Did anyone exclusively pump with their second?

[rosiewalker]

I pumped for about 5 months with my first after he had to go to HDU once born and breast feeding not working. I had the Lansinoh single pump and got along with it fine and exclusively pumped for about 5 months.

I would like to do the same again but know I probably won’t have the same amount of time to just sit and pump as I did with my first.

I am also looking to hire the Medela Symphony Plus as started using this one in hospital and also feel reluctant to buy one as I don’t know how long I will keep it up for.

just looking to see anyone who pumped with their second and any tips you might have.

I did - I found that my first DC would sit comfortably through a cartoon or 2 when I was pumping. Or you could get a box of toys that only come out when you're pumping to keep them occupied. I got a swing chair for the new baby DC which I put next to me so I could still babble & coo at them - that kept them quiet for a pump session too.

I tried but I ended up mixed feeding and only managed to pump for 4 weeks. I just couldn’t find time to pump regularly enough to keep my supply up and eventually it just fizzled out. I’m pregnant with my third and thinking about a wireless pump this time. It would be so much easier and I’m expecting the same issues breastfeeding this time.

The medela symphony is an amazing pump but hiring is expensive. I got a second hand ardo calypso off eBay for £30 and it was almost as good- jusr in case that can save you some cash. I'd try feeding tho if you can- much easier than pumping

I know this is an oldish post, but I've been exclusively pumping for 7 months with my 2nd. Best advice is to make sure you have the right flange size as that'll be a make or break of your journey. And have several sets so you don't have to clean each part after and before use. Join pumping groups on Facebook, but try to avoid the breastfeeding (direct nursing, as pumping is still breastfeeding) groups as they appeared very anti-pumping when I was in them and if you weren't nursing they considered you a failure which was ridiculous! I remember at my baby's 2 week HV appointment she was so surprised I was still pumping. Apparently it's pretty much unheard of in the UK, but the UK exclusive pumping group made me feel less alone

I exclusively pumped for my 4th for 5 months.

To be honest, it seems to be all the faff of both bf and ff and none of the advantages of either. I can see why you might do it for a month or so though. But I'd go straight onto ff after that.

It was a massive faff. When I was pregnant and upset about being told I couldn't breastfeed I got a cheery, "well you can pump" as if it was just as good. When he was born it was assumed that I would do it, so I did. Then every time the HV came round she asked me how the pumping was going and I felt like I couldn't tell her I'd given up because I hated it. So I carried on.

I did, and I got a hands free pump which was incredible. I had the elvie. Not cheap, but i resold it after so got something back. Being able to pump when driving, doing little tasks etc was so great. And it enabled me to leave the baby with my husband and go out and do things with my attention deprived toddler (as opposed could car pump on the drive home). I was a bit restricted still, you can’t be vacuuming/leaning over or they over flow, and towards the end I did use pumping as an excuse to have 20 mins alone time in my bed away from everyone 😂. It worked for me, but obviously we’re all different.