r/ExclusivelyPumping

Hi 👋🏻 I was wondering if anyone has any tips for using the blue Spectra? I’m a FTM, 2 weeks pp, and recently got Spectra blue from your recommendation, thank you! However, switching from wearables to this, it feels like a big adjustment, especially during those MOTN sessions 😅 I was wondering if everyone is just holding both bottles up for their pumping sessions or there’s tips to it? Lmk please 🙏

I stopped using our red light therapy once I got pregnant since i didn’t want to risk anything and i felt overwhelmed doing some good research on it. Does anyone know if it is okay to use red light while now breastfeeding? Has anyone tried and it affected their milk or notice any differences? Thank you!

Hi I really don’t mean to shit on anyone here or make them feel bad so trigger warning.

but this is my third baby and each time I’ve had an oversupply and I assume it’s because I pumped from the freaking second my kids were born. With my first he was intubated so I was wheeled into post op and had a pump on my boobs immediately. I have a large capacity and I have read that you can develop more milk ducts (?) with each concurrent pregnancy. With my first I had about 50oz a day, with my second 60oz but I got pregnant around 6 months pp and my supply did dwindle. This is my third and I have pumped only 5 times today and am already at 68oz. What the actual fuck. I can’t afford to buy bags like this, I can’t donate the milk because they always deny me for a medication I’m on, and I can’t find anyone on Nextdoor or Facebook to donate to because my posts keep getting deleted. My boobs hurt and are going to be on the freaking ground when I’m done pumping. I am on track to pump over 80 oz today because I have two pumps left and I don’t know if it’s ok to drop another pump. I am 4 weeks postpartum. I had mastitis 7!!! Times with my first and once with my second because I literally sanitized between each pump and I am so scared of that happening again.

I do not know how to decrease my supply

Edit: absolutely love whoever reported me for this post. Absolute insanity that people with oversupplies can’t struggle too. Smh you creature

I got a little behind on writing down the info on my pumping sessions because I was working overnight two nights in a row.

I’m kinda bothered that I don’t have accurate counts of how many ounces I pumped, but the idea of not tracking my ounces pumped is a little exciting.

It’s also a little scary. If I don’t keep track of how many ounce I pumped how do I know if I’m getting a good grade in pumping?!??? Or if my supply is dropping?

Those aren’t actual real problems since I have an oversupply. I don’t think there’s actually a point to tracking my pumping output other than the fact that I love data. Really the only downside is that I wouldn’t have access to all that lovely data.

But it might make it easier to wean when the time comes. I hate the idea of weaning especially cause I make so much milk that it seems like a waste.

Does anyone not track their output? I’m almost 9 months postpartum. My supply is roughly consistent if I pump consistently.

ETA: currently I track minutes pumped and output on the Baby Tracker app. We also track feeding on it. We used to track diaper changes on it but we got tired of doing that.

My baby was in the NICU until we got to bring her home at 11 days old. I EP the whole time. She is 3 weeks + 1 day old, and about a week ago I had a breakdown and just decided to stop pumping. I went back and forth with it, and worried I made the wrong decision. We’re finally into a semi-regular routine with baby, and I’m figuring out her likes/dislikes. Tonight I really feel like I could continue pumping and it be ok, but I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve not really been pumping (I’ve pumped only to relieve engorgement) or because things are settling down a little. I’m worried I’ve hurt my supply, and that it would be too much on her stomach to go back to breastmilk. I wanted to EBF so badly, and it just hasn’t worked out. I’m worried I didn’t give it enough time. She would latch, but wouldn’t suck. I’m just not sure of what to do.

After a long mental breakdown I’ve decided to hang up the pumps. I made it a month and a half. I was doing EVERYTHING I possibly could and was only producing at most an ounce a breast. I’m so tired and so focused on my milk supply that I’m exhausted. I’m not able to enjoy anything because it’s all I think about. I also was diagnosed with DMER and I’m sick of feeling nauseous and rage fueled at each pump. I have to put me first so I can put baby first. I still feel so incredibly guilty… I don’t know how to not feel guilty. It seems so easy for everyone else. I’m sad that I couldn’t make it work.

