Moms who pump....

[VillainV]

Not sure what I'm looking for here, except maybe hair pats.

I hate pumping. HATE it. I pump four times a day (when I wake up, twice at work, and before bed) and get enough for daycare bottles plus maybe 10-15 ounces a week to freeze. I BF 3-4 times a day in addition.

I can't vocalize what it is I hate so much about pumping...it just...sucks. Every time I have to pump, I dread it. At first it was fine, but after a few months, it's not "fun" anymore (not that it was ever a blast, but I at least liked seeing how much volume I could pump). It's not painful or uncomfortable, and my supply is fine so I'm not stressed about that. I just don't like it.

The only thing keeping me going is knowing that it's providing food for C and that it's good for him. I'm not ready to wean, and while I don't mind formula, I prefer to give him breast milk. My goal is to get to one year.

We'll probably start on solids soon, but I've heard that it really doesn't decrease milk intake much.

Can anyone give me some mental strategies to help make pumping more bearable?

[Ashley&Scott]

What are you doing while you pump? Playing on your phone, reading a book, watching tv. I found doing something fun kept me sane. In the beginning I just stared at the wall, which sucked.

[andthentherewere10]

I pump 3 times a day. Do you always need the evening pump? Id drop it. I frequently eat lunch at my desk so sometimes I gbcn while pumping so i look forward to that. Otherwise i just work while I pump with my handsfree bra. I guess I'm lucky that i can pump in my office. Do you have to go to another location? I could see dreading it.

[VillainV]

Sept 26, 2014 16:13:09 GMT -5 Ashley&Scott said:

What are you doing while you pump? Playing on your phone, reading a book, watching tv. I found doing something fun kept me sane. In the beginning I just stared at the wall, which sucked.

At work I read a book (no computer in the room I pump in, and no cell phones allowed in that part of the building). At home I mess around on my phone or iPad.

I think I hate stopping what I'm doing, going into another room, setting everything up...and I have lipase issues, so I also have to scald everything (I scald work-milk when I get him)....just the whole "process."

[VillainV]

Sept 26, 2014 16:15:56 GMT -5 @mrswindycity said:

Do you work while you are pumping or can you take an official break? When I pumped at work the second time around, I picked some series on Netflix I'd never seen (or ones I really liked) and watched as I pumped, which helped a lot. Can you eliminate the before-bed pump? I always hated that one, especially, because I felt like it kept me up later than I wanted to be, and it was usually not for much, oz.-wise.

I'd like to eliminate either the before-bed pump or the wake-up pump, but I worry that I'll get uncomfortable going that long without feeding or pumping. And I'm not sure that I'd get enough milk if I drop a session.

[SJ]

I just finished Day 2 of pumping at work and I hate it.

I have my own office with a locking door and a fridge and it's still awful. We have a very "open door" culture and I think it's just so awkward when I have to shut my door and pump. It's a small firm and yesterday was the first time in 8 years my door was shut. I also have to basically strip naked in order to put on my pumping bra.

I pumped twice yesterday at work and three times today and there was basically no difference in total output. I have bad supply so I'm pumping just for one bottle (4-5 oz) to send the next day.

[laurack]

I agree that dropping the pre bed pump would probably help your mental state a lot with regard pumping. Pumping before bed to make up the last couple oz fills me with rage at the pump. Not much comes out, but you still use the parts and the time ...

It sounds like you have a decent stash already and dropping the bed session may just mean you can't stash any more but still meet the baby's needs

I read a book while I am pumping which helps. Like you there is nothing per se about it that bothers or hurts me, I just feel like all day every day of work I have this hanging over me "got to pump, mustn't forget to pump" etc.

[winemaker06]

I wish I was any help, but I'm right there with you. And my supply has started dropping all of a sudden, so it's even more important than ever to keep it up with pumping.

I'm just trying to be okay giving formula if I need to after going through my freezer stash. But I have a hard time justifying it when the milk is there, it's just my laziness and not wanting to pump more often that causes issues. The one thing I have been doing is a MOTN pump on one weekend night, and that usually gives me some extra to help through the week. But if you're getting extra, that's good, hopefully it will help you build up a stash so you can quit pumping earlier.

[Deleted]

Replace the pre-bed pump with a dream feed.
Give yourself permission to pump less and supplement if needed.

Pumping at home is just a LOT on top of pumping at work, especially if you have to scald. I'd let go of trying to build a stash, as well. There's no need to be adding to the freezer every single week unless you, personally, really really really never want to supplement. Ever.

[VillainV]

Sept 26, 2014 16:40:59 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

Replace the pre-bed pump with a dream feed.
Give yourself permission to pump less and supplement if needed.

Pumping at home is just a LOT on top of pumping at work, especially if you have to scald. I'd let go of trying to build a stash, as well. There's no need to be adding to the freezer every single week unless you, personally, really really really never want to supplement. Ever.

I have some out of town work trips coming up, so that's what the freezer stash is for.

[greycat]

I would drop the pump before bed. It probably gives you the lowest yield anyway. Many people drop another session as they get closer to a year.

DS's milk consumption didn't go down until he started eating a significant amount of solids at 13-14 months.

I started supplementing around 6 mo with DS and it was the best thing I ever did. I could no longer keep up with his intake and didn't want to add another pumping session (I was already doing 4). I felt much less stressed about pumping and continued to BF on demand on the weekend.

It's tough. Just know you are doing great! Hugs!

