I wanted to put this out there to see if anyone could share their experiences, I’m not sure if I should be concerned or not…

My LO just hit 8 wks today. They are 99% fed w expressed breastmilk (nursing is more for practice/comfort, they don’t get much at all). 2 wks ago LO was taking roughly 30 oz a day on average. Since then they have started taking WAY more, typically at least 6 oz in a sitting (up to 8 oz in an hr sometimes) & daily total is generally now 35-43 oz (one day hit 46 oz!). Despite the increase in LO’s demand, no increase in spit up… From what I’ve seen elsewhere, babies this age are only supposed to be taking 24-32 oz but I’ve also heard that you can’t overfeed a breastfed baby. Does that still apply if you’re EP-ing?

At our last LC appt LO was gaining weight & moving up percentiles but their height percentile is still much higher than their weight.

Side note: we do have our 2 mo appt coming up with our pediatrician, just wanting to hear others experiences/thoughts.

I’m 9 wks pp and finally have the supply for a little a stash and then some. I am freezing a bit each day but how are others storing milk needed in the fridge? Right now, I just try to portion out bottles and/or bags after I pump but I feel like it’s taking up a ton of room and isn’t very efficient. Thanks in advance for any recos!

This community has been keeping me going so first off, thank you all.

I have fallen into EP due to painful latch and nipple damage and haven’t been able to make nursing work in the attempts I’ve made since the hospital.

My LC pushes getting baby “back to the breast” and assures me it will be so much easier if I can replace even one pump.

How much truth is there to this? I know there are pros and cons and nursing is generally considered more convenient, but I’m trying to gauge if it’s worth the anxiety and stress to continue trying to latch.

Breaking out the nursing pillow and messing around with the nipple shield while baby gets frustrated is an ORDEAL.

For context, I’m 6wpp and pumping 6x/day. I’m an oversupplier, which seemingly makes this goal tricky because if I don’t pump on my set schedule, engorgement and inflammation set in quick and it’s hard to manage.

Should I just accept my fate as an EPer and push through? Your experiences and resources would be much appreciated.

Love to all you mamas.

I’m currently pumping about 5 times in a 24 hour period and produce on average 1.1 litres total. My baby doesn’t need this much and I can slowly see my stash building, which I’m worried about as I don’t want a huge freezer stash given I am in maternity leave anyway and will not be away from my baby. I have reduced my pump sessions from every 4 hours and so far my supply has increased. Would this change long term?

This week I had a clogged duct on my left side 2 times and now I get no milk!? I’m pumping for my middle of the night session so should be getting the most production. My right is doing a normal pump but my left isn’t at all. I’ve tried hand on pumping and using the manual pump. What do I do to get it to return to normal?

Hi all,

I have elastic nipples, they seem to basically swell up the size of the flange, not stretch to the end as much. I'm trying to figure out pumping before I return to work and I'm not having a ton of luck and it's really wearing on me. I want nothing more than to continue providing breastmilk for my little girl. I have the Eufy S2, when I was messing around with this pump I did well and got 3.5oz. I also have the spectra (pink one) and the pumpin pals flanges. I attempted to use the pumpin pals yesterday and got no milk, then I tried the regular plastic flanges and used pumping spray on them to help with comfort, but only got 1/2 an ounce total. I got very discouraged and gave up and just nursed my daughter. Tonight I tried the plastic flanges again with coconut oil on the flange to help with fiction and got 2oz total. Which doesn't seem like enough, we gave her that bottle and she was still hungry after and I nursed her. Can anyone think of what I'm doing wrong? I just feel like a failure that I can't get this to work. I'm also so scared of pumping, early on I cracked my nipples 4 times before I figured out I have elastic nipples and the pumping was hurting me, so I stopped pumping and have just been nursing, but I have to figure out the pumps before I return to work. Thank you in advance

I made it to almost 2 months PP and due to being an over-supplier, I’ve built my stash to the point of being comfortable enough to give my pumps a rest. It’s been a long journey but I’m so happy and thankful that I was able to make this sacrifice for my baby❤️ This sub has been such a help and I’ll forever be grateful for yall

