I have been a little neurotic about BF over the past 6 months. I believe the BM is the best thing for the twins and luckily, I've been able to keep up with their feedings and I have a good amount stock piled in the deep freeze. When the twins were about a month old, I was having trouble getting my supply established and ended up taking Fenugreek for a few weeks. That got things rolling and things have been great ever since. I think both babies have each only had one bottle of formula since they were born. That being said, I totally understand that BFing isn't for everyone. Some can't get a supply established, some don't have the time- every one has their reasons. I'm for feeding babies- doesn't matter which you feed them :)
Honestly, I'm an EP (exclusive pumper). I have been since the babies were about 6 weeks old. It's just a lot easier for me to pump and bottle feed them. Yes, it takes a bit more time, but when you have two it's a lot easier to have my husband, mother, mother in law, sister, etc. feed one while I feed the other. My friends always ask just how much I'm able to pump and they're always amazed. I pump 5 times a day. My first pump is always my largest- about 20 oz and I do that around 5:00 AM. My second pump is about 14-16 oz sometime between 9-10AM. Third is about 12 oz- 2-3PM, forth 6:30ish and I get about 10-12 oz and fifth is right before bed. I usually only get about 8 oz then. Yes, I'm a dairy cow. I don't mind the pumping and it has been going really well for me. I love to be able to eat pretty much whatever I want- I weigh less now than I did before I got pregnant. I really love that I save us about $200/ month in formula.
Why all this talk about TaTas? Well, I have a clogged duct. It hurts like hell and I'm afraid it's getting infected. I've been working on it for more than 24hrs and it still won't unclog. Heating pads, hot showers, massive amounts of pumping.. nothing seems to be working and I'm starting to stress. I almost stayed home from work so I could work on getting it out. I brought my heating pad to work with me so I could heat and pump at the same time.
It's time to pump now- fingers crossed that I can work this sucker out!!!
UPDATE- The clog came out.. after lots of massaging and hoping and swearing and 'please oh please.. it came out. No medical intervention needed.. WHEW.
Holy cow you are a dairy cow! :-) That's awesome though!!!! Applauding you for your EP dedication! I have never heard of anyone pumping more than 8 oz at a single pumping session. Wish I could offer some suggestions on getting rid of the clog... I've heard they're horrible and hope that it passes soon for you!
ReplyDeleteJenny...too funny...we sound like we are on the exact same pumping schedule and get like exactly the same amounts! I love being a dairy cow too...feeding Autumn and stocking a bunch away for later is awesome! I'm hoping to pump till around 6 months and then have 5-6 months frozen to continue giving her. I hope the clogged duct goes away soon...I have a sore a few weeks ago that got really infected (I don't think it was a blocked duct), but I ended up having to go on antibiotics. It was the most painful thing ever!! I really thought that was the end of pumping for me. But it got better every day and is back to normal now! Good luck getting it remedied before you have to go on antibiotics!!
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