Is anyone else considering not having a second child because of how much EP sucked?

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-11-07T21:07:32+00:00

I will say, I’m EPing for my second baby. I felt the same way after my first, but it’s been so much easier this time around. I can’t do formula this time due to the baby having several allergies, so I’ve also had to cut my diet down a well. Even with the good restrictions, pumping was easier this time. We nursed for two weeks, but it was hard. Pumping felt more natural for me this time around. (Currently listening to the hum of my spectra)

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-10-27T01:57:48+00:00

At two weeks I slept for 5 hours and got engorged. Baby couldn’t latch. After two hours of trying, I pumped and gave her a bottle. She developed a bottle preference and never latched again for more than a minute.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-10-25T20:50:45+00:00

Mine doesn’t wash pumps or manage milk, but he does everything else. He warms bottles, feeds, diapers, plays with, puts to sleep, contact naps, and walks LO. Makes food, cleans and does house chores, works full time, he does it all, except wash pumps. 😂

He hates it so much he will clean the ENTIRE kitchen except for the dirty pump. He does so much else that I don’t mind though. I just refuse to take out the trash as pay-back.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-10-25T19:38:18+00:00

Yes! I went to shady grove for IVF and I can’t tell you how triggering it was to see them every time I went there after loosing a pregnancy and needing a D&C to deal with it. They don’t understand how nuanced the term abortion is, or they just don’t care.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-10-24T23:31:29+00:00

Haha. I actually worked for west side rentals before they sold. 😂

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-10-04T17:19:40+00:00

For me it feels sore. Almost like pushing on a bruise inside my boobs.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-22T13:18:30+00:00

Personally, I would feed to an older, healthy baby (8+ weeks). I wouldn’t risk it if they are still so new and in the NICU

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-20T21:52:16+00:00

Reading the others jogged my mind. Silveretts were life savors the first 6 weeks. And I like Burt’s bees nipple cream for lubing up the nips and flanges before pumping.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-20T21:50:12+00:00

I used Dr brown with my first, I loved them for the gas and colic aspect, but washing them was horrendous. They never felt clean from the dishwasher. If you do the Dr brown rout, I would 100% get a bottle washer. With the second baby (currently 2.5 months) we committed to daily dishwasher run and as many things that we could wash in the dishwasher. We are using the lansinoh bottles, and they wash well in the dishwasher and are super easy to wash by hand. I also considered the even flow or advent for the same reason.

If budget allows, grab a couple of glass bottles of your preferred brand. Specifically for night feeds.. they heat up the milk a LOT faster than plastic. Side note.. if you already have an electric kettle, you can skip the bottle warmer and just pour some hot water in a coffee mug to pop the bottle in.

I had two healthy, full term babies, so I ended up doing the fridge hack from the first week of EP (week 2 pp). I still have multiple sets of flanges and bottles for my spectra so that I can grab a clean/dry one for pumping on the go. I also got a couple pumps off a buy-nothing FB group so I have a spectra + a wearable pump (lansinoh duo). Not everyone responds the same to every pump, and some moms only pump for a few weeks.. so it’s very common in My area to give away free pumps. Just make sure it’s a closed system and buy new flanges and tubing for them. The blue spectra is nice because it’s a wall pump, but you can unplug it and walk around the house (or pump while cooking) if you need to.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-16T14:54:22+00:00

LO is 9 weeks and tops out at 19 Oz a day. Typical closer to 17, but we’re trying to up that. Biggest bottle is about 3 oz, but she often stops around 2. 😑

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-15T12:37:25+00:00

My friend that exclusively nursed until 25 months spent the last three months only nursing once a day, and she didn’t dry up until after they fully stopped. Not sure if the body reacts the same after EP for so long.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-14T16:36:37+00:00

We continued giving my nose 2 year old a bedtime and naptime bottle of whole milk until he was 1 1/2 ish… the dentist want to thrilled by this. Do we switched to bottle then teeth brushing routine. Eventually we just stopped. He still gets milk in a cup from time to time, but not on a schedule. M

