Show Breastfeeding is commonly discussed as one of the most beautiful, natural things our body does, yet we rarely hear about the absolute nightmare it can be. As a new mother to a beautiful baby boy who's already almost one whole year, I know from personal experience just how difficult breastfeeding can be. This wisdom runs contrary to the perfectly manicured photos we see on social media, which portray breastfeeding to be some glamorous and effortless way to bond with your baby. Sure, this may be the case for some new mothers, but my story was a bit different. You see, I'm an exclusively pumping mother whose baby decided it was time to wean and I'm just doing my best to follow his lead as we mothers always do (pun fully intended). Every time I pump, my mind runs rampant around the notion of what it truly means to do this exclusively, and now after more than 1000 hours of pumping time logged, I'm ready to share my experience in the hopes of helping others. This article will cover everything from how often I pumped to how I kept my milk supply going strong and how to make sure pumping parts are being cleaned properly. Like so many other babies, my little boy had trouble latching on from the get-go. Not only is this frustrating for a hungry baby, but it's also pretty painful (ok, let's be honest here, agonizing) for the new mother. We chose to nip it in the bud and consult a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) both in and out of the hospital. Despite their helpful tricks and tips, we were unable to establish healthy nursing, but I remained determined to give my baby all the extraordinary benefits of breast milk. That's when I decided to give us both some relief by pumping to provide my baby the milk he so desperately craved via bottle. My exclusively pumping (or EPing) adventure officially began two weeks after giving birth when I decided to rent a hospital grade double electric pump from a local pharmacy. How Often I Pumped Each DayNewborns typically feed every 2-3 hours, so to build a good milk supply I pumped every 2-3 hours at least 8 times a day for the first 3 months. Sounds like a lot, right? Well, that's because it is. Pumping every 2-3 hours is exhausting work and very time-consuming, but I found some ways to cope. On the days where I really needed to recover a shred of sanity (i.e., sleep), I gave myself a well-deserved 4-5 hour stretch at night. As my supply slowly regulated, I was able to feed my baby exclusively breast milk without feeling like a total zombie milk-maker. After 3 months, I started to decrease the number of times I pumped per day, which I kept track of in a journal. I logged the number of pumps each day along with the amount of milk expressed so I could track the effect this transition had on my supply. I pumped 5-6 times per day until I was 6 months postpartum, 3-4 times until 8 months postpartum, and 2-3 times from 9 months on. How Long I PumpedIn the spirit of transparency, I'll go ahead and admit that it can be so hard to sit still and pump when there's so much to do as a new mother. That being said, I knew how important this liquid gold was to my baby's well being. Every session lasted 15-20 minutes, and because many experts recommend pumping a few minutes past when the milk stops flowing to encourage a second letdown, I would often add an extra 5 minutes. How I Kept My Milk Supply Going Strong
How I kept my pumping parts clean I chose to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) guidelines on ' How To
Keep Your Breast Pump Kit Clean ' . As soon as I finished pumping, I would rinse all my pumping parts with hot water and then clean them with soap and warm water before bed. After cleaning, I would load them in a tabletop steam sterilizer for disinfection. It's not exactly a walk in the park, but I'd do anything to keep my baby safe! Exclusively Pumping is Hard Work – Really, Really Hard WorkI'd be lying if I said there weren't times during my experience as an exclusively breast pumping mother that I felt utterly overwhelmed and ready to throw in the towel (or pump). I was consumed by feelings of isolation and feared missing out on time to bond with my little one. Not to mention how daunting the idea of leaving the house with all my equipment seemed during the first few months, largely because I was always worried about the risk of contamination. Where I Found The Strength To Keep GoingMy saving grace was the online support groups for exclusively pumping moms that I joined to help me through this challenging time. The sense of community among others going through the same challenges gave me the strength and hope that I needed. I also found immense support and motivation from the help given to me by my loving family members. My husband, mother, and mother-in-law would each offer to hold the baby while I pumped. Throughout this process, I always knew that I had the choice to stop, but nourishing my baby with my milk is what made me happy, and as everyone says: Happy mom = Happy baby! In the end, that's really all that matters. Related ProductsGolden Milk for MotherhoodSupports fertility, postpartum recovery, mood balance, and lactation. Lactation Smoothie MixUnsweetened, organic Ayurvedic blend to support breastfeeding naturally. Chocolate Lactation Drink MixMake smoothies and mug cakes for a healthy lactation treat Written by Jasmine Kaur Jasmine is a partner at Freshly Moms and Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance. She is a Food Science graduate from McGill University and has worked extensively in the food and beverage industry. She is a fresh mom herself who is passionate about perinatal care and nutrition. Back to Blog You may also likeHow much should 2 month old eat exclusively pumping?On average, babies need 750-1035ml of breastmilk per day between one and six months of age. You may want to pump slightly more than this to make sure you have enough milk when your baby goes through a grow spurt.
How often should I be pumping with a 2 month old?Ideally, you would pump as often as your baby would nurse. This may not be possible with your work/ school schedule. Most mothers find that pumping every 2-3 hours maintains their milk supply and does not cause them to become uncomfortably full.
How much milk should I pump for a 2 month old?First month (after the first week) – 2-3 ounces per feeding. Second and third month – about 3 ounces per feeding. Third and fourth month – 3-4 ounces per feeding.
When can I stop pumping every 3 hours?It is definitely possible to stop pumping every 3 hours. A good time frame is somewhere between 6 and 12 weeks postpartum if your milk supply is established and if you are happy with the volume of milk that you are pumping.
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