Currently 4 months postpartum. I worked so hard to get the supply I had. My 21 oz was an undersupply, but still, I was proud that 2/3 of my baby's milk came from me. I fought with everything to get there. For the first 2 months I pumped 12 times a day, triple fed (he never latched), and did a power pump a day. I ate so much oatmeal, drank 128 oz of water a day, drank electrolyte beverages. I spent hundreds on pumping supplies, saw lactation consultants, joined support groups. Then I dropped to 10 pumps a day. Then 8. Finally, I got to a beautiful 7 pumps a day and holding steady. Then I made the choice I wish I'd never made. I tried supplements. I tried Legendairy Milk's Liquid Gold and at first it was incredible. I had an increase to 24 oz a day. For the first time I could feel milk filling my breasts and could feel my letdowns. I was so excited. But then my breasts struggled to empty. I could tell that started to slow down my supply. I tried hand expressing. Nothing. My ducts started getting clogged. Inflammation started and mastitis hit. I was wrongfully told to use massage and heat. It made it even worse and supply dropped even more. I was told to use nipple lubricant. I have elastic nipples and that made my supply take another massive hit. I was down to 12 ounces.

I finally got things under control with anti-inflammatories and ice packs. 7 pumps a day did nothing. My supply continued to dwindle. And so I went back up to 8, with a slightly longer break of 4 hours at night. Nothing. I was told by an LC this would not cut it. So I started pumping every 3 hours again, ruthlessly, with 2 of them being power pumps. I hydrate and focus on protein relentlessly. I'm back up to 16.5 after a month of fighting this decrease, but it won't budge now no matter what I do. I sleep 1.5 to 3 hours a day, with most nights being closer to 1.5 to 2 hours. I work full time. My mom has stage 4 liver failure. My older brother requires special care. I am falling apart physically and mentally.

I am so angry. Every single step of this journey has been a battle. My entire existence revolves around pumping. Then for a brief window it started to look up. Now my entire life is pumping again. 1.5 hours of sleep a day is slowly killing me. Friday night I actually slept 0 hours. I'm so so angry that my body won't respond. I'm so angry that I made the stupid decision to try supplements. I'm so angry that I didn't treat the inflammation and pain properly and made things worse. I'm so angry that every ounce I fought for went down the drain. I know I'm not being fair to myself, but I just don't know what to do with all these feelings.

I know I need to drop my middle of the night pump, but that breaks me too. What will happen when I do? Will my milk dry up completely? Sometimes I feel like I'd rather die from exhaustion than have that happen, but I know I can't keep doing this. I know I need to just reduce my pumping schedule and be content to give my son whatever I can get, but it still breaks me. I don't know how to properly grieve. It feels like I'm giving up.

Sorry for the long, depressing post. I'm just feeling so so drained and frustrated. All I wanted to do was give my son my milk. Was that too much to ask?

Does pumping ever feel like a drug you just can’t quit? I feel I’m always posting here lol but it helps me keep my sanity I think.

Anyways 3 months pp with low supply. I’ve done all the things and I’m only getting 8-10oz total a day and recently my supply has tanked and I’m getting 6oz these days and 8 on a good day.

I keep thinking I should stop, I mean 7-8 times a day of pumping for only 6-8oz seems a bit much but I’m also proud of what I have accomplished thus far but whenever I think about putting up the pump I just can’t fathom quitting.

Logically it makes sense to quit, given my 6-10 oz will soon not be enough for my little one, and we are 80% formula already but idk what it is I just can’t stop

Ummm wtf?! Before pregnancy I had B cups with extremely dense breast tissue so they looked fake.

Pregnancy I went to a D…and then pumping ruined them. The inflate/deflate over and over and over again.

Now that I’m weaned, they’re like sad flaps. I legit cannot stand the sight of them…pls someone tell me I’m not alone.

Also what bras are we wearing with such state of affairs

Ok I’m probably outing myself here but I’m almost 12m post partum STILL pumping and plan to for another few months… I am not lying when I say I’ve only taken my pumping bra off to shower (when I remember to), and the occasional wash 🫣 I have a few on rotation but I just can’t bear the undoing and redoing (I’m a big chested gal) so it’s literally almost molded to my skin and I haven’t worn a normal bra in almost a year now .. anyone else?

