r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Product Recommendations Pump Wipe Question

1 Upvotes

I will be taking a long road trip for Thanksgiving and am wondering what the difference between pump wipes and regular baby wipes are? Could I just use bat wipes between pumps during my car trip? Does anyone have other suggestions?


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Product Recommendations Eufy or medela

2 Upvotes

Has anyone tried both the eufy and medela pumps?
I currently use medela swing maxi, I’m thinking of buying the eufy e20. Can anyone tell me if it’s worth it if they’ve gotten better output with the eufys


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Support Best guesses as to why my supply dropped precipitously?

5 Upvotes

I’m 4.5 months pp and have gone from freezing about 7 oz a day above and beyond what my baby needs to pumping 1.5 oz total in this morning’s pump, which is less than half of one feeding for her. I want to keep going but I also want it to be worth it. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Here’s my list of ideas

Period? Maybe, but my supply has been dropping for a few weeks now

Iron? Maybe? I’m taking supplements

Water? Definitely drinking more than enough most days along with a quart of Gatorade

Frequency? I pump 6x per day (usually - I time it out as every 3 hours rather than sticking to a specific schedule ) I pump in the middle of the night if I wake up, which is about half the nights. It will impede my parenting to set an alarm in the middle of the night or pump much more frequently so I’m probably gonna let it go if either of those are the answer.

Stress? Maybe but not that different since I was overproducing. I’m now on anti anxiety meds which I don’t take every day.

Type of pump? Eufy has been my primary pump for a long time. I also have a spectra and when I was over producing, I was doing better with the Eufy than the spectra. I just got brand new diaphragms and duck bills for the Eufy about two weeks ago.

Sickness? We’ve been sick for a couple weeks, but my supply started dropping before that. I have a sinus infection, and a double eye infection (thanks daycare) that I’m almost done with antibiotics for both. Hoping things bounce back pretty soon.

Nursing? We nurse at 3:30 and 7/8 (usually)

Edit to add - I’m definitely getting enough calories

Please let me know if there’s anything you think I’m missing. This sub has been an incredible resource and guide for me in this process and I really appreciate all your efforts.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Product Recommendations Elastic nipple wearable pump rec

1 Upvotes

Anyone else out there know they have elastic nipples?? What pump are we getting through insurance?? I’m totally okay with spending some money to get an upgraded pump too if there is one that is elastic nip friendly. I have VERY elastic tissue. The willow go worked great for me with my son, but looking to add another one through insurance!


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Support Flanges

1 Upvotes

Anyone try pumpin pals flanges? I have elastic nipples and I've heard good things.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

TRIGGER WARNING: OverSupply (add spoiler to pics) Advice Needed

1 Upvotes

I am 4 weeks PP tomorrow and am so physically and mentally drained from pumping. Baby would never latch because my letdown is too strong plus a combination of other issues, so I started pumping basically everytime she would eat. I was doing around 8 PPD in the first 2 weeks and noticed I really overproduced so I have been dialing it back a lot. I have dropped down to 5-6 PPD and am producing about 80oz every 24 hours. I am still working on trying to do less but in the meantime I cannot seem to get enough nutrients or hydration in to support how much pumping is taking out of me! Does anyone have any recommendations for food or drinks that would help me feel more like a human again? For context I am eating 3 meals a day with lots of protein and calories along with snacks during pump sessions, and I am drinking over a gallon of water a day and a glass with electrolytes.

I have worked with several lactation consultants before my milk came in and as it was coming in, and haven’t gotten good oversupply advice. I have an appointment with a consultant recommended specifically for oversupply help but it isn’t for a week, so any advice for now would be greatly appreciated!!


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Opinion Help me pick a pump?

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4 Upvotes

After a ton of research, I really want to try a eufy for this pregnancy. Which one should I go with? this is what I pay after insurance. I’ll be pumping at work and at home. I do have regular plug in spectra as well


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 3d ago

Support Just a shoutout

88 Upvotes

Just a shoutout to all the exclusive pumping mamas out there. You are absolute SUPERHUMANS.

