EP check in 8/24

[ruemorgan]

How old is LO?

Daily output?

Are you having any dips or supply issues?

What do you do/take when you need a quick boost?

Any comments or concerns?

[abbalish]

How old is LO?
4 months on Thursday

Daily output?
28-30oz per day, enough to feed her and freeze a bottle most days

Are you having any dips or supply issues?
Nope, I've been pretty consistent since about the 6 week mark

What do you do/take when you need a quick boost?
Water, protein, oatmeal, beer

Any comments or concerns?
No, other than needing to reorganize the damn freezer to make room for my stash!

[portuguesemama]

How old is LO? 5 months

Daily output? Around 30 oz.

Are you having any dips or supply issues? I have dips on the weekends because I don't eat or drink nearly as much because we're typically busy and I'm not just sitting at my desk stuffing my face. But I'm trying to be better about it, especially since I may be home much more often since my company is closing.

What do you do/take when you need a quick boost? Drink more water/gatorade, eat something substantial (i.e. something with some protein)

Any comments or concerns? *Apparently I'm long-winded tonight, sorry for the book**
I'm sure I'll ask more about this when the time comes, but I'm planning to start reducing my ppd and starting the 'weaning' process once LO turns 6 months. It's a goal I set for us from the beginning, regardless of EP or EBF or a combo and I'm proud that we've made it this far. My plan is to slowly increase the amount of time between sessions until it's making me reduce sessions. Right now I pump at 6am, 9:30am, 1pm, 6/7pm, and 9:30pm. I don't pump overnight. My thought is start the process by making each session at least 4 hours from the last, with the exception of 6/7pm (I pump that bottle specifically for him to drink before bed), and the 9:30pm because it's my last one before bed for the night. Obviously those two will eventually change, but I'm willing to keep pumping those two longer because of their purpose. So I'm thinking 6am, 10am, 2pm, 7pm, 9pm for a week or two. Then extend it farther after that to 6am, 11am, 4pm, 7pm, 9pm and so on. I'm hoping to give myself a week or so to adjust to the new schedule to reduce any chances for clogged ducts, mastitis, etc. Does that plan sound reasonable to anyone? Any advice on how else to go about 'weaning' from the pump?

[Widget123]

Aug 24, 2015 20:04:13 GMT -5 portuguesemama said:

Any comments or concerns? *Apparently I'm long-winded tonight, sorry for the book**
I'm sure I'll ask more about this when the time comes, but I'm planning to start reducing my ppd and starting the 'weaning' process once LO turns 6 months. It's a goal I set for us from the beginning, regardless of EP or EBF or a combo and I'm proud that we've made it this far. My plan is to slowly increase the amount of time between sessions until it's making me reduce sessions. Right now I pump at 6am, 9:30am, 1pm, 6/7pm, and 9:30pm. I don't pump overnight. My thought is start the process by making each session at least 4 hours from the last, with the exception of 6/7pm (I pump that bottle specifically for him to drink before bed), and the 9:30pm because it's my last one before bed for the night. Obviously those two will eventually change, but I'm willing to keep pumping those two longer because of their purpose. So I'm thinking 6am, 10am, 2pm, 7pm, 9pm for a week or two. Then extend it farther after that to 6am, 11am, 4pm, 7pm, 9pm and so on. I'm hoping to give myself a week or so to adjust to the new schedule to reduce any chances for clogged ducts, mastitis, etc. Does that plan sound reasonable to anyone? Any advice on how else to go about 'weaning' from the pump?

I would expect that your supply is lower in the evening hours than it is earlier in the day, correct?  The 7pm and 9pm pumps don't make as much sense to me... you probably wouldn't be getting much from the 9pm pump.  If it was me I would just warm a bottle pumped earlier in the day for him to drink before bed and pump at 8pm and call it a day.  Or you could pump at 8pm for a week or so then move your last pump of the day to 7pm so your LO will still get the fresh bottle.  If your supply is low in the evening anyway, cutting back then probably isn't going to be as problematic for you as it would be if you cut out your 6am pump, for example.  If your experience will be anything like mine, the earlier pumps will be the hardest to kick.

[Widget123]

How old is LO? DS is 2.5 months-ish

Daily output? 40oz-ish, I don't count

Are you having any dips or supply issues? Nope

What do you do/take when you need a quick boost? Haven't needed anything but I drink lots of gaterade and make sure I eat well every day out of habit

Any comments or concerns? Nope

[mc13]

How old is LO? 7 1/2 months

Daily output? 22-26 ounces

Are you having any dips or supply issues? Not that I've noticed. I've always produced in that range.