My supply has been almost slashed in half as soon as my baby turned 10 months old. I have been sick, had to put my elderly dog down, and had a period all in the span of 3 weeks. I feel like that has some to do with it but now that I am back to somewhat normal emotionally and physically, my supply has not recovered. I really want to make it to the year mark but it’s so hard to keep going when I sometimes make barely an ounce on each side during some sessions. I used to make an average of 16-25oz now I’m lucky if I get 10oz for the day. Any tips would be appreciated 🫶🏼

He also labeled our baby...

I have 2 babies and have EP'd for both (both CMPA, poor weight gain, needed to fortify) for a grand total of 18 months EP so far. I'm 6 months postpartum with my second and I'm exhausted.

Currently pumping 5 times/day. Tomorrow I'm dropping to 4 pumps (eliminating my MOTN session) and I'm petrified it will decimate my supply like it did when I dropped to 4ppd with my firstborn.

But I also can't go on the way I am. The extreme exhaustion is making me a worse mother and I need sleep. Sleeping when the baby sleeps doesn't work when you have a toddler running around and a home to maintain. I'm irritable all the time and my PPA will never get better if I don't get some rest.

I've already made the choice to risk it, but just looking for reassurance that it's okay if I don't make it to the full year for my secondborn like I did for my first. I wish I knew why I am so attached to breast milk when I know formula is a perfectly fine alternative.

Yesterday morning, October 26th at 5:45am was the last time I exclusively pumped for my daughter.

I made it 14.5 months. 1072 hours.

I threatened to quit so many times before, but I honestly couldn’t stop. It was so routine and so annoying, but I couldn’t get past the fact that I was doing this for my baby girl who needed all of the help she could get. We found out around 7 months that she has 2 FPIES triggers, which made trying new foods very scary and she refused all solid foods for months. Knowing she was struggling, there was no way I could start skipping sessions.

I had so much anxiety about stopping, but after working with a speech therapist, her food journey has improved significantly and we have officially topped over into my solid food exposures than purees! So about a month or so ago, I decided I was ready. I didn’t talk to anyone about my plan, not even my husband. I just quietly started shortening my sessions until I was down to just pumping in the mornings. I thought it would make me overly emotional, but somehow I was able to cut all emotion out of it (until tonight lol).

Now I’m sitting in the dark on my couch while my husband puts our daughter to bed, quietly celebrating my accomplishment, holding excitement for this new toddler lifestyle, while also mourning the end of such a meaningful (and scary) chapter.

Anyways, I’ve never really been active on here with my own posts or comments, but believe me when I tell you that Reddit SAVED me during my first few- maybe even 10 or 11 months postpartum. You all helped me dig myself out of my PPA, so tonight I wanted to say thank you and share my milestone moment with you all!

1072 hours.
64,320 minutes.
26.8 (40 hour) work weeks
444 days.
💕

I'll start.

Use pump spray or another lubricant on the flanges for less pain

Slather lanolin or aquaphor on the nipples after each pump

Use the lowest pump settings that work

Wear milk catchers in my bra overnight so I don't wake up covered in boobie juice

Use hydrogel pads when the nips are raw

Take sunflower lecithin supplement to prevent clogs

Massage the girls towards the end of a session to get more milk out

Use a heating pad on the girls a few minutes before starting

Looking for all the information about plane travel with breastmilk.

I am flying in a few days with my family and looking for any advice on how to store breastmilk through the airport and on the plane. The flight is only 3 hours and I plan on pumping using my wearables during the trip.

I am a just enougher so I will probably be bringing 1 or 2 pre pumped bottles with me. Do I just put them in a cooler with ice packs or is there another way to do it?

Any and all advice needed please!!

Hi everyone!

I’m looking for some advice on how to increase my breast milk supply. I’m exclusively pumping 6–7 times a day for about 30 minutes per session, but I’m currently only producing around 10 mL per breast.

