From BFing to EPing

[packerup]

My son is 9 months old and on day 5 of a nursing strike. I'm leaning toward EPing, since it's been so stressful (for him and me) to try to get him to nurse. I will still give latching another day or two of trying, but I'm also trying to look ahead. Here are some of my questions.

1. How often should I pump? Is 4 times a day sufficient at 9 mo? I was thinking 7, 12, 4:30, and 8:30.
            

2. Should I pump more often initially, to keep my supply up, then decrease gradually (either the length of times or the number of times)?


3. Should I use the electric double-pump all the time? I'm used to nursing on one side each time, so should I just manual pump on one side each time throughout the day, maybe electric pump first thing in the morning?


TIA.

[madalynw]

I would start with as often as baby is normally feeding, to see how you respond to the pump and how muh tou can get. Oh and so that your body wouldn't assume you're trying to shut down production...

From there, if all is good, you can probably start dropping pumps, 1 every 2w or so, so you can monitor for any changes in output.

Totally use a double electric!! That's soooo mch more efficient and faster! Not to mention SAVE YOUR HANDS! EPing is a lot of work! You're going to give yourself carpal tunnel or DeQuervain's if you only use a manual all the time.

[Widget123]

I agree with PP that you should start out pumping as many times as baby was breastfeeding and work down from there. Pumping one side at a time is a pain in the butt and you are doubling the work for yourself by doing that IMO. If you are realky considering EPing, use the double electric and do two sides at a time.

[packerup]

Thanks for your responses.
My son does things (wakes up, eats, naps, etc.) at different times every day, so it's hard to know how often to pump. He tends to be more of a snacker, too, so that's why I wasn't sure about the single or double pump. If I had to guess, I would say he nursed 5-6 times a day, not including any overnight feedings. I will definitely try to do more often these first couple weeks until school starts, and then go from there.

You're both right--It makes sense to do the electric pump, especially to keep my supply up, and for time (and hand) savings. I really don't like that thing. I love my manual pump.

[madalynw]

This might be your opportunity to get him on a more predictable schedule instead of snacking, if that's something you are interested in. I have 2 kids and the predictability and consistency that bottles gave me is ehat saved my sanity and allowed me to pump for as I did.

Maybe just shoot for every 3hrs during the day, for a total of 6ppd... And if it works, I would attempt to nurse at night, if he will take it. That's what my kid did. During the day she absolutely wouldn't nurse, but she did fine at night. I guess she was kind of half asleep and out of it AND I had more milk which made her happy and she took the boob. It was a saving grace in this situation. We went from. 3 nursing sessions overnight to 2, then to 1 and at 7mo she started STTN so no nursing since then. But it was really convenient bc I didn't have to pump after I fed her, just went back to sleep. He might do that for you since he's nursed this long.

[packerup]

madalynw, I would love a more consistent schedule with him. We have the luxury of my husband being home during the school year, and me being home in the summer, so there doesn't have to be a set wake-up time. I will start with every 3-4 hours, and go from there. He's so on and off about sleeping through the night, so I feel like my body is used to whatever he throws at it. I tried nursing right away this morning--at 6 something--while he was still sleepy, and he bit me right away. He's just not turning it around, I guess. I don't know, it would be my luck that he would start wanting to nurse again right when I wanted to be done--in about 6-7 weeks.

Should I continue to do bottles, or should I try to get him to do sippy cups? Any suggestions on good sippy cups for this age (9 months)? My daughter, who was formula fed in bottles, took the bottle till at least 18 months? and then was not good at taking a sippy cup for a looong time as we tried to wean her from bottles.

[madalynw]

Ughh if mine were biting. I would cut them off right away. But everyone has to make their own decision.

As for bottles/sippys, i am in the same spot as you. C is 9mo and still uses a Newborn flow nipple - she's completely happy with that but the nipples are getting worn out so I am debating if I should get faster flow ones or another set of Newborn. And she'll go to sippys soon too...
I switched my older off bottles right at 1 and planning to do the same this time. I found that between using a straw cup and the Nuk learner cup (which has a silicone nipple-like spout) the transition was pretty easy.
But of course each baby is different and even my Little might refuse what I give her so who knows....