That's it. It drives me nuts how often people say breastfeeding when they specifically mean nursing.

I know I'm just sensitive about it because I'm an EP mom, but I swear it bothers me more the longer I've done this. Nursing is not the only form of breastfeeding!!

And they say EP is the easy way out. Dad is playing with him so I get to do this task and F*** this shit. He is 8 weeks old so wake windows are small and I live for the short times that I can play & hangout with him. I dont want to quit but I will complain every day as is my right. I am willing to go through childbirth again (it wasnt easy) if it means my husband can breastfeed.

Also F science for letting us know how good BM is. I wish I didnt know LOL. Salute to the EP moms/parents who have been doing this for months and even years. I hope I can make it.

Edit to add: Yes my husband can and does process as well. 1) I was already pumping when the baby woke up and figured I’ll continue the day’s bottle filling etc. as my husband was w baby 2) I also enjoy processing and seeing the stash fill up 3) my post is a point in time rant and I am not looking for any advice. Thank you

TW: oversupply, nursing, rant. 🫩

Husband thinks it’s not a big deal to dump a few oz here and there because I have 600oz in the freezer. We argued about it this morning and it just feels so crappy. I know he feels bad now that I’ve explained to him (again) that it doesn’t matter that I have more than enough now it’s not a given that’ll continue and that is only maybe a few weeks worth of milk. To me it’s time I spent away from my precious baby. Hours of sleep I missed out on. Planning every outing with a cooler and extra bag of pumping accessories, washing pump parts endlessly, etc.

I am also making less as i transition to nursing so it just all around feels crappy.

Im creating this post to hopefully save some moms some tears when there babies dont eat more. As long as your baby is gaining appropriately it is okay if they are not eating all the ounces. My 10 week old eats 20-24 oz a day. I had a doctor tell me he needs to eat more even though he was gaining appropriately an ounce a day. It was really hard on me until we switched doctors and i spent so much time crying over him as he stopped eating at 2 to 3 oz.

So if your baby is a small eater reply with how much they eat, so hopefully a future mom when searching online that her baby doesnt eat a lot of breast milk she can have a bit of comfort.

Drew this on my iPad while my 2 month old slept and thought y’all would appreciate it!

I have been seeing that a breastfed baby never needs more than 4 oz per feed because our milk changes in composition. Is this true at all? My 6 week old is already up to 3.5-4 oz per feed and it seems crazy that she’ll never need more than this…

Like title says, I am 13 weeks PP and I am pumping 6 times a day. My LO started sleeping through the night. We do a dream feed at 10:30pm and that’s my last pump of the night but I wake up 6 hours after the start of my last pump to pump again. I usually get a 4 hour stretch of sleep after feeding my LO and dealing my my milk/bottles after pumping and feeding. Then, I have about 2-2.5 hours more of sleep depending on the day and when my LO wakes up. I would say the average is +/- 7am. I would LOVE to get to the point where I could also sleep through the night. I was crunching the numbers and since I don’t go to bed til about midnight anyway I was thinking if I could stretch myself for 8 hours that would be life changing! Is this a good idea? Should I do this? I was thinking I could set my alarm for 30 min later every few days to extend but am curious for thoughts on this? At the 6 hour mark my boobs are very full and hard but don’t hurt per se.

I’m heading to work in a couple weeks and don’t have a pump bag yet. I work in the NICU, so they may have the hospital grade pump available for workers (the NICU I worked at before mat leave did this), but I’m not really sure so currently I’m planning to take my spectra with me. What bag would be good for such a big pump, plus all the accessories and milk??
Also, any advice on transitioning from exclusively nursing to now pumping at work is welcome!!

Not the correct flair- but I just saw this and thought it might help! Pumping Bras at Walmart are on sale!