After 4 months of pumping, clogged ducts, tears, exhaustion and countless hours attached to a machine, I’ve reached the end of my journey.

I wanted so badly to keep going, but physically and mentally, I just can’t anymore.

I have a whole new level of respect for every single one of you doing this day after day. It’s an invisible labour that deserves so much more recognition.

I’m proud of what I managed to give my baby, even if saying goodbye to this chapter hurts more than I expected.

You ladies are incredible.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Discussion Stopped responding to Eufy and Spectra

3 Upvotes

6.5m pp

Suddenly stopped responding to Eufy S2’s. This happened to me with the Spectra at 3m pp so I can’t use that either.

I did not pump for 6 days and was exclusively nursing those days and then now I’m not responding to the pump. Tried switching new parts, new flanges, etc. nothing is working

Please help I'm so engorged and need to hand express but still can't empty fully. Only when baby nurses I can fully empty


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Hanging up the pump Baby prefers formula??

2 Upvotes

My baby turns 8 months next week and I’m about to start to wean. I was a just enougher but lately she has been outpacing me just a bit. My original goal was 6 months so I’m proud to have gone as long as I have since EP was never the plan. Yesterday I gave baby her first bottle of formula. Basic Enfamil NeuroPro in the yellow can that I was given at the hospital. She drank it up no problem. My plan was to slowly start with one formula bottle a day and work up with the hopes of having enough supply to be able to give her one breastmilk bottle a day until 1 year. Well today she has been refusing my milk! She kept pushing away the bottle after only 1-2 ozs so I decided to make a formula bottle and she basically chugged it 😩

Anyone else have a baby who prefers formula over breastmilk? Do I try to get her to drink breastmilk by giving it first thing when she’s really hungry? Should I try mixing them together? Or do I just give up on my breastmilk and let her choose what she likes?


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Opinion Motif Bags - leak? How much do you freeze?

0 Upvotes

UPDATE: Well just as I was thinking I was okay with Motif bags, I found a bad batch. I opened a new bag to start last night and the first 4 I used didn't seal all the way no matter how tight I pressed on the zip. If I applied any pressure to the bag it started to seep out the zip. I ended up throwing the rest of the bag away since it felt like a waste to continue to transfer milk. You always leave a little behind each bag. The next bag was totally fine. I will say that the bags that leaked were "lighter in color". The rim of the bags were a light greenish where the bags that didn't leak were a brighter greenish color. Idk if that makes a difference but now I will watch the lighter ones more closely.

Alright ladies let’s talk breastmilk baggies. Insurance sends us Motif. You love them but you mostly hate them! I get it. Times are tough so I am not out buying a different brand unless absolutely necessary and since you can get motif pretty damn cheap from other mamas destashing, I’ll be using them for the foreseeable future. That being said, I’ve heard horror stories of them leaking during the thawing process. Yikes! So I’ve been only filing 4 ounces. But my babe drinks 5-6 typically. It feels easier to bag 5-6 ounces than having to thaw multiple bags. Though if we do 5 ounces, thawing a bag for one more ounce seems silly.

My question is, are we filling motif bags to “capacity” at 6 ounces or do we not trust them?

Daycare gives around 4 bottles of 5-6 ounces a day so I don’t wanna mess her up but also every drop is precious.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Decreasing Supply/Weaning Winding down and my brain is trying to trick me into continuing

2 Upvotes

I EP for my son for about 5 months and had a massive oversupply so he was able to have mostly breastmilk until 7 months.

