[Effervescence]

Hi everyone! I am Jess, Mommy to Jonah, and up until two weeks ago, we exclusively breastfed. When we went to our pedi visit, we discovered that he had stopped growing. I had a really rough week, but I have come to terms with quite a few things. The reason he stopped growing was that his reflux had caused him to have an aversion to eating, and he began at some point to only take up to two ounces per feeding. I nursed round the clock, on demand. We were admitted to the hospital, where he was taken off the breast and put on a formula only diet, while I got used to the pump. Now I am able to keep up with his feeding schedule most of the day, he still gets about one bottle of formula in the evening because the milk just doesn't come at that time.

I have so many questions that when I get the chance to ask, I can't think of them or which one to ask first. I will be exclusively pumping for a while now, because we have to fortify my milk as well as keep track of how much he is eating. I do sneak in some nursing from time to time, because I miss it, and I think it is good for my supply.

My pedi declined my request for a referall to a lactation consultant, so I am kind of winging this. I need a lot of help, as I am still in unfamiliar territory.

I just wanted to introduce myself and say hello. I will probably lurk for a bit and then start to be more active as I think of questions!

[::MummyToThree::]

Jess and congrats on your LO

My name is Tamarin and I exclusively pump for my 5 month old daughter Summer , I have been Eping for 4 months now. We had weight issues too, Summer has an inverted chin and jaw so she was unable to latch properly and nurse efficently, at 1 month old she was nowhere near birth weight, so I had to either suppliment feed after every nursing session, pump, or formula feed.

Please post any questions you have!!

HERE is a great website about EPing.

I do want to mention that if you are giving him a bottle of formula make sure you pump when you give it to him. Its all about supply and demand, and by giving formula and not pumping you are telling your body you don't need that milk.

HTH

[Effervescence]

Thanks! I have been pumping at every feeding, and twice between feedings, although I am slowly cutting the twice between feedings out (except in the evenings, I still need to pump multiple times to get enough milk for him) I pretty much pump all day. It's taken over my life! It's so worth it, though. Sometimes I go to bed and I ask my husband "is it worth it, or would it just be better for everyone if I quit." I can almost always answer myself at the end of the conversation though, "YES, and probably not."

[::MummyToThree::]

Thanks! I have been pumping at every feeding, and twice between feedings, although I am slowly cutting the twice between feedings out (except in the evenings, I still need to pump multiple times to get enough milk for him) I pretty much pump all day. It's taken over my life! It's so worth it, though. Sometimes I go to bed and I ask my husband "is it worth it, or would it just be better for everyone if I quit." I can almost always answer myself at the end of the conversation though, "YES, and probably not."[/b]

it definately is worth it, but it is also ok if you do quit! formula is not the devil!

Your supply is probably affected because of his inefficent nursing.

I would suggest pumping every 2 hours... the website I put in your other thread suggests 10-12x a day - in all honesty I pumped 11x for a week before dropping to 10x I then dropped to 8x when Summer was 2 months old.... when she was 3 months old I dropped to 7x and then 5x and a week ago 4x, you need to get your supply up before dropping pumps.

so

6am, 8am, 10am, noon, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm, 8pm, 10pm, 12pm, 2am try for that for at least a week

after a week you could probably pump every 2.5hrs

You could also try a power pumping session - you pump for 20mins, rest for 10, pump for 10, rest for 10, pump for 10 pick

are you pumping for 20mins each side? (which has got to be tough with a single pump)

I rented a pump to see if i could "rescue" my supply before I forked out the $300 on buying one

Welcome, I am so sorry you are struggling. I have to say wth to this though:

My pedi declined my request for a referall to a lactation consultant, so I am kind of winging this. I need a lot of help, as I am still in unfamiliar territory.[/b]

You will get good advice from Jess. I am not an EPer, but pump while at work.