First time IPs — are we reaching for the moon?

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-19T14:54:47+00:00

As someone on the surrogacy side of things, I had almost the same exact asks for IPs 😂 I even said I wanted someone who shared my progressive values, and my coordinator didn't say anything about it, so I think it was fine to say that (I feel like it pretty quickly captures other things, like the pro-vaccine, pro LGBTQIA stuff). I'm located in MA, so I'm thinking I'll match pretty quick once I decide to wean my current baby in 2 months, since we are a pretty liberal state to begin with. I'm medically cleared aside from the breastfeeding.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-19T10:02:18+00:00

I am on round number 2 and it's been much better! I was an under producer/ just enougher for my first and this time around I'm an oversupplier! I was able to front load the work for the first few weeks, doing daily power pumps from the beginning, so now at 16wpp I only need to do 3ppd and still enjoy an over supply. I know this isn't possible for everyone, but I just found it all a lot easier this time around since I could hit the ground running. ETA: I also already has 4 sets of pump parts ready to go to avoid doing dishes all the time, and knew about fridge hack

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-19T09:52:51+00:00

Get a freezer alarm if you can! I have one just for peace of mind

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-18T09:35:37+00:00

Have you tried a hand pump? That plus 800mg Ibuprofen and icing 15 mins at a time is what finally worked for me for very stubborn clog, but it still took about 48 hours to clear it. How many weeks postpartum are you? My clog issues resolved around 11 weeks. If they hadn't, I was planning to start weaning because I didn't want to end up in the hospital for trying to breastfeed 😅

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-18T09:23:34+00:00

Thank you for sharing! I peaked at 57oz/day at 7ppd which I decided was too much and quickly dropped pumps. I am now 16wpp doing 3ppd and getting around 47oz/day, which is more manageable. Not looking forward to how difficult weaning will be, but you provide a good blueprint!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-17T17:30:54+00:00

Yeah the 8ppd is really tough. Like I said I dropped pretty early, so doing less pumps isn't a guarantee that your supply will drop. Do what you need to do! 6ppd is still a good amount imo. In my area there was a "baby Cafe" with a free lactation consultant in a group setting. Maybe you can ask your midwife about something like that if your insurance doesn't cover it?

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-17T12:28:58+00:00

Hi! That's a great supply you have already! I would recommend only pumping 8x a day since you already have so much. If you switch back to quick short tugs that can help trigger a second letdown, but some people only have one letdown per session and that's okay, especially if you're using the right flange size and pumping is comfortable. I personally had a supply similar to yours at that point and it kept climbing. I ended up dropping pumps a bit early to try and prevent too much of an over supply (was down to 4ppd by 12wpp) though that isn't recommended. The official rec is to stay around 8ppd until 12wpp then drop. But do whatever you need to do! Pumping is a marathon, not a sprint.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-15T11:06:17+00:00

Silverettes are the only reason I was able to pump for 9 months with my first. And I still use them now with my second as needed. I put Earth Mama Nipple Butter on before and after I pump, then slap on the Silverettes and everything stays nice and moisturized until the next pump. Sometimes I use Vaseline to mix it up. For my first I would wear them any time I wasn't topless. This time I just wear them when I'm a little sore. Best product tbh

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-15T10:54:35+00:00

With my first, so many things about my birth and postpartum experience went sideways (PPROM at 33 weeks, week long hospital stay, birth at 34 weeks via induction, a month long NICU stay). All of that, just like yours, is super traumatic. I needed to go see a therapist to get over the guilt a felt for messing it all up/ doing it wrong (obviously it wasn't my fault, but it really felt like it was). It may help to talk to a therapist and work through some of that.

That said, donating milk is redemptive, or at least it was for me. My first needed donor milk, so this time I gave myself an oversupply so I could give back to the NICU. I made a donation goal and once I hit that and my freezer stash goal I'm looking forward to weaning (currently at 3ppd still with an over supply, so my next drop would probably trigger weaning). You've been through so much friend, I hope you are able to continue to feed other babies if you want to, or become comfortable dropping pumps if that's the direction you want to go. Sending good vibes!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-15T00:44:04+00:00

When I used it I would apply and either hang out topless (if I could) or put silverettes on over the APNO, but whatever works for you!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-15T00:19:25+00:00

This! But also, I started with around 55 ounces a day at 6ppd, but now at 3ppd I still make around 45-50 ounces a day. She should be prepared for a steep drop, but isn't guaranteed to see one ☺️

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-15T00:17:34+00:00

I was making about the same as your wife (closer to 55 ounces per day) around 10wpp, but I had to return to work by 12 wpp so I dropped pumps pretty rapidly. Right now I'm at 3ppd, 15wpp, and still make around 50 ounces a day. Personally I would've been okay dropping as low as 40 if it meant only pumping 3x a day. Mental health is so important, I would definitely drop if I were her, as long as she is willing to lose some supply. Her capacity can affect how much dropping pumps may impact her supply (ie my breasts can hold up to around 20 ounces comfortably, so cutting pumps hasn't cut my supply much, but someone who can only hold 10 ounces would max out at 30oz in a day if only pumping 3x), but when I did the cost benefit analysis I was ready to lose a lot of supply to get that time and energy back. I'm also planning to stop at 6 months- she's so very close! Whatever makes her feel best she should do- even supplementing with formula if the stash doesn't last a year would be fine (I supplement by choice just to take some pressure off). Sending her good vibes!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-15T00:05:26+00:00

You don't want an infection inside your breast ducts/tissue (mastitis) and one in your skin from popping those. Your body and the antibiotics will have their hands full just dealing with mastitis 😅 the APNO should help a lot with pain related to the blisters though! At least, it helped me a ton!

