Exclusively
pumping, also known as "Eping" is a way for a mother to continue to give her baby breast milk, when breastfeeding has failed or is delayed.
Most mothers resort to formula feeding when breastfeeding problems arise, not
knowing that it is possible to feed their baby, their precious breast milk via
bottle or alternative feeding methods.
Most mothers who exclusively express breast milk, are capable of making enough milk for their baby's full nutritional needs.
To all those mothers out there, who have faced the odds and persisted to continue breast pumping exclusively, congratulations! You are
a dedicated mother, and should feel very proud of yourself.
Why some Moms Resort to Exclusively Pumping Breast Milk
Get yourself (or rent) an electric, hospital grade, double action breast
pump. This is needed for the best results (hospital grade pumps are built to
establish milk supply) Electric breast pumps cannot be compared to hand
pumps, but can be replaced by a manual breast pump once your milk supply
is established.
Make certain that your breasts are lubricated before pumping. Lansinoh, olive oil and even your own breast milk will work well for this; this will also help for sore nipples. (Do not use your own milk, if you suspect a thrush infection – it could make it worse!)
Pump at least eight times a day.
Have a comfortable place to pump with a pumping station already set up for you.
Make sure that you have good back support while pumping.
Extra flanges and bottles can help, this will reduce the need to wash them immediately after pumping.
If you do not produce enough milk, the best thing to do, is to find a donor milk bank near you, so that you can supplement with breast milk, but it is
okay if you need to supplement with formula; just keep to your pumping
schedule and your milk supply with increase. Any amount of breast milk
will benefit your baby.
Instead of cleaning your pump after every use, put the parts in a ziplock bag and store it in the refrigerator as soon as you finish pumping. This will save you a considerable amount of cleaning time each day, which you can use to relax or spend with your baby. Just remember to wash it once a day to be on the safe side. (source)
Benefits of Exclusive Pumping
The Benefits of Pumping and Feeding Expressed Milk
It provides a way for a mother to still feed her baby precious breast milk if breastfeeding does not work out.
Pumping exclusively takes a lot of time and effort.
Mothers sometimes struggle to maintain sufficient milk supplies when pumping breast milk exclusively.
What about Bonding between Mom and Baby?
Sometimes bonding can improve between a mother and a baby that have been struggling to breastfeed, when they start bottle feeding instead of breastfeeding.
Make sure that your baby is held for feedings, as this will also ensure better bonding between you and your baby. Any other family members get to benefit from this as well.
After about three months of exclusive breast pumping, your milk supply should be fully established, which means that you can pump fewer times per day.
Exclusive pumping is the second best option after breastfeeding, but can sometimes be more challenging. It is possible to exclusively pump for as long as most mothers breastfeed and longer.
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twins milk I'm exclusively pumping at the moment as my twin boys were born at 36 weeks and lack the muscle tone and endurance to nurse. However, my body is not fooled …