[jayskette]

Hi - are any of you exclusively pumping breastmilk? Please share your experiences - I just wanted to know whether it is even worth trying or am I crazy?! Thanks!

[lucky 2]

I hope you don't mind me moving your topic jayskette, there is a chat thread for women who are (or have been) exclusively pumping and it is a topic that comes up now and again in the Breast feeding form.
If you are not wishing (for what ever reason) to directly breast feed then expressing breast milk for your baby is the next best thing, not crazy at all. Lots of women have done it (a family member and I expressed for 15 months with an older baby).
There is quite a bit of information "out there" on this method of feeding.
All the best.

eta http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/ind...vely+expressing
Link to Chat thread re exclusive pumping, it hasn't been active since last year.
other online resources-
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping...nks-excpumping/

This post has been edited by lucky 2: 16/11/2012, 09:51 PM

[futureself]

I exclusively expressed for the first few weeks of DS's life - it was pretty hard but doable. I had a very good pump - I hired the Medela symphony which definitely handles the many sessions a day better than even the Medela Swing that I have. I had good supply and still had to express every 3 hours to get what DS needed each day plus extra to 'bank' some. Every session took 30 mins. Plus then having to actually feed him 8 times a day. That's what was so intense, the feeling that every meal was a double up of time and energy and effort. Plus the time to clean and steralise all the equipment - bottles, teats, lids, pump parts. I hope I'm not putting you off, I just wasn't prepared for how much was involved.

Good luck, I would give it a go and see how it works for you - it can definitely be done!

[thelms]

I did it for 6 months for DD2 (third baby). I use the medela symphony. It was tough with a 4 and 2 year old as well. I didn't start enjoying my baby until I stopped pumping. It was very draining but I was also struggling mentally with being unable to breastfeed her like I did the first two. I would do it all over again though.

[~*charleylola*~]

Hi there.

I expressed exclusively for 6 months due to a few reasons which led to the recommendation I express instead. It is easy when there is only 1 baby, very difficult when there is a toddler thrown in the mix later.

It was hard at first, especially the night expressing but after a while you get used to it. It can get a bit uncomfortable if you're out and about and have no place where you can express but no major dramas if you skip once (at least for me).

I used the Medela swing which was pretty good. Only thing is I found the Medela bags to be really expensive and ended up using the ones from Swisspears.

Good luck

[tanyak1]

I did it for differing amounts of time for 2 of my 3 kids (the first and third) - 3 weeks for the first and 3 months for the third, after breastfeeding difficulties. It wasn't ideal, and it was hard work and time consuming, but for me it was the second best option after breastfeeding didn't work, I'm happy the babies got what breastmilk they could.

The seond time I didn't have an electric pump, I was using a handheld Avent pump, which was a bit silly of me, I would have made life easier for myself if I'd spent the money on hiring a decent pump. So definitely use an electric pump if at all possible.

[harryhoo]

Hi OP. I've been exclusively pumping for DS since he was 3 months old and he will be nine months old on Monday. I was expressing and trying to breasfeed him early on, but breastfeeding didn't work for us so at three months I switched to fulltime pumping, and everyone has been a lot happier since! I wish I had actually made the decision to fulltime earlier, but struggled to find information about it.

At first, as I was increasing my supply, he had one bottle of formula but by about four months I was expressing eight feeds a day for him. I now only express in the morning and night for his four feeds a day and it takes about 20 minutes each time I express (more if I;m stressed and tired!).

Admittedly, it is tough and time consuming and can be really annoying, but it eventually it just becomes part of your life and you don't even think twice about sitting down to it. When/if we have another bub, I would definitely invest in a double-pump to cut down time. A lot of people comment that they don't know how I do it, but in the end to me it's just like changing his nappy or giving a bath - just part of the daily routine.

You are definitely not crazy for doing it/considering it. I was hoping to 'wean' at six months but have just kept on going. I am now planning on having him on formula by christmas by which stage he'll be 10 months.

I would as PP suggested, give it a go... and maybe invest in some good equipment. I've been using the medela swing. But don't feel bad if you think it's all too much, it is very time consuming especially at the start.

[Taffyk]

Hi, I tried this after issues with breastfeeding.

My one piece of advice is to try hiring one of the heavy-duty pumps from a chemist - I tried quite a few different pumps and the Medela Symphony worked best.

It is a lot of work but it is worth trying.

[Mum2TwoDSs]

I use the Medela pump in style.

I am contemplating throwing in the towel.

Dh wants me to exclusively pump as I have low supply and bubs not very efficient at building my supply due to using bottle from the start.

From next tues on I will be nanny-less, wondering how to cope with pumping 8 times a day, plus feeding bb, plus attending to bub, plus cleaning sterilising equipment, plus work from home PT job, plus a 7yo to take care of.

How did the rest of you in similar situation manage?

[puffsgirl11]

I'm doing this ATM but due to my hormones are having issues with low supply so my baby has a couple of bottles a day of formula.

I have just started taking Motilium and some herbal tablets to increase my supply.

I have a pump on loan from my local maternity ward. It's a double pump which is great and much less time consuming. I pump every 3 hours for about 20 mins each side. I'm usually pumping whilst my Husband is feeding the baby. My local midwife toldme to only pump twice overnight unles I am already awake.

I do know that the local lactation nurse can lend out breast pumps from the ABA that are hospital grade. It's about $20 a week to hire.

Good luck with the pumping.