Should I continue to exclusively pump?

Scott_Jessica1stbaby

Hi ladies. Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I just found out I am pregnant. I am approximately 5 weeks. I currently have a daughter who will be 7 months old on the 13. I exclusively pump every 2 hours. I am exhausted and am barely getting any milk. I have recently started supplementing with Similac Sensitive formula. Should I continue to exclusively pump or is it just going to drain me even more. I feel guilty stopping, but I also am afraid that continuing is going to wear me down and suck up any energy that I do have. I would appreciate your opinions and advice. Thank you.

Bahamamama4828

You don't have to necessarily stop. Will baby latch at all? Yes 7 mo is good to pump!

Scott_Jessica1stbaby

@bahamamama4828 She latches great. I started exclusively pumping because for some reason no matter how hard I tried or how often I was never able to get her to nurse from both breasts, so I ended up having to pump anyhow. I guess my main concern is wearing myself down. I don't want to put to much stress on my body.

Scott_Jessica1stbaby

@mom2ing Thank you. It feels good hearing that.

Bahamamama4828

Oh gotcha! Mine doesn't nurse both sides either so I alternate each feeding.
You always have the choice to stop and I know pumping is exhausting I did it with a preemie. It is a little less tiring just nursing lol. As long as your diet is good its a OK.
Congrats!

mommyfor3

When @Fate first got pregnant she said her supply went down and then came back if I remember correctly. You don't have to stop unless you choose to

Scott_Jessica1stbaby

@mommyfor3 Thank you. I hope you are right and it does come back. It feels silly to even bother pumping right now because it is so low, but I don't want to give up just yet if I don't have to.

candy101

I did the pumping thing for 2.5 months, but i realized I got much more milk if I pumped every 3-4 hours instead. I know everyone tells u that your milk is going to dry out if u don't pump every two hours. I have donated several hundred ouces and still have a freezer full. My baby started to latch on at 2.5 months but never does a full feeding and if he does stay awake it is only long enough for one breast. Currently I pump 3 times a day and latch my baby on to the same breast 2-3 times usually at night. So b4 you stop completely you may want to try and pump less often. On average your body will produce an ounce an hour. If you pump every 2 hours u will only get about 2-3 ounces. Pumping caused me to Lover produce like crazy. But it was hell getting my milk to come in with a pump. My mother thought I was crazy, my husband felt helpless because I cried all the time; Iwas not getting AJ the milk he needed. We rented a hospital pump and I cut back on pumping and actually had extra. Good luck

EricaK22

My supply went way down when I got pregnant again. My sons 9 months, it does get uncomfortable, but you don't have to stop being pregnant.

Scott_Jessica1stbaby

@candy101 I think I will definitely try that. I amazed that you still have a great supply. That gives me hope.

Scott_Jessica1stbaby

@ericak22 Did your supply go back up or did it stay low? If it stays low I can deal with that just want to know what to expect, so I don't get upset or discouraged if it doesn't go back up. Also, do you recall about how long it took to go back up or even out if it did at all?

captivated

I say stick with it as long as you can (if you want to continue)! Just make sure you're vitamin intake is good and your diet even more now. When I got pregnant again, my supply almost disappeared. I was devastated. It is just now coming back

Scott_Jessica1stbaby

@captivated Thank you. Yeah, I hate to quit if I don't have to. Something is better than nothing.

candy101

With three pumps a day I pump between 6-10 ounces. But AJ still does his job over night lol. I would never ever have lasted 7 months doing it every 2 hours I was counting down the day to three months. You must be one determined woman. Good luck with your supply.

EricaK22

It took a few weeks for it to.come back, but didn't come back.much.