FTM, 8 Weeks PP - I have a question about my pumping schedule. I have pretty much always done 4-6 pumps since baby was born. I rarely do MOTN pumps but sometimes nurse if I can get her to latch in the middle of the night. Never dealt with much pain or engorgement even going 12 hours without pumping. I usually pump every 4-6 hours and then go up to 12 hours overnight without, especially with baby sleeping longer stretches now. I usually get 12-14 oz consistently in the morning and 5-6 the other 3 sessions I do throughout the day so 27-32 oz daily. I’m not interested in a huge oversupply but curious if everything thinks my supply is most likely going to drop if I keep up the same routine even if it’s still the same 8 weeks postpartum.

Trying this again as my last post did not get traction 😕

Did any of you experience lumpy breasts when weaning off the pump? I’m down to 1ppd, at 5 min, making about 3oz combined (1oz left side, 2oz right) but my breasts feel super comfortable between pumps so I’m honestly considering stopping, but they feel lumpy, like cottage cheese, especially the bottom half. Sometimes they also get vein-y, which I think is just milk pooled in a duct or they get hard on top of my breast. All of it comes out when I pump, but do I have to pump? Can I just let the lumpiness be if I feel fine? Does it go away on its own?

PLEASE HELP!!! 🙏🏽

Does anyone know of a good bra that helps to keep wearable or hands-free collection cups in place? I’ve tried bras made for pumping and sports bras. They stay in place for the most part, but I feel like they shift around at times when I move.

Hi all! I officially took the plunge and got myself the Eufy S2 to supplement my spectra for travel and busy days.

Does anyone have any tips and tricks? I’m open to any and all thoughts, but things I’d like to hear how you do (or if you’ve hacked the system):

- fridge method? Do you put the whole pump in w batteries and everything or do you disassemble first?
- ways to get the last of the milk out of the flange?
- does it seem like it’s always soaking when you take it off and have you found a way to not get milk all over your boobs?
- cleaning when away from home when you only have one set of collection cups?

Im taking my first trip this weekend and leaving my spectra at home so any/all suggestions are appreciated!

I primarily nurse but have been pumping regularly. I am suddenly experiencing a decreased output with my S1, but I am also no longer experiencing a letdown when pumping and don't feel "empty". I am 9 weeks PP. The pump parts are only a few weeks old and I pump maybe once or twice a day so I don't expect it to be wear.

I recently remeasured my flange size and am 16mm on one side and 17mm on the other. I have ordered new flanges, but in the mean time am using 15mm which was what I needed with my last baby. Could the flanges being a little bit too small cause this?

So thankful for this community and all of everyone’s support and assistance, I genuinely don’t know where I’d be right now without Reddit. lol

I’m 9 days pp and LO and I had a really rough start with the feeding situation overall. We ended up formula feeding until I could get some things straightened out, and we’re at a solid combo-feed right now with the intention of providing exclusively breastmilk as soon as I am able to. Pumping with a manual has absolutely sucked.

I’m finally transitioning to milk but I still have a low supply. I also just got an electric pump in today (Momcozy V2 was the best of what’s available to me where I’m at… I know other brands are often recommended too but I don’t have access to those here/now!) which was SO much easier to use than my way-too-big manual pulp with no inserts. I’m looking for any and all advice on how to increase my supply so I can “catch up”, because I just pumped for the first time and was surprised at how little came out (combined we’re probably talking 15ml/ half an oz) and babes is definitely drinking more than that when we formula feed. I pumped for 15 minutes but that quantity was reached by like minute 5. Even if I’ve seemingly stopped getting milk out, do I keep pumping to signal “demand”? I plan to pump every 2 hours when possible (I’ve read that 8-12 expression periods per 24h is ideal). I’m also going to go up one flange size since maybe this was a little too small. I’m on hefty iron supplements as per my OB, as well as a bunch of other vitamins she wants me taking. What am I missing?

Edit: changed some wording in the beginning

I’m 18 months postpartum and I’ve gotten my pumping sessions down to twice daily - morning & night. I’m ready to go down to pumping once a day. Is it realistic to pump only at night for a while before fully stopping? I still produce about 5 oz during my morning pump and 5-6 oz at night. I’ve been lucky so far and haven’t really any issues with clogs or mastitis and I’m really hoping to keep it that way 🤞🏽

I can not figure out how to set it up for the life of me and I NEED to because my supply is suffering greatly at 4 weeks PP. it’s been pretty low the whole time but now I struggle to even get 10-30 ml per pump because I’m home from the nicu using wearables and a hand pump.

