'll be getting two extra hours of sleep a night -- but, at this point I'm just stubborn, and want to keep giving breastmilk at least through RSV season.

I'm proud of myself for lasting past 7 months....we just did a road trip to Disney World, and I pumped in the car....it's such a PITA, but so worth it!

 

I pump seven times a day. They have eat exclusively bm except where I add to the nighttime bottle so they sleep longer. I too have others that help feed all the time, so I don't feel like I do double duty.

 

Just wanted to add my cheers! I exclusively breastfeed my girls because they won't take a bottle (ARGH!) so pumping doesn't do me any good. In the beginning though, when they took bottles, I did pump a lot and there is NO WAY I would have lasted for months and months exclusively pumping. You are such great moms and you are giving your babies such a great start. Great job!

 

You mamas are amazing! I've pumped about 6 times in my life and found that frustrating, so I really take my hat off to you all. :hi:

 

I am the mother to twin girls who are five weeks old. When the girls were in the NICU I pumped enough to feed the entire nursery. Since they've been home, my milk supply has dwindled to the point where I am almost feeding them formula exclusively. I've tried increasing the number of times I pump per day as well as taking fenugreek and nothing seems to help. Right now I'm pumping maybe an ounce per session and the girls are taking almost three ounces per feeding. I'm struggling with the decision to quit pumping all together and looking for any advice.

 

QUOTE(laurajrad @ Jan 20 2008, 08:24 AM) [snapback]580760[/snapback]
I am the mother to twin girls who are five weeks old. When the girls were in the NICU I pumped enough to feed the entire nursery. Since they've been home, my milk supply has dwindled to the point where I am almost feeding them formula exclusively. I've tried increasing the number of times I pump per day as well as taking fenugreek and nothing seems to help. Right now I'm pumping maybe an ounce per session and the girls are taking almost three ounces per feeding. I'm struggling with the decision to quit pumping all together and looking for any advice.


If you want help increasing supply and keeping going please visit the breastfeeding forum. There are many benefits to you continuing to provide breastmilk, in any quantity.
But only you know what is best for your family, just don't quit until you are sure.

Goodluck!!!

 

QUOTE(laurajrad @ Jan 20 2008, 10:24 AM) [snapback]580760[/snapback]
I am the mother to twin girls who are five weeks old. When the girls were in the NICU I pumped enough to feed the entire nursery. Since they've been home, my milk supply has dwindled to the point where I am almost feeding them formula exclusively. I've tried increasing the number of times I pump per day as well as taking fenugreek and nothing seems to help. Right now I'm pumping maybe an ounce per session and the girls are taking almost three ounces per feeding. I'm struggling with the decision to quit pumping all together and looking for any advice.


A few questions for you:

How long do you pump?

Do you feel the letdown?

How large are your breasts? (Have you tried larger horns if you're larger?)

Have you tried massaging, compressions and skin to skin time with the babies?

Do your breasts get a full feeling if you go longer between pumping?

Are you relaxed or stressed during your pumping sessions?


Longer pumping sessions, massaging breasts before pumping, breast compressions while pumping and larger horns have all helped me increase supply. When I go a bit longer and feel fuller I get more milk. If I am stressed when I pump I get less no matter what.