I’m two weeks postpartum and experienced a postpartum hemorrhage. My doctor explained that it may take several weeks for my milk supply to come in due to the complications. However, this is my second child, and I also struggled with low milk supply with my first baby, even without any complications. Back then, the most I was ever able to produce was around 20 mL per breast.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has experienced something similar or has tips for increasing milk supply. Are there any pumping techniques, routines, or strategies that have worked well for you?

I’m also curious about which breast pumps you’ve found most effective. What pump do you use, and which settings (suction level, cycle speed, etc.) give you the best results?

All advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! ❤️

Explain pumping to me like I’m an idiot 😅😂 I didn’t expect this to be my journey so have no idea what to expect. I want to be a just enougher, I don’t want a freezer full.
Right now I’m waking baby up and feeding her every 3 hours as she’s not birth weight and I pump during that feed. When she’s sleeping longer stretches do I also sleep that and only pump when she eats? Will that be enough to keep my supply at what she eats? I’ve been pumping at cluster feeds too. I currently have tomorrow’s worth of feeds in the fridge and that’s how I’d like to continue.

Wondering if this happened to anybody else I was pumping every three hours for seven weeks so far and decided due to my low supply that I was going to do every four hours to see if maybe getting extra rest would help. Well, my supply went from 70ml a session at best to 110/120 a session. Is this normal? Will it last??

10 days postpartum and exclusively pumping as I was not making any milk until day 5-6 and baby was getting frustrated on the boob and crying for food. We have been combination feeding formula and whatever breast milk I produce. I am pumping 7 times a day with 2 nightly pumps which are killing me. On top of the pumps I’m also up all night feeding/changing baby and waking him up every 3 hours to feed as he’s not back to his birth weight. In all of this I’m producing 50-80ml about 2oz every pump from both breasts. The constantly pumping schedule is killing me with only 3 hours of a sleep window in the morning where my husband takes the baby. Husband sleeps in a different room as he works in the morning. Do I stop the pumping and go to exclusively formula fed? Do I wait it out and see if my milk supply increases? How long does a baby need breast milk to see the benefits/antibodies? And does it really reduce the risk of SIDS?

FTM and completely overwhelmed and sleep deprived.

Sometimes the only way to pump in relative peace is allowing baby to play with/eat the tube 😅. Luckily his twin agreed to take a nap otherwise it's a whole other story battling the 2 of them while pumping.

They neverrrrr produce the same amount like this! Normally I get about 5 from the right side and maybe 2 or 3 from the left. Strange.

If we forget the first 6 weeks (whereby I expect to be pumping every 2 hours at home to build up my supply.)

After that do you feed baby a bottle, leave the house, bring a portable pump in a ziplock bag (do we sterilise these?) pump while you’re out, pour into a bottle and use that for the next feed then go home to use another pump (because the first one isn’t refrigerated or sterilised yet) in time for the next pump? Do you get a little freezer bag with an ice pack?

I just know my body doesn’t respond super well to portable pumps. Hand expression and the wall pump works better. I guess I could bring a nursing cover and hand express under the cover (it requires 2 hands for me) if baby is ok with being in the pram while I do it but if they’re crying I don’t know what I’ll do).

Do you bring a flask with expressed milk from the fridge and use that in the next 4 hours if baby gets hungry? And then just pump and dump to maintain supply and then it doesn’t matter if pump parts are sterilised.

I just hate being at home on maternity leave and love going for long walks, getting coffee in cafes etc.

For how long do you need to be pumping every 2 hours? Every 3 hours? I can’t remember how often my first born fed. I guess it depends on how much/often baby drinks.

I’d appreciate it if someone could share what their day looks like if they’re exclusively pumping but want to be out of the house with baby for like 6 hours! (And I don’t mean somewhere you can bring the massive plug into the wall pump).

Sorry for the dumb questions!

I’m currently pregnant with my second (first trimester). I only breastfed/pumped for the first 4 months with my first before I called it quits. Personally, I always preferred pumping more so my plan is to (hopefully) successful pump for longer.

My breastfeeding/pumping journey was SOOO hard for me, but I feel like I know more this time around so I am optimistic!

I already have the Spectra. I’m using maternity care through the VA (and I have a secondary insurance I’m looking to see what they offer) and I’m trying to see which pump I should go for.

What do you recommend?