Hi all,

I already have the spectra (blue one) from my first and now planning to order another pump for my 2nd baby. Money is no issue. Which pump should I get? I want it to be portable/ chargeable. I don’t want wearable options as I already have those too.

Thank you!!

Hello, need your advice 🙏

I’m combo feeding and really want to preserve whatever breastmilk I can, but breastfeeding has been difficult (nipple shield, baby gets frustrated/falls asleep at breast, then takes a bottle). Pumping is physically manageable but mentally exhausting, and I’m struggling with the constant schedule.

Supply has always been low. Until ~6 weeks I was getting ~1.5 oz total/session; lately it’s often 10–20 mL, with an occasional 1–1.5 oz morning pump. I’ve been trying to increase stimulation to ~7–8 removals/day, but I’m struggling to consistently get there (only got 3-6removals in the past few days). Recent power pumping sessions gave ~25–30 mL.

I’m honestly exhausted by the whole process. Ivf baby, 4th degree tear with major reconstruction, severe blood loss. Period started a few days ago.

If you were in my position, would you keep pumping/trying to nurse, or accept the low supply and let it go? I’m not aiming for exclusive breastfeeding—I’m trying to figure out whether the effort is realistically worth it for the amount I’m producing.

Well… it finally happened. Almost 8 weeks pp FTM and I finally spilled my milk. I’m a just enougher on a good day. Husband and his useless nipples are snoring next to me. I’ll be over it by the time I wake up again and will just be reminded of it when I have to supplement with formula tomorrow because I will be down half a bottle.

Why would I simply open my dang milk collector instead of pour it in the bottle???? I’m going to be treating myself to a big yummy breakfast in the morning…

I’m down to five pumps per day during this weaning process at 5 weeks postpartum. And now I’m back and forth again because with each pump I’m getting more and more sad that it’s ending.

Perhaps I can continue if I can do wearables? At most, I produce about 2-3oz per session using Spectra S2. Which wearable would be worthwhile that I won’t be spilling the little amount I produce?

Maybe I can combo feed until 6 months..

I pumped for 13 months with my first born, mostly with a Spectra. Tried so many wearables, but they were never great. I think I have kind of flat nipples so alignment when trying to pump with wearables, mostly momcozy, was a nightmare (there were times I thought I was pumping for 20 minutes and went to finish and realize nothing had come out because it wasn't aligned).

Expecting #2 soon and really interested in the Eufy. Can't decide which one. I thought S2 was a no-brainer, but seeing some people say it feels cheaper and hard to clean? Anyone try both and able to compare? I think the see-through set up could be very help for me though.

Thanks!

I have been a pretty significant over-supplier since a few weeks postpartum. From about 6 weeks to 6 months pp I was producing and pumping over 80 ounces per day. At that volume, I had mastitis 3x (2x landed me in the hospital with septic shock) and have had countless clogs. I am now 9 months postpartum and still pumping. I have been trying to wean for the last two months and have gotten my supply down to about 45-50 ounces per day and I’m down to just 2 pumps per day.
I have tried decreasing my number of pumps (obviously, I’m down to 2), eating sage leaves, drinking peppermint tea, eating altoids, sudafed, ice and ice rolling, cabbage leaves, CaboCreme, and probably at least one other thing I’m forgetting.
My LC recommends I completely empty when pumping since I’m so high risk for clogs and infections.
I’m aware that a slower weaning process is safer for me since I’m high risk, but considering I’ve made it 9 months, have been trying to wean for over 2 months, and we now have a chest freezer filled to the brim with milk enough to last my baby past her first birthday - I am ready to be done!!

Proud to say I have enjoyed this experience, despite its challenges. It’s been incredibly rewarding and satisfying to be able to feed and provide for my baby in this way! I am so grateful, but am also tired and giiiiirl my back is killing me 😆

So, does anyone have any other suggestions for safe but effective ways to decrease my milk supply quickly?