Teach me how to exclusively pump

[blessed]

So after fighting for a couple of days and going from BM to FF, and only FF, I started feeling a little selfish.. I need to keep trying to give DD BM, but I have to EP because latching just isn't working out and, no matter how hard I try, and the nipple shield is only causing problems... so I have questions.. bare with me folks

How many times a day and how long are you pumping?

Is my Lansinoh Affinity pump going to hold up?

Is it still possible for me to get blocked ducts/mastitis/yeast??

When will I stop leaking like crazy?!?

I promise when I first decided to start a thread I had a lot more questions I'll keep adding while they come to me...

oh! and when I was trying to just pump and bottle feed, DD's poo started going green on me... it has to be a foremilk issue... but I keep pumping even until after my 2nd let down, I never feel fully empty after pumping, empty enough, but not EMPTY (lol) is that a problem?

How much cream is there supposed to be in the milk? Sometimes it looks like a lot more, sometimes there's barely any..

Thanks for all your help!

 

[stellababy]

hi hunny i am pumping full time too. my baby is almost a month old, and still unable to latch on. i gotta say its a lot of work with the pumping and washing bottles all the time, but its the only choice at this point.
i rented a hospital pump for 10 months, not sure if i will make it to 10 months though but my goal right now is 6 months. Evie eats 10 times a day, 2.5oz each time. I pump 4 times a day-
6am, noon, 5pm and 10pm, and i make 2-3 servings each time. i never really feel 100% empty either, but i stop once i have the milk i need. i do leak at night when i wake up to feed her, but in the day time i just wear a tight bra and there is no leaking.

 

[LuvMyBoys]

Hi there!

I have a Medela pump in style, which is awesome because I can do both breasts at once.

I breastfed LO for the first 3 weeks. Then, I decided to exclusively pump. At first, I pumped every 3 hours or so, including at night. I only did this for a couple of weeks.

Now, I pump 8-10oz per pump session. I pump 4 times per day. 8am, 1pm, 6pm, 11pm. I put 3 sessions in the fridge and 1 in the freezer. LO eats anywere from 3-5 oz per feed, 6-7 times a day.

I am not sure about your green poop issue, but maybe it was just a transition from formula to BM?

 

[blessed]

hi hunny i am pumping full time too. my baby is almost a month old, and still unable to latch on. i gotta say its a lot of work with the pumping and washing bottles all the time, but its the only choice at this point.
i rented a hospital pump for 10 months, not sure if i will make it to 10 months though but my goal right now is 6 months. Evie eats 10 times a day, 2.5oz each time. I pump 4 times a day-
6am, noon, 5pm and 10pm, and i make 2-3 servings each time. i never really feel 100% empty either, but i stop once i have the milk i need. i do leak at night when i wake up to feed her, but in the day time i just wear a tight bra and there is no leaking.

You are definitely right, its A TON of work but we do what we gotta do right?

How long are you pumping for?

Hi there!

I have a Medela pump in style, which is awesome because I can do both breasts at once.

I breastfed LO for the first 3 weeks. Then, I decided to exclusively pump. At first, I pumped every 3 hours or so, including at night. I only did this for a couple of weeks.

Now, I pump 8-10oz per pump session. I pump 4 times per day. 8am, 1pm, 6pm, 11pm. I put 3 sessions in the fridge and 1 in the freezer. LO eats anywere from 3-5 oz per feed, 6-7 times a day.

I am not sure about your green poop issue, but maybe it was just a transition from formula to BM?

Yea, you might be right.. it could have been playing with the formula that caused the poop issue.

I wish I could afford the Medela... we'll see how my Lansinoh holds up.. I even thought about renting one Also, how long at a time are you pumping for?

 

[LuvMyBoys]

Hi there!

I have a Medela pump in style, which is awesome because I can do both breasts at once.

I breastfed LO for the first 3 weeks. Then, I decided to exclusively pump. At first, I pumped every 3 hours or so, including at night. I only did this for a couple of weeks.

Now, I pump 8-10oz per pump session. I pump 4 times per day. 8am, 1pm, 6pm, 11pm. I put 3 sessions in the fridge and 1 in the freezer. LO eats anywere from 3-5 oz per feed, 6-7 times a day.

I am not sure about your green poop issue, but maybe it was just a transition from formula to BM?

Yea, you might be right.. it could have been playing with the formula that caused the poop issue.

I wish I could afford the Medela... we'll see how my Lansinoh holds up.. I even thought about renting one Also, how long at a time are you pumping for?

I pump anywhere from 15-30 minutes depending on flow and supply.

 

[pip holder]

Hiya, although I've got the medela swing-I have rented a medela symphony (double and hospital grade) month by month and it is amazing!!! I had to exclusively pump for 8 weeks with last baby so knew what to expect this time.

I'm pumping every 3-4 hours during the day with at least one night time as want to maintain an oversupply for stashing in the freezer fir future use.

I'm getting at least 300 ml a time but am also taking fenugreek (again for supply) I offer the boob each time I feed her and she is doing the odd latch on for a few mins but will keep just pumping until at least 6 months if need be. My boy fed until 9 months but pregnancy made my boobs too sore to continue as was going to let him self wean.

Good luck to all anyway xxx

 

[Tygerlily]

HI Blessed,

I'm pumping a lot too b/c sometimes, the LO just doesn't care to take the breast and prefers the bottle.

I try to pump/BF atleast 10x a day. I also take fenugreek and blessed thistle. These herbs have helped a lot, and I drink Mother's Milk Tea by Traditional Medicinals.

I have a medela pump and style. If you find that your pump isn't working for you, I've seen the Medela Pump and Styles on ebay for around $100 (if you are on a budget). You would just have to buy all new tubes and bottles, but the prices on those aren't bad at all.