EP and having a life

[dancerspose]

I started out EP not by choice, but the longer we continue to struggle with nursing the more I think this may be the permanent solution for us. That leads me to a pretty broad question- how do you EP and have a life? I feel like I'm living my life 2-3 hours at a time between pumps, and that's the big concern keeping me from committing.

DD will be 5 weeks on Friday. I'm currently pumping 7-8 times a day and getting, on average, 22-24 ounces per day. At some point are you able to cut down on the number of pumping sessions per day or is it always that many? What's the optimal output per 24 hours?

Thank you.

[tkford216]

I think you have to figure out what your preferred balance is. I only pumped 4 times a day (and not motn) after the initial few months because I couldn't stand doing it so often and I wanted my sleep. But I was okay supplementing formula for whatever amount I needed to make up. (I never made enough to keep up with him though, even from the very beginning, so this wasn't new to me.) I just made sure to pump until empty so my body knew I still needed all the milk I could get and wasn't weaning.

As for having a life, unfortunately that's hard when EPing. But it does get easier I think once your body has the hang of it, once you've been doing it for a couple months and your supply is pretty solid. Then you can fudge the schedule a little here and there as needed without much disruption.

Good luck! It's certainly not easy.

[brazilianpeach]

My pump goes with me everywhere and I have a car power adapter in my pumping bag in case I am on the go. Yes it's a PITA but if you were exclusively breastfeeding you'd be living in those intervals anyway. It's not easy and it boils down to what is more important to you. Are you ok supplementing with formula if your supply tanks (which by the way is totally ok! No need to feel guilty)? Then decrease the pumping so you get a little bit of a life. Do you want to keep him on breast milk as long as possible? Well it'll take some sacrifice and that's ok as well.

As for supply I pump every 3 hours until 12am and take a break 12-5am. I was pumping an average of 1oz/breast/hour so about 46oz a day. I went on a business trip that messed with my supply and now my right breast in on strike and only giving me 2oz every 3 hours so I'm working back up. It's enough to feed my 4 month son and I get to freeze some here and there. But it is hard to pump that often, I agree! Good luck, momma!