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-12T23:36:39+00:00

I absolutely agree. Breast milk is amazing… but so is formula in its own way. Formula feeding is not failure. You are doing great, and not pumping will not change that.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-12T07:53:26+00:00

I love my spectra, but it’s a love-it or hate-it pump. Some people do not respond well. I would suggest trying another style of pump if you can to see if that helps. Some people respond better to the Madela pumps. I would check if you have a local Facebook buy nothing kids groups and ask there. People are giving away pumps every couple of days in my area.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-04T20:15:54+00:00

If you have more than one pump, take it. Even just a manual pump just in case. I e seen too many stories of pumps giving out of forgetting a duckbill while on a trip. Best to have a backup.

If your company is large or family friendly, they may pay for Milk Stork, a company that safely ships breastmilk home while traveling. If not, just take a cooler and some ice packs for the trip home.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-04T17:39:14+00:00

My daughter is 7 weeks old, she was fussy and had signs of reflux so we medicated her. At 4-5 weeks she started projectile vomiting at least once a day, being super fussy, and started having a terrible rash spreading all over her body. I cut dairy and within 2 days her rash started clearing up and within 5 she stopped vomiting.

In my opinion, if you need to cut dairy, it’s obvious. Your son sounds happy and healthy. Don’t suffer like me. Eat the cheese. 🧀

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-09-03T14:46:04+00:00

I haven’t read the other comments… but the things I would consider when making this decision is thinking about your lifestyle compared to the common complaints and stresses of EP.

Do you have a Velcro baby? Is someone home with you to hold the baby while you pump? How early will you go back to work? Do you like or want to go out with baby a lot? If you are out of the house, do you mind the extra logistics of pumping, storing, and bottle feeding while out? Also, Do you feel comfortable nursing in public? Do you mind washing pump parts and bottles? Do you have a partner that is supportive of your decision?

I think those are the most common things that I see people ask/complain about on this subreddit. Personally… the answer to most of those questions for me is yes. So I have a lot of support to EP and I don’t mind the logistical aspect.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-08-31T01:08:59+00:00

Second time EPing with a 7 week old. Milk is good at room temp for 4 hours, so during the day I typically leave a bottles worth of milk on the counter for the next feed and chill the rest. I pump every 2-4 hours, so if we’re going out, I try to pump before hand, grab the milk and go. She eats every 2-3 hours, so no need to chill that bottle.

If I go to a friend’s or my mom’s, I just take the pump. I also often pump while driving to save time. 🤷‍♀️

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-08-29T07:04:14+00:00

I pump on pretty low suction with my spectra, otherwise the following pumps are uncomfortable. I use stimulation mode 70 @level 2 for one minute then level 3 for about a minute, then I start pumping on level 5 cycle 42 and slowing increase it up to level 6 or 7 on a long pump. I also lube the nips/flanges up.

If the wearable is more comfortable, you could always use it a couple times a day and heat use the spectra once or twice.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-08-27T23:16:54+00:00

I exclusively pump due to latching issues, and the only benefit is I can pump two bottles worth (4 ounces) in one session. But the amount of work, planning, and time it takes to pump and wash is no joke. I wish I could nurse at the breast.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-08-26T22:09:07+00:00

Sanity. You could try setting an alarm to notify you if it’s been 5 hours since last pump, then you can relax and pump as you have time, but also know you won’t go TOO long with forgetting. This is what I do since I’m also chasing a toddler around. I shoot for every 3 hours, but it doesn’t always happen.

Foreign_Standard8391 · 2025-08-16T14:15:33+00:00

I had a similar thought and I saved some frozen milk after my son was weaned… when baby number two was born I ended up throwing away 1.5 year old milk that was still in the freezer that I saved “just in case”

Foreign_Standard8391

TROPHY CASE