Breastfeeding/ Pumping

[Thirteen]

My perspective is a little skewed, since I SAH.
When I pumped, I felt like I never really expressed as much milk as when I let DS go to breast. He is 10 1/2 mos., and we still feed 5x in a 24 hr period (trying to drop that night feeding).
My experience is that breastfeeding is very hard - there's nothing "easy" about it, and god forbid you feel guilty about making such a personal choice about when to be done. (I say that, and yet... ). If I worked, I'm not very sure I would have lasted as long: lazy nursing, bad latch, recurring mastitis, engorgement, overactive letdown, clogged ducts, etc. are very discouraging and painful. I think I remember having a "we're going to make it!" feeling around 6 weeks, but the "we've got this down" feeling didn't come until he was about 3-4 months old. The breastfeeding relationship is still an ever-changing one, since developmental milestones can also become speed bumps in the path (rolling around, popping off and on, biting with teeth).
Whatever you decide, let it be for you (and not anyone else). You have support here, whatever you choose!
If you are determined to stick it out for a while, I also recommend finding an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), and a breastfeeding support group (check out your local La Leche League, or perhaps a free support group that meets at a local hospital or clinic).
It also never hurts to have a second opinion if your LacCon is not someone you "click" with.

[ides]

I'm really impressed with your pumping! I pumped a bit but not exclusively. I had an over active letdown which was difficult. I ended up breastfeeding exclusively until my son was a little over 2 yrs.

[SoonerTexan]

Okay a little hijack here...

Can anyone see anything microbiologically wrong with using the same pump parts for a day and putting them in the fridge on plate between uses? I've been doing that because it saves big time on washings, but I want to make sure I'm not contaminating my kiddos milk!

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Okay a little hijack here...

Can anyone see anything microbiologically wrong with using the same pump parts for a day and putting them in the fridge on plate between uses? I've been doing that because it saves big time on washings, but I want to make sure I'm not contaminating my kiddos milk!

Good question and smart thinking

[Finding Equanimity]

I am also very impressed with your pumping! I pump at work and breastfeed at home. I hate the pumping, but I love breastfeeding and my son refuses all brands of formula, so I'm stuck until he's 12 months old. He is 10 months now.

I think there is always a love-hate relationship with pumping. On the one hand, like you, I get so excited when my supply is high. On the other hand, I hate having to dedicate my lunch hour to sitting next to a machine in the server room, pumping and eating lunch (my office doesn't lock so I have to go somewhere with a lock). I hate how everyone looks at my chest as I walk out of the server room. And I hate when my supply is low!

On the other hand, I love the connection I get with my son (and my daughter when she was a baby) because I'm his source of comfort and nourishment. Even though he loves food, he looks to me for comfort. Oh, and the other motivator is the cost. When I buy a can of formula, I realize how much I'm saving by pumping!

Anyway, this is just to say, keep up the good work and you can do it! But also, like others have said, do what feels right for YOU. If it's not working for you, don't force yourself or be hard on yourself.

On the other hand, you should feel confident that it can be done, even if it's super annoying and hard. I have a friend who exclusively pumped for her son until he was 1 year old, and now she has twin girls and exclusively pumps for them. I'm in awe of her doing it, but she reminds me that it can be done!!

[Bittersweet]

ST, that's what I did when I worked full-time. Not sure how kosher it was but it sure saved a ton of time.

[Finding Equanimity]

I stored the pump equipment in the fridge too. I felt fine with it from a cleanliness perspective. The only thing I noticed was I'd have to give the parts a rinse either immediately after pumping or after storing, because the milk would dry on the flap part (hard to describe), and it would prevent the suction from being as effective.

[SoonerTexan]

Okay, so I'm not the only "lazy" (ha!) pumping mom here! I hate washing and keeping track of those suckers!

[Michele]

Once D was cleared for it, that's what I did. But when I worked part time and only pumped once I found it easier to rinse them thoroughly before packing them away to bring home and wash. It was easier to keep them clean if I rinsed right away.

[Michele]

Oh I should point out its ok as long as you are adding a lesser volume of warm milk to a greater volume of cold milk. Otherwise the warm milk raises the temperature of the batch to a potentially unsafe/microbiologically-active level.

[Lala]

Oh I should point out its ok as long as you are adding a lesser volume of warm milk to a greater volume of cold milk. Otherwise the warm milk raises the temperature of the batch to a potentially unsafe/microbiologically-active level.

Do you mean in a bottle? I was thinking that the question about storing them in the fridge was just about the pumping supplies, but I assumed the expressed milk would be put in a bottle after pumping, and you'd just be storing the supplies in the fridge without cleaning them first. Now I'm confused!

I've also heard things about storing the pumping supplies in the fridge between pumping sessions so you don't have to wash them. That seems like a great idea, but I've never tried it. Maybe I should!!

[SoonerTexan]

I think Michele was just pointing out another time-saving fact I do use separate bottles for each pumping session and consolidate later when they are all the same temp.

[Lala]

Thanks, everyone for all the support and encouragement! It is sooooo appreciated. You ladies are awesome, and it seems that every one of you (whether you breastfed for a long or short time) has worked tremendously hard at the breastfeeding, and you should feel great about yourselves. I am in awe!

Also, as much as pumping is ridiculously time consuming and annoying, and as much as I was so sad about not being successful at breastfeeding at first, I have to say that the pumping has its advantages, in that I don't have to worry about learning to breastfeed discreetly in public. I don't know how people do it so well, but I would have found that super tricky, and because I am a very modest, private person, I think I would have been afraid to leave the house, for fear that I would have to breastfeed in public!

[Lala]

I think Michele was just pointing out another time-saving fact I do use separate bottles for each pumping session and consolidate later when they are all the same temp.

Oooh, okay, thanks for clarifying! How many times will you use the same set of supplies before washing them? I think you are totally on to something here that I wish I had known about sooner!

[ladymoreta]

I don't know how people do it so well, but I would have found that super tricky, and because I am a very modest, private person, I think I would have been afraid to leave the house, for fear that I would have to breastfeed in public!

I am also not really comfortable breastfeeding in public. I usually go out to the car... And I use a nursing cover out there!

My "rules" are hilarious, even to me. I'll nurse in the same room, covered, with any females. I'll nurse in the same room, covered, with my dad only if he's watching TV. I'll nurse in the same room, covered, with other dads if their wives are present and their wives also breastfed. I'm a dork...