Hi! FTM here!
I decided to only pump kinda recently, but I lag on pumping I don’t over produce and I don’t under produce I’m usually have a enough for a day in advance but I’ve been lagging A lot. I’m just tired or my baby wants to be held or I’m feeding her. So sometimes I pump every 3 hours sometimes every 4 or 6, 6 not very often but I happens.
My boobs do get an engorged. If I lag to long I just breastfeed her.
I was wondering if I keep lagging will my supply decrease cuz of of me lagging? Or it should be ok?
I’m only 2 months in.

We went on a roadtrip and so I took a few bags out of the freezer and stuck them in a cooler. I read that milk lasts in the fridge for 4 days, but just learned that that’s only if you put the milk in the fridge directly, not if it’s thawed from the freezer. He had a couple bottles worth of milk that were 2 days old (frozen then refrigerated). Today he’s eaten less than usual so I’m starting to panic that he’s sick. Can anyone talk me down pls?

Hey Mums!!! I hope your all doing well
I’m exclusively pumping and need some thoughts and suggestions…
I started pumping since I guess she was about 2 weeks old and presently is a little over 3 months old.
I have a teeny tiny bit of oversupply. I started logging my stash since 21st may and so far till date I have about 31,440ml. I want to stop pumping and I have nipple damage from birth and it’s just too much for me. I want to enjoy my baby and life and live a little while doing it. My plan is to pump till she is 6months old. And then feed her with my stash till she is about 9months-1 year.
My question is how much milk do they need daily from 6 months old? I know they start solids and all but idk how much I need to save to stop at 6 months but still give her milk till she is 1 year old.
Right now what I do is take out my earliest freezer stash( presently before 21st of may) and use that so that it doesn’t expire and then bag the milk that I currently express..

I know there’s quite a few “wearable recommendations” posts on here already, but I still wanted to ask based on a few things I noticed.

I’m a STM and plan on EPing again. I don’t think I’ll last 10 months like I did with my first (who is almost 23 months), but I’d like to be able to last at least until the end of this year.

My main pump at home is a Spectra, and the wearables I used to have was the Medela hands-free portable pumps that had to have tubing attachments. I was going to continue using it (if I can find it among my storage boxes), but I was wondering if there was something else out now that would maybe be recommended?

I had Momcozy M5’s (?), which I only used twice before I decided they weren’t for me as I barely got anything from them. I keep seeing Eufy’s being recommended, but I’m honestly a bit suspicious since the usernames and posts look similar to the format (like, there’s always posts by several different usernames either the same format of a word, a dash, another word, followed by some numbers - so it just looks like spam or bot to me).

Last I was on here, I kept hearing praises for Baby Buddha, but I know it’s sort of like the Medela where it’s a portable pump with tubing and some people attach collection cups?

Is there anything else to possibly look into? I feel like with a toddler running around and a newborn, I won’t get as much alone time to sit and pump like i did with my first, so any wearable recs thats good for on-the-go would be great. Thanks!

I keep going back and forth about getting the S2 for my birthday since I currently just have my blue spectra which works great, but the tubes get in my way sometimes and frustrate me.

The S2 Pros sound great in theory, but they are a bit pricey. For those who have tried them have you found it worth it? Where did you find the best price? Should I just get them without the charging case that way they are cheaper?

I’m happy to pay the price tag if they really are the best wearable pump, but I keep getting conflicting reviews online. Just looking for opinions and advice ♥️

I’m a little over 3 weeks in on this EP thing, and it is draining me. I am currently pumping 7x a day (including overnight pumps) and I’m yielding about 45oz/day and my baby is eating around 18-20oz. He is came early at 36w and spent a week in the NICU for respiratory support, but has surpassed birthweight by a full lb as of 2 weeks old and is doing great!

My boobs are GIGANTIC. I absolutely hate it. They look horrible in clothes and I do not feel at all like myself. I’m not having supply issues (thank goodness), but I just feel like the pumping around the clock + feeding him in between my pumps is draining me and takes up so much of the day. I also walk my dog and do all other chores between either pumps or feeds and I just feel like I’m drowning. Looking for some inspiration to keep going and to hear that it (hopefully) gets better at some point.

