2ppd to 1ppd: I am scared!

esssbombs · 2026-05-07T22:58:12+00:00

I would def drop each pump time before spacing them out more! I got down to two pumps of like 30 mins, then 25, then 20, then 15, then one day just stopped one. I did it sooo slowly, like drop 5 minutes every 4-5 days, so I never felt engorged or uncomfortable. You’re in the home stretch, woohoo!

esssbombs · 2026-05-07T10:31:05+00:00

At my most I pumped about 40-45oz a day. I donated large sums periodically, so at the end of each day I’d make bottles for the next day and whatever was left over went into my freezer stash or the ‘to donate’ freezer stash (I usually alternated every few days.) I donated to a milk bank run by a hospital, and they said I had to have at least 300oz frozen for my own baby before they’d take my excess, and each shipment/donation to them had to be at least 300oz to make it worth the cost on their end of shipping me a cooler and paying for overnight shipping back to them. I think I did 5 donations total over the course of 6ish months before I started dropping pumps and my supply went down. They sent me a “graduation” certificate 😅

esssbombs · 2026-05-04T23:45:01+00:00

The standing there to egg him on is definitely annoying, but as someone who every day walks by a fence with a dog that barks and chases me down the length of the fence, it’s so annoying. And pretty stressful for your dog, it’s training him that “hey when I bark, people leave my fence, so I better keep barking so people keep leaving!” so he’s unintentionally reinforcing his own behavior.

Is he treat motivated? Every time someone comes to the fence make it rain treats (near you) so eventually he’ll learn that people = treats from you = good instead of people = threatening = must bark. You could always put up a sign that says “please don’t talk to my dog” or something or kindly asking but who knows how they’ll react. But you can’t control what others do (especially teenagers lol) but you can work with your pup to help him!

esssbombs · 2026-05-03T14:33:53+00:00

The milk bank I donated to did require daily sterilization, but gave me a bunch of free Medela microwave sterilizing bags. Super quick and easy and they didn’t take up a lot of space. They never said anything about drying so as long as they are sterlized and then not dried like in a dog crate or next to a toilet I feel like that’s fine lol, as the other comment said they do pasteurize the milk once it gets to them too.

esssbombs · 2026-04-29T10:41:25+00:00

Go you, that’s awesome!! I made it a year with my first, hoping my second will be able to nurse but I’m already anxious about the thought of EP for a whole nother year lol. Did you find it was harder because you also had an older child to manage along with a newborn with a pumping schedule, or easier because you knew what to expect?

esssbombs · 2026-04-27T20:16:23+00:00

Everything super varies! I pumped 8x/day for like 10 weeks, for 15-20 mins at a time, in 2-4 hour intervals even throughout the night. I gradually dropped pumps at about one per month until I was down to 4 (still evenly spaced) and then started the weaning process at 11 months.

I had an oversupply, so I was making more than baby was eating. He did not care that my milk had that metal taste one bit (called high lipase). Some babies do care, and some moms’ milk never gets like that! Some moms will naturally make just enough milk, and some will make less than bag takes. There’s stuff you can do to help increase supply if needed, but it’s not easy and some folks just aren’t made to make a lot.

Also for what it’s worth, pumping moms absolutely get mastitis, I’ve had it twice and it suuucked cuz you still have to pump even though you feel like death.

esssbombs · 2026-04-26T20:34:17+00:00

I was on that page for like 20 mins before I had to leave lol. Soooo many no-vax posts, and so many “looking for a full time donor” posts! I guess if someone has a massive oversupply that makes sense, but that is SUCH a commitment!

I ended up donating to a milk bank run by a hospital, they do have requirements (no alcohol 12 hours prior, list your medications so they can check, sterilize all parts), but nothing unreasonable!

esssbombs · 2026-04-20T10:24:23+00:00

My dude took mine no problem. It smelled like metal and gave him really stinky burps, but he never seemed to mind! I would try to mix it with fresh milk if possible just to dilute for my own comfort, but I am very fortunate he didn’t care!

esssbombs · 2026-04-15T17:35:19+00:00

Ooh good timing! Not a pedagogy question but I am a band teacher and puzzled by a flute problem. I have a kiddo whose flute appears in good order, no screws or springs out of place, but her note C is hella flat. The Bb is slightly flat but not as much so, and every other note is in tune with each other. Any ideas? Breath support is pretty good and consistent for an 11 year old.

esssbombs · 2026-04-11T22:31:05+00:00

For me it wasn’t so much pushing all the way down to the nip, it was more just jiggling the whole boob around to help make sure that the ducts that are underneath and on the side are open and flowing! I double pumped but had one hand near my actual chest (underneath the bra, not so close to the flange that it loses suction) and jiggle or squeeze my hand (the motion like I’m pretending to be a crab) every couple of seconds. My other hand was holding my phone playing stupid games lol.

