Exclusively pumping?

[AleenaM]

Hi all,

My wee one is 7w today, never established a good latch and we went from sore nipples & bad back to shields, then added more and more bottles of breast milk as I was collecting in the haaka, and now my back is so bad that I cannot care for him, can barely lift him to move him here and there, cuddles are out of the question, so not willing to BF him at this cost, so will exclusively pump until I am pain free with a view to get him back at the breast after, if possible and if he takes it(he's been taking the letdown but once it slows he would fuss and cry). I for one hate BFing and do not find it special and bonding or anything like this.

I have gotten advice from MW, BF support worker, I go to a local BF group etc. Last step will be to see a local accredited Lactation Consultant once my back recovers. Also wee one had his tongue tie snipped but I still didn't manage to fix my position.

So Qs: any advice, experience, encouragement etc that you can share? Any FB groups that I can join? The local BF one does not seem to keen on this feeding method.

Also, anyone pumped for months at a time and then managed to get baby back on the breast?

Advice on pumps? I have a medela swing ( single, wish I would've got a double). I've read smone got to rent/borrow one through HV, how do I do this? Also any links/tutorials to make my single pump into a double? I already have a manual Harmony one, so have some parts for two I guess.

Massive thanks in advance!

Also if I do need/decide to supplement with formula, which one is best? I'd rather be prepared than panic buy smth from the supermarket. Or are they all the same ?

There are lots of YouTube videos on exclusively pumping and on the different pumps (including 'hacks' for using pumps).
Is the Medela swing solely a single pump? If so in not sure if it can be converted, though you could check online)

I didn't get a pump through the midwives/HV - I just bought a used one on eBay and bought all the tubing/attachments new from eBay or Anawiz (pumping suppliers). It was a spectra S1 and excellent. I wanted to use the Freemie hands free cups and it was one if the compatible pumps and had good reviews hence my choice.

Freemie do do their own pump now too. If you want hands free, totally portable there's the elvie - though experensive (pump and cup in one). There's also a similar American one, the willow - but even more expensive due to having to use disposable collection bags inside it (the elvie has reusable containers inside).

If you want to rent, the midwives should be a good bet for contacts.

I suppose HV might be able to put you on to rental options as well.

@AleenaM

Had a quick look and if you have the Medela Swing, not the Medela swing maxi - then it's a single pump and I don't think it can be converted to double - because it wouldn't have the second home/connection for you to put the second bit if tubing into. Plus it probably wouldn't be powerful enough to pump from two breasts at the same time.

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I can't compare pumps as I only used a single electric tommee tippee (I think) one and the double spectra S1 one, which was like Concord compared to the TT single one! Never used any others.

I would actually suggest pumping on one side while trying to persevere with feeding on the other side. Then you could use your single pump, get some milk, persevere with the breast feeding .. and it would make it much more likely for you to get decent amounts of milk pumped, as holding your baby, looking at them, hearing them cry/snuffle etc helps hugely.

Re formula, we always used Hipp organic and I liked it being organic - but i do believe they're all much of a muchness.

The local BF one does not seem to keen on this feeding method.

Just to add - this is definitely not a big thing in the UK, I think mainly because we have 9 months maternity, whereas they go back to work often after 3 or 4 months in the US and it's their only way to provide breast milk during the day so it's a big thing there, with businesses having to provide pumping rooms etc.

It's also because it's time consuming, onerous etc. - they probably think it's better to persevere with breast feeding.

I exclusively pumped for my twins for the first couple of months and then mix-fed until 6 months.

I tried the Medela swing but found it wasn't powerful enough and my supply had started to dwindle so I hired a Medela Harmony like they have in the hospitals near us. I made a bra to hold the pumps in place so my hands would be free and pumped every 3 hours approximately.

Fortunately my supply came right back up so we could build up a stock and could carry on mix-feeding until they were about 7 months old and being weened I think, even though I stopped pumping at about 5.5 months.

I think if you exclusively bottle fed for a while you might struggle to get back on the breast.
If you hate breastfeeding then just stop. You will be so relieved and so much happier. Honestly. It's not that important. Being happier is much more important, for you and your baby.
As for formula, there is not one that's nutritionally miles better than any other. It's just that some types suit some babies better. Buy a small tub and see how your baby gets on.

Life is short, baby days are short, don't do something that makes you unhappy.

If it's the bf'ing that's causing such issues with your back, there must be adjustments/pillows etc you can try to help. I used to out a regular pillow under my bfing pillow.

Hi ladies, thanks for getting back to me. Shall I start by saying I just rented a Spectra S2 , it's only 35pounds with all the kit included as they have some special offer, and best thing is, it will come tomorrow. I think after one month I will know for sure what the situation is/if I will still be pumping.

@Moralitym1n1 I used to have a much bigger supply while BF and would regularly have 3 bottles on the go in the fridge, I used a milk catcher on my free breast - I have large breast and low nipples and use a pillow which all gets in the way of a pump which needs to sit vertical and point downwards, but the silicone catcher worked. My aim is to go back to BF once back is recovered. I use a BF pillow and then tons of other pillows at the back and even under, or a blanket under etc.

@Mutiny0nTheBunty well done, pumping for twins wow! How did you supply come back up? I try to pump every 2-3 hours, worked so far but the supply is the same. I am trying fenugreek as well although I am skeptical.

@springgreensunshine i really do dislike it, maybe if it worked better for the both of us, but there is no magic in it for me... I am happy to express as that way he still gets the nutrients. I have hopes that it will all get better as many mums told me that once baby is bigger, their mouths are bigger, they can hold their head better and seek the boob, they eat better/quicker/less etc, weaning as well.

I found the spectra s1 (same as S2, just had an integrated battery so you don't have to have it plugged into mains a the time) great, I hope you do too. There are lots of videos on YouTube on using it (real mum's as well as manufacturer's guide) which are useful.
Not entirely cleare on your pump, pillow, back arrangement from that, but could you use hands free cups like I did, would that get around it? They fit inside a stretchy bra. It means there are no bottles attached to your boob. I used the Freemie cups.

Just to add apparently looking at, hearing etc your baby helps produce milk. Some people also swear by oats and brewer's yeast. I made flapjacks with both and nuts/seeds etc.

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This is Freemie cup if I'm not describing it well.

I paid about 30 on eBay, that included postage from US. Only tried the traditional flange/bottle things once and so awkward in comparison (think know some people but holes in a sports bra and somehow hold them on through it).

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@Moralitym1n1 I am having fenugreek pills almost each time I sit down to pump, not sure it works ( they say I was supposed to smell of maple syrup and if I don't it doesn't work so maybe I should move on). It seems I pump about 700ml ish in 24hrs, hoping that's enough for my wee one, but I have bought Aptamil Profutura and gave it to him one day so I can build one bottle of breast milk inthe fridge. My partner is super against formula, and my mum is also not convinced, so I don't get support to use it. Hopefully 700ml is enough for him & my output increases a bit with the medical grade pump.

I bought a pumping bra and it seems to work ok with the Medela flanges, I use the Swing on one breast and the manual Symphony on the other breast and then switch. The bra I got was Simple Wishes Hands Free Double Pumping Bustier , after googling pumping bra for large breast. Not cheap, but fudge it!