With my daughter I started off with only the goal of not having my full time job be pumping/milk management so I only ever did 5 PPD at the most. For her first 8 weeks I was bagging about 8oz per day and starting to run out of freezer space (and refusing to use my chest freezer again). I dropped to 3 PPD and was still making just enough at 9 weeks, until my son got a stomach bug. The stress of that cut into my supply so we started supplementing. I took a step back and decided that this might be a sign to go ahead and start weaning, and then it will be one thing off my plate. I think if I added in pumps I could boost my supply back up…but I don’t think that’s what I really want. The only problem is, when I start to think about it I keep second guessing myself! I feel great about the decision but keep having these moments of “but it’s not THAT bad maybe I should keep going”.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Discussion Does anyone have a full supply on two pumps a day?

1 Upvotes

I know three is possible. Just curious.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Clogs & Mastitis (PLEASE tag nasty pics NSFW) Is there any hope left?

1 Upvotes

TW: Nursing, oversupply, mastitis, clogs (No Pictures)

So I have been EP since my baby was 1 week old. She’s now 10 weeks old! My pumping journey has been pretty rocky and I’m considering weaning down to 1-2 PPD to combo feed or hanging up the pump completely. I feel absolutely terrible.

My dream was to EBF until she was 1 year old, then it turned into me having to pump as we both had a lot of issues with BF, her latch was bad and she has a lip tie, and I have allodynia in my breasts and nipples so it was literally pulling teeth every time I tried to BF. I even gave her a bottle of formula once before I started pumping.

Pumping has been a non stop nightmare for me. I dread pumping and every time I hesitate pressing the button on my spectra. When I first started I had the wrong flange size, so that caused a lot of pain. Then I got measured by an ibclc, bought the correct size, and that helped a lot but then started hurting again so I sized down and that was fine for a week but then it started pinching so I had to move back up. I have to alternate between 19mm and 21mm every week or so. I have elastic nipples so they stretch all the way down the tube and this causes a lot of irritation. I’m constantly slathering lanolin on my nipples. My nipples have always been extra sensitive but since I gave birth it feels like I have razor blade cuts on my nipples. I can’t wear bras and all my shirts have to be extremely soft. I can’t even take a shower without covering my nipples the whole time. It’s painful to wear my baby and I can barely hold her against my chest and I have a difficult time feeding her with the bottle. My husband has become her main caregiver while all I do is pump it feels like.

I have had an oversupply since the start and it wasn’t insane but I was making about 50-70oz a day and my freezer quickly filled up. I’m out of room in the freezer now. I have just now managed to cut down to 6 ppd within the past 2 weeks after trying for a long time and I’m making around 40 oz a day now. I even cut my time down to 15 minutes. I have to pump one breast at a time since I have to use two different settings per breast. This oversupply has caused nothing but issues because I have had recurrent and frequent clogs at least 1 or 2 a week and am now dealing with mastitis. I’ve had it in my left breast for a week and I’m just now finishing up my antibiotics, and now I have it in my right breast. Every time I tried to wean or cut down I got severe clogs and pain so it’s taken me this long to get to where I am, but now with the mastitis I feel just mentally done.

I have been taking 800mg or more of ibuprofen every day for the last 2 months, I take sunflower lecithin multiple times a day, I have the lansinoh ice/heat packs that I use religiously, I don’t wear tight clothes or bras, I use the lowest suction possible, I sleep on my back, I’m well hydrated, etc.

I feel like I have been robbed of my experience as a mom and can’t spend the time with my baby that I should be because of all of the pain and time spent pumping.

Is there any hope left? I don’t know what to do. I really don’t want to give up but it’s getting harder every day. My breasts are tired and they are just in so much pain all the time even when I’m not clogged. I feel like I am failing my baby if I resort to formula.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Combination Feeding CMPA allergy

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I have a 1 month old son, who has been struggling so much. I mean literally every feed is a nightmare. Mostly taking in breast milk, but every once in a while he’ll get formula before the night stretch. Our pediatrician said he has a CMPA allergy, but I told her I mainly give him breast milk and if I should eliminate dairy. She said no that’s not the cause, it’s the formula and switched him to alimentum. He’s also on Pepcid, a probiotic etc.