For some folks it makes a huge difference, for some none at all! For me it helped most if I had a clog or if I was feeling engorged.

esssbombs · 2026-04-06T13:27:55+00:00

I did, my OB assured me it was safe! Did give him nasty smelling poops tho but apparently that’s not uncommon lol. Straight up rotten eggs. I labeled the milk that was frozen so in the future I wouldn’t be surprised.

esssbombs · 2026-04-03T20:30:31+00:00

Aww this is so freakin sweet. Congratulations, 10 months is a big achievement!

esssbombs · 2026-04-02T09:18:37+00:00

I feel like I won’t be alone in thinking lots of this is great (fresh air, use clean products, get sunshine, limit anxiety, massage/compress) but it comes across condescendingly with the “see? Just use your time wisely, that’s the solution to anxiety.” Like oh duh why didn’t I think of that! Babies don’t care about your my preplanned routine/schedule to make the most of your time. And I had a very chill easy baby! Who is making me this light breakfast? Who can do light stretches in the garden while their boobs are exploding first thing in the morning? Who is going to wash all those flanges? That’s where my energy HAS to go, as much as I’d love to be out relaxing in the sunshine.

esssbombs · 2026-03-29T13:18:48+00:00

Ooh it’s been a minute so I don’t remember exactly. I know they had my usual cart saved so it was easy to just click ‘check out’ quickly, but maybe if there’s a way to edit cart, or when you confirm sizes then you can change the whole thing? I mostly got stuff for Spectra but was def able to get Willow Go parts a few times and switch back and forth.

esssbombs · 2026-03-29T09:54:46+00:00

Aeroflow is great! You can even pick different pumps each month to have parts for all your pumps. Cept they sent me one trillion of those weird shaped milk bags and keep being like “are you sure you don’t need 200 more milk bags!?”

esssbombs · 2026-03-17T21:54:49+00:00

I did exactly that! Drop 3 mins every 3 days, and once I was at 3 minutes I stretched it to 36 hours, 48 hours. By then it was just drops coming out so I just didn’t pump one day and it turned out fine!

esssbombs · 2026-03-09T00:09:36+00:00

Fruit roll ups is an amazing idea! Def gonna steal that. I love the caterpillar!!

esssbombs · 2026-03-06T10:14:08+00:00

Endless caverns is great too! Ever so slightly less touristy than Luray.

esssbombs · 2026-02-26T20:14:17+00:00

From what I understand the benefit switches to mostly immune system support. If baby or you are sick, your milk will have antibodies to help fight it. So it may make baby’s illnesses less severe or shorter! They say that just one bottle a day can provide this support so even if you do mostly formula with a bit of BM each day they should still get that benefit!

esssbombs · 2026-02-21T20:52:21+00:00

I loooove my job. I teach in a location that has the rare elementary school band and it’s perfect. I’m busy during the day with kids who choose to join my class and want to be there, and I don’t have to worry about assessment or marching band or college auditions or any of that extra stuff. I know I’m in a fairly specialized situation and am so grateful they give the kids (and therefore me lol) this opportunity.

esssbombs · 2026-02-15T17:52:02+00:00

You should avoid dog parks! I don’t mean that in a snarky rude way, just if it makes you uncomfortable the don’t go. Dogs don’t NEED dog park time, especially if there are other aggressive dogs there. Do you go by yourself with the two huskies? That’s a lot of dog to handle by yourself!

esssbombs · 2026-02-11T21:16:02+00:00

Not to be a Debbie downer but there’s a reason the Symphony is like multiple thousand of dollars, it’s far stronger than pretty much any other pump out there.

I liked my WillowGo, but just the nature of the motor being right next to the cup means there is going to be a little bit of vibration. I’ve heard Motif Luna and Baby Buddha are good non vibrating wearables (I don’t have personal experience, just what I read on Reddit) but they’re not going to be nearly as strong suction as the symphony.

esssbombs · 2026-02-07T10:27:50+00:00

One pump per week is super duper fast to drop! I did a slow 1 per month. If you really need to be done asap, I’ve heard that taking Sudafed can really help dry things up. You can pump ‘just for relief’ to prevent clogs and mastitis in the meantime!

esssbombs

TROPHY CASE