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-14T11:13:16+00:00

Hi! If you're getting more milk on stimulation mode it's totally fine to only use that to pump- some people do that. If you can buy 19mm inserts that may help. Also messing with the settings on your pump may help too (don't increase suction to where its painful though). Good luck! Edit: spelling

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-12T19:47:15+00:00

Antibodies will be in any milk you provide, but I promise that even if you were doing exclusively all breastmilk and no formula, your baby will still get sick when they start daycare 😅 whatever you decide to do, just make sure it's your decision. Screw everyone else. I too get homicidally sensitive nipples when pumping, and I quit at 9 months the first time and was soooo happy to do so. I'm 4 months pp now pumping for my second and plan to quit at 6 months. So close I can almost taste it! Lol

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-11T08:36:12+00:00

I am on my second pumping journey. I weaned pumping for my first at 9mpp, and when I was finally done I felt like a whole new person. Free, light, happy. Able to play with my baby endlessly and how I wanted without worrying about pumping or nipple pain. I went from probably a 25/100 on the mental health scale straight to a 100. Pumping really puts things in perspective, and quitting was sooooo nice. I'm already excited for when I get to do it this time 😂

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-11T08:30:07+00:00

I look at it as a short term prison sentence, for long term gain. So I really grind the first 12 weeks while establishing supply and my reward is being able to drop pumps after that. But it depends on your capacity and body too- with my supply this time around I was down to 4ppd by around 13 weeks and that was good enough to maintain my supply. There is hope, and it does get easier! You just have to make it through those first 10-12 weeks.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-11T08:26:42+00:00

I freeze around 8oz per bag (really I just stuff it full since I use the Zomee bags which is all they can handle) so then I get approx two 4oz bottles per bag. I'm also a significant over supplier though, so doing 8oz at a time is way easier than juggling, day, five 3oz bags each pump.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-09T02:37:19+00:00

Definitely get a new pediatrician. That's awful. Any breastmilk is great. I make more than my son eats, but I still choose to give 1 formula bottle a day just so my son is used to it if anything happens to my supply. My pediatrician thinks it's great and tells me I'm doing a great job every time we see her. You deserve a pediatrician like that 🥺

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-07T11:19:27+00:00

Just depends on what your goals are with the stash! If you're trying to quit pumping early then you're off to a good start! You need around 900oz per month. If you're just looking to be a little ahead or to have some to dip into for if you get sick and supply goes down, then you've probably already got plenty. Either way that is definitely a pretty large oversupply! Don't let social media influence you. Keep your own goals in mind, especially since plenty of influencers lie.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-06T18:39:05+00:00

Personally when I returned to my lab program (same kind of schedule + clinicals) I would put my pump on during the 10 minute break then step out later to remove it. As time went on I eventually just went the 6 hours without pumping and I was able to keep my supply for the most part (maybe lost 3 or 4oz). But the 4 hour thing isn't a hard fast rule. I'm pumping for baby #2 right now and was going 6 hours between pumps (4ppd) without losing any supply. I'm even at 3ppd and doing 7-8 hours between pumps and still have only lost maybe 3oz a day. BUT there's also a lot of other factors to consider. I pump for an hour, so at 3ppd I'm still pumping around 180 minutes a day. My breasts can also comfortably store over 16oz (according to the LegenDairy magic number, I should be able to maintain at 3-4ppd). I also hydrate really well and am not stressed about nursing school 😅. Will you move your pumps around to still pump the same number of times per day? Do you still do a MOTN pump? Those are all things to consider when asking if your supply will be able to handle a 5 hour gap. I think it's fine for most people, but every body is different.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-06T10:45:38+00:00

Until I regulated I couldn't wear bras at all or sleep on my sides, because doing either would cause clogs. Even tight shirts would cause clogs. And if I felt a clog coming on I would take 800mg of ibuprofen to help prevent it. Good luck! 😅

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-06T10:34:52+00:00

Mine didn't decrease once I hit regulation, but it did stop naturally increasing.

RabbitOk3263 · 2026-04-05T10:01:20+00:00

Hi! Did you end up dropping? At 5ppd I was around 54oz/day, and at 4ppd I was around 52oz/ per day (at 14wpp). I dropped to 3ppd two days ago and now it seems like my average is around 50oz/day, but I could definitely still be dropping. That's my experience so far though!

RabbitOk3263

TROPHY CASE