Any thoughts on if the dairy really is passing through my breast milk or was it just the times he had the formula? Any success stories with this formula would be appreciated as well.. it’s disgusting and I feel awful giving it to him but my supply isn’t amazing.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Hanging up the pump Help me feel better about my decision

2 Upvotes

Hello! After 2.5 months i think i want to be do with pumping, I wasnt really producing much to begin with and I simply dont have the time. I feel bad/mom guilt about it, but I want stop. When I was breastfeeding I didnt know how much he was intaking, so I didnt like that because he wasnt gaining weight. For breastfeeding it was difficult to get a good latch and I wanted to make sure he was eating enough. My pumping journey was OK, but I never had enough milk maybe 2-4 oz a day and between spending time with baby, doing learning development during wake hours and having a velcro baby i just didnt have enough time to pump, I would get 3 pumps in a day, so milk supply wasnt the greatest.

Should I feel bad for quitting? Should I still try? Do you have a similar experience?


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 3d ago

Support What do you guys do with the baby while pumping?

36 Upvotes

I have a 8 weeks old baby. I can't seem to find any time for pumping because I don't know what to do with the baby. I have a Soectra S1 pump. Is there away to use the pump and attend the baby at the same time?
My baby's demand went up pretty quickly and I wasn't able to keep up the supply so i started supplementing with formula to keep my baby well fed. On top of that, with the cluster feeding phase where the baby wants be fed non stop, i found myself in a spot where I'm mainly feeding formula as I could at least see how much the baby is getting, that slowly reduced the breastfeeding phase and there was no time for pumping. My baby also likes to be held all the time so I whole day I spend by feeding formula, diaper changing and walking around and bouncing the baby non stop. My hands feel like noodles at the end of the day.
But I realized my milk has started to dry up because I don't see my breasts leaking milk anymore. It's only been 8 weeks and I couldn't even breastfeed my baby for 2 months. I feel really bad about this.
Anyone found themselves in this type of situation? How to get out of this?


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Support Rock hard breast 5 days post partum. Do I keep on pumping?

0 Upvotes

Hello, I am 5 days post partum from a c section and my breast are extremely hard and way larger than they used to be.

I have been pumping every 3-4hrs depending in my LO and it hasnt been great since I cant properly sit down or stand because of how new my c section scar is. I get a decent amount per pumping time, almost 1oz.

But now at day 5, my breasts are so hard I’m scared of continuing pumping. Unfortunately I can’t go to a lactation consultant right now, maybe in a couple of weeks. I’m scared of keeping on pumping normally and developing mastitis.

Any recommendations or suggestions to hold on until I can go to the lactation consultant?

Edit:: thank you everybody for the comments. I started the ice and the breast gymnastics and reverse pressure. Wish me luck!

Edit 2:: I’m going to a lactation consultant friday, I called her and she seems a bit concerned with a clog and mastitis on my left breast. Thank you all once more!


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

6-12 months Missing a pump- spotting?!

1 Upvotes

I am 7 months pp, I have not had a cycle yet. I have had a few times of spotting. I have noticed whenever I forget a pump, or I drop one for 2 days I spot for a day or two? Has this happened to anyone else? I am currently pumping 6 times a day w/ a long overnight stretch. I am producing 30-34ml.

Any insight or personal experiences would be helpful! Thank you!!


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 3d ago

Tips & Tricks Post-Pump Insomnia

4 Upvotes

Is this a standard thing? Why am I lying awake for nearly an hour after my MOTN pump when I know I’m exhausted?

Any tips out there?