What do you do/take when you need a quick boost? Gatorade and more protein!

Any comments or concerns? I've been successfully at 3 ppd for about 3 weeks now. DD has been eating 3 meals a day plus snacks of real food through BLW for about 7 weeks now and I'm slowly noticing her bottle intake decreasing. We have a big 2 week vacation in October and I'm planning on being at 2 ppd by then (DD will be 9 1/2 months) and just supplementing with formula if needed. Hopefully it all works out and I can still produce a few bottles a day with only 2 pumps.

[portuguesemama]

Widget123 - I totally see what you're saying but I'm scared to go much longer overnight. I'm also concerned if I don't pump right before bed for him that we'll be supplementing a lot more because he takes 2-5oz bottles at bedtime - one from earlier in the day, and the one I pump right then. I really need to think more about this whole thing.

[raechay]

How old is LO?
8 mos


Daily output?
No idea. 20-26 oz/day at least. 


Are you having any dips or supply issues?
The older he gets & the fewer ppd the more supply dips. He's eating more solids so that's good too. At 8 mos old I hate pumping quite a lot.


What do you do/take when you need a quick boost?
I used to take fenugreek & eat granola & yogurt every AM (had fenugreek & flax in it). Got my first period at 6.5 mos postpartum & supply took a hit, & took a further hit with 2nd pp period. But I also don't seem to eat or drink much while on my period so that's probably a thing.


Any comments or concerns?
EP'ing for the long term sucks (no pun intended). Remind yourself why you want to do it. For me at this point, it's because 
#1. Formula is expensive
#2. Winter is coming (and all the cold/flu shit that comes with it).

[jessijean]

How old is LO? 8 weeks

Daily output? Around 40 oz

Are you having any dips or supply issues? Did last week but luckily it ramped back up this week

What do you do/take when you need a quick boost? No bake lactation cookies

Any comments or concerns. I'd really like to space out sessions more now that I'm back to work but I'm afraid it's too early yet. I'm not sure I can keep this up 6 months like I'm striving for

[yogisews]

Sept 7, 2015 18:48:36 GMT -5 jessijean said:

How old is LO? 8 weeks

Daily output? Around 40 oz

Are you having any dips or supply issues? Did last week but luckily it ramped back up this week

What do you do/take when you need a quick boost? No bake lactation cookies

Any comments or concerns. I'd really like to space out sessions more now that I'm back to work but I'm afraid it's too early yet. I'm not sure I can keep this up 6 months like I'm striving for

Do you have a recipe for the no bake lactation cookies?

[jessijean]

Sept 8, 2015 18:17:09 GMT -5 yogisews said:

Sept 7, 2015 18:48:36 GMT -5 jessijean said:

How old is LO? 8 weeks

Daily output? Around 40 oz

Are you having any dips or supply issues? Did last week but luckily it ramped back up this week

What do you do/take when you need a quick boost? No bake lactation cookies

Any comments or concerns. I'd really like to space out sessions more now that I'm back to work but I'm afraid it's too early yet. I'm not sure I can keep this up 6 months like I'm striving for

Do you have a recipe for the no bake lactation cookies?

Here's the recipe I use: www.smallfriendly.com/small-friendly/2014/05/chocolate-almond-no-bake-lactation-cookies.html  My husband says he can taste the yeast, I really can't.  It's a great excuse to have a snack!  I also use peanut butter, not the almond butter.  Enjoy!

[kcwalza]

Hi all,

I'm coming over from the multiples board since I have been exclusively pumping for my twins- glad to see this board as a resource, I hope it's ok that I jump in! 


How old is LO? My Twin girls are 9 weeks old- they were born 8 wks early and I have been exclusively pumping for them since the day after they were born (they spent 5 wks in the NICU) 

Daily output? Between 46- 52oz

Are you having any dips or supply issues? I feel I'm getting clogged ducts more frequently- just ordered sunflower lecithin on Amazon.

What do you do/take when you need a quick boost? So far nothing but I'm going to try to up my water intake for sure. 

Any comments or concerns? I'm concerned I won't be able to keep up now that my girls are eating more. I have a substantial freezer stash from when they were in the NICU but that was supposed to be for when I go back to work at the beginning of November. I may have to dip into it sooner.