[Velar Fricative]

I say try cutting the pre-bed pump and see if that helps your sanity. If your supply drops, you can always add it back. Eventually you will go longer between feeds/pumps so might as well try it now!

I never minded pumping but once I started supplementing with formula (despite at-home pumping before then), I only pumped at work so that made it more bearable. And I had no lipase issues but I can only imagine how much more annoying that would be. So I say let go of the pre-bed pump and assess after a few days. Maybe that's all you'll need to do to get out of the mental rut!

[ringstrue]

I feel like that is a lot. With DD I pumped 3 times/day and then switched to just twice a day after talking to moms on here. When DD sttn I was only nursing 1-2 times a day during the weekday.

If you want extra milk for the freezer, add one pumping session to a weekend day. 2-3 pumping a day should be fine for maintaining supply during the week.

[chicago]

No suggestions, just commiseration. I feel like this every day. I recently had to add a fourth pump (I pump 3x at work) just to keep up with what she needs for daycare, and that's at the low end of average for babies her age. I hate pumping with a passion.

[Jalapeñomel]

Sorry, but I have grown to hate it too, and the closer I get to a year, the more I loathe it.

[jackie011]

Right there with you!

I'm debating whether or not to get up early and pump tomorrow or leave formula for DS. I'll be out with my mom for part of the day. I know I have enough stashed milk for 2 bottles, but not 3.

[mae141]

I promised myself in the beginning that if I hated it I would stop. I'm not quite there yet, but I know it's coming soon. I think I'll cut back to one pump at work in a couple of weeks when DDs around 10 months and see how that goes. I am happy and proud of myself for getting this far. I hope to continue nursing her morning and night beyond a year and I figure some breastmilk is better than none. You have to do what keeps you sane.

[zarapipe]

I'm sorry,I hated it too yet I just couldn't make myself drop a session. This time I'm really going to try to not be like that and embrace supplementing if I need to. If you drop, yea you will be uncomfortable for a few days but your body will adjust

[blindyswife]

I also hated pumped SO MUCH. I resented that I was using my lunch/breaks for pumping, which meant I couldn't have lunch dates or go grab a coffee next door.

(Also- I haven't posted in forever, so HOLLA!)

[catbear]

I was doing the same pumping schedule as you… I personally don't mind pumping all that much, but 4x a day was getting unbearable and the feeding/pumping morning schedule made me a slave to the pump in the early morning (I'd get uncomfortably engorged without pumping). I cut the morning session and now just pump twice at work and once at the end of the night. I'm not a morning person so saving the time in the morning is more valuable to me than at night. I'm still pumping enough to cover daycare and even freeze some. On the weekends, I exclusively nurse but still have the nighttime pumping session.

[curbsideprophet]

I can understand wanting to build up a stash in prep for going out of town. I would probably try to drop one of the at home sessions once I was done with traveling.

[Deleted]

I'm right there with you. I only pump once at work though and pump right when I get home. Now I only get 3oz at work, but can get 8 oz right when I get back before I feed DD. I think pumping wouldn't be nearly as bad if it didn't involve washing and assembling and disassembling the damn pump. I kind of stopped pumping so much at home because I just got sick of it. Sadly, it is only the left boob that has suffered. Now I'm very lopsided...

[hockeywife]

I'm so sorry. I'm dealing with this too and having a huge mental struggle with it.

DH and talked about it this morning, actually. I'm giving myself "permission" to not pump so much.

For me, it's been affecting my mood, and frankly, my marriage bc I'm so quick to snap at DH. At this point, I'm not keeping up with DS's needs (by just a couple ozs) whereas before I had a crazy oversupply. The plan is to slowly supplement with the freezer stash and when that gets low, supplement with formula.

Have you tried setting small goals for yourself? Something like: I'll continue pumping until DC reaches X (eg 1 month old than he currently is). And then reevaluate?

[VillainV]

Okay, I think I'll try dropping the night-time session for now and see if I can still get enough for DC. That's the one that I hate the most, and it does have the lowest yield...

hockeywife, I hadn't really thought about small goals, but that's a good idea. I want to BF until at least a year. I love actually breastfeeding, and want to do that for as long as I can. I don't mind the occasional bottle of formula, and I don't think I'd mind sending formula to daycare instead of breast milk, as long as I could still breastfeed at home in the morning/evening and on weekends. I know that there are ladies who successfully do this, but I worry if I cut way back on pumping that my supply will tank and I won't be able to BF anymore, and I'm SO not ready for that.

[mae141]

Sept 27, 2014 16:23:59 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Okay, I think I'll try dropping the night-time session for now and see if I can still get enough for DC. That's the one that I hate the most, and it does have the lowest yield...

hockeywife, I hadn't really thought about small goals, but that's a good idea. I want to BF until at least a year. I love actually breastfeeding, and want to do that for as long as I can. I don't mind the occasional bottle of formula, and I don't think I'd mind sending formula to daycare instead of breast milk, as long as I could still breastfeed at home in the morning/evening and on weekends. I know that there are ladies who successfully do this, but I worry if I cut way back on pumping that my supply will tank and I won't be able to BF anymore, and I'm SO not ready for that.

That's basically the only reason I even started pumping, lol. I wish someone would bring me DD during the day and I could BF and then get back to work. 

[JayhawkGirl]

Dropping the bedtime pump was a HUGE mental boost for me. To end my day, crawl into bed dog tired and not have one last "chore" did wonders for my outlook.