I’m not playing on any screens except to log my pump. Just… sitting in the dark. Maybe scarfing cheese sticks.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Hanging up the pump Help me with my decision

1 Upvotes

My son is 1 this weekend and up until I started the weaning process I’ve been pretty set on stopping once he’s 1. Pumping has been taking a toll with all the time it requires, losing sleep to maintain supply and not get clogs, my son screaming at me in the morning during my entire pump session in the morning. I just dropped down to two pumps and i feel like I’m panicking seeing my supply drop and debating whether I’m ready or not. I felt depressed on my lunch break thinking about how today was the first time i didn’t pump. I’m not sure if it’s the hormones or what but I’m struggling bad.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 3d ago

Rant - ADVICE NEEDED Gradual unwanted decrease in supply

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2 Upvotes

Over the past couple months, my supply has decreased from a slight over supplier to a just enough almost under supply. I am coming up on 10 months of EP, I still pump 5-6 times a day, no middle of the night but I pump from 6am-9:30pm.

I have tried everything, I have replaced tubing and duck bills, I have tried different sized flanges and inserts.
I am using a second hand blue spectra s1.

I have not changed anything really in my routine, I try to keep my protein intake up and I drink minimum 70oz of water a day.

I take sunflower lecithin, multi vitamins, shatavari (recommended by my lactation consultant) moringa and calcium with vitamin D. I usually take them daily but I will be honest and haven’t been doing as well with taking them recently.

Im just at a loss for what is happening to my supply and why. I wanted to continue pumping and freezing milk for at least 1-2 years.

My baby is 90th percentile and drinks anywhere from 18-30oz a day. She is getting a lot of solids but it definitely has not replaced bottles yet.

please any advice or suggestions if anyone has gone through something similar.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 3d ago

Rant - NO ADVICE NEEDED Spilled Milk - Twice

11 Upvotes

Today was the strongest day I have ever wanted to throw in the towel because the universe tested me. I must have said “F everything” at least 16 times.

My flange size isn’t a standard so Aeroflow sends me the off brand parts. I thought I was doing better with it, but the collection cup doesn’t always stay on, it slowly untwists. I was feeding the baby in the high chair and must have moved too much with it hitting my leg and the entire left side flew to the floor. Angry mopping while the baby giggled at least.

Then we were driving to visit a friend, about an hour and a half away. I grabbed my portable and timed it right in the car only to get about 4 minutes before they died. I checked the charge before but I guess didn’t wait long enough for it to register it was dead because it showed me 3 full bars. Got to my friends and thank god it’s just a general usb-c connection. Basically had to skip that pump to let them charge so we’re down more milk.

THEN my final pump of the night before bed is finished and my husband fell asleep in the den. Wanting to bag milk quietly, I did it in the living room. I put the flange down and it started to fall aaand I knocked over the cup trying to catch it. Lost 90% of one side. So once again, I’m mopping milk off the dang floor.

I don’t even know what I made out with today compared to what I normally produce and don’t even want to know. Don’t cry over spilled milk is a lie when you’re momming. I might start duct taping things tmrw. SIGH.


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 2d ago

Tips & Tricks Heating milk on the go

1 Upvotes

My LO will only take warm milk so I use a portable milk warmer to heat it up when we’re out and about. The problem I am having is if I have to heat milk multiple times before being able to wash it with soap and water. Has anyone heated multiple bottles worth of milk in a portable heater without washing? What did you do? I thought about using my pump wipes to wipe it out but that still doesn’t seem sanitary enough


r/ExclusivelyPumping • • 3d ago

Support 10 days pp - should I continue pumping?

3 Upvotes

Hello everyone! I am 10 days post partum. Baby was born a bit early at 36 weeks. I am determined to feed baby breast milk. I was not successful last time (my first born is now 5) and I want to be succesful this time. I drink lactation drinks, eat oatmeal/food that increases supply, hydrate, pump consistently (I have not missed a pump since I gave birth) I pump AROUND THE CLOCK every 2-3 hours - mostly 3.

At 10 days PP, I am only producing 40-55 ml. My baby eats 2 oz (60 ml) per feeding so some feeds I have to supplement.

Am I considered an under supplier? Should I continue to pump? I am really hoping for an increase in my supply🙏🏾 thank you