I (FTM) am looking for advice! My baby is currently 4 days old. He will not really latch on one side and the other is incredibly painful when he latches. Since last night I have been pumping and offering him bottles instead which has been going well today. It gives me the opportunity to have my husband help with feedings and I find comfort in knowing how much milk he is getting. However I am hesitant to stop putting him to breast and losing that as an option if he ends up preferring bottles. I am curious on how other people have handled this and how you made the decision to exclusively pump. I should mention he was born just before the holiday weekend so I wasn’t able to see a LC in the hospital but might make an appointment outpatient this week. I also ordered a nipple shield but it won’t arrive until Tuesday. TIA!

I'll be migrating to a new country soon, and the trip will be over 30 hours from doorstep to doorstep. So unfortunately I won't be able to carry my freezer stash of almost 100 x 150 - 200ml bags. There are no donor milk programs where I live, and local mothers would look at you strange if you offered them breast milk.

I still produce more than enough for my 3mo baby daily so I can't feed him from there (plus I don't even have enough time to do that!). I have a separate stash of leftovers which I use for baths.

I'll be awfully sad to waste so much milk, so I was wondering if I could begin thawing them a few at a time, scoop the fat layer, and add to my baby's bottles?

Any other tips welcome for this situation re transporting the milk, alternative uses etc. For context I'm flying Nigeria on Qatar Airways with 2 layovers, plus the hours before and after the flight, and a 3.5 hour train ride at the destination.

Hey everyone,

I’m 7 weeks postpartum and pump 7ppd. extremely clog prone so I’m looking to make sure my supply doesn’t venture too far into oversupply territory.

In the last few days, after a huge bout of clogs (hopefully) cleared up, my supply has gone from around 36oz to around 40oz a day. That’s a pretty big jump at once. I’m actually happy to maintain 40oz a day, but I really don’t want to go too much higher because of my clogs issue.

The way I’ve been pumping is by watching the sprays out of my nipple, and as soon as they stop/turn to dribbles, I cut the pump. I thought emptying the breast without going past empty would be a good way to maintain supply? But I seem to be increasing. But isn’t not fully emptying also a way to get clogs?

Anyways, what do you all recommend to maintain my current supply and stop increasing without doing anything to cause clogs or pain? (Other than dropping a pump, I want to keep 7ppd until 12 weeks at least.)

I’m 5wpp and have been working on increasing my supply the last few weeks. Baby girl was born at 37 weeks and has been very sleepy and inefficient at the breast, only transferring 15-20ml per feed. We’ve been supplementing with formula since the hospital due to weight loss and jaundice, but I wasn’t well informed on supply and demand, so I’ve been transitioning to primarily exclusively pumping to kick my supply in gear.

In the last 2-3 weeks, I’ve increased my daily output from about 7oz to 18-19oz per day. I produce roughly 1.5-2oz per pump, sometimes more than 2oz. On the rare occasion I’ve slept too long, I’ve produced 3-4oz total. Baby girl is now starting to take about 24oz per day, and ideally I’d like to make closer to 30oz per day. Here’s what I’ve done/been doing:

- Pump 8-9 times per day with my Spectra (every 2-3 hours)
- Hydrate with water and electrolytes
- Eat lots of protein
- Take Motherlove moringa milk plus capsules (4-6 per day)
- Power pumped once a day for one week straight
- I will latch her 1-2x a day if she seems interested, even if she just takes a couple of swallows or comfort sucks to sleep

Is there still hope that my supply will gradually increase if I stay the course? Do I need to add back in power pumping? Will I tank my supply if I start introducing wearables 1-2x a day a couple of times a week to get some of my freedom and sanity back?

I saw a lactation specialist who said j probably took away form the baby’s supply by pumping a couple of times through the day. I thought that’s what people do to build up supply but how long does it take for the baby to have enough after pumping? Also is it ok to miss a pumping session while the baby takes a bottle? I’m scared I would cut into her supply if I pumped much later. The lactation specialist said to only pump first thing in the morning after she feeds and I’ve been doing that up until this morning which I missed. I hope kissing one session won’t cut into the supply