Pumping sucks

[Deleted]

There is no point to this. I just hate it so much. But I'm having a hard time rationalizing quitting. DS is doing great, he still likes to nurse when we're together, and I get enough milk (just barely). Plus with his reflux I really don't want to rock the boat. Last night I couldn't will myself to do it, so I fell asleep on the sofa and woke up and pumped at midnight. But skipping would have meant I was way short today. Blegh.

[Velar Fricative]

Same, and I've only been pumping at work for less than a week. Even with 4 20-minute sessions, I'm not pumping what she drinks while I'm gone, so I have to add a pump before I go to sleep and even then I've only gotten exactly enough for the next day bottles once (last night). I'm giving the galactagogues some time to work as well as crossing my fingers that the extra nursing sessions she wants when we're together will help boost my supply, but it really does suck.

Not to mention, including all the organizing I do with all my pumping shit for each session, I'm away from my desk for almost 2 hours. I bring my phone so I can write e-mails and stuff while pumping, but it's already a burden on my work. I'd love to be able to pump only 3 times but it will likely reduce my supply and my long commute doesn't help matters either. I'll do this for as long as possible but eventually something will give and I'm already researching supplementing for when the time comes. But even when I supplement, I feel like I'll still have to pump just as much for a while, ugh. I can't rationalize quitting either, I just can't. Maybe one day I will but not now.

So hugs to you and all the pump-haters.

[CrazyLucky]

Oh, I totally understand you. I made it to 1 year with both kids. When I was down to the last month of pumping at work, I started a countdown. I hated pumping. What a pain.
Now that I'm done though, I'm very glad I stuck it out and did it.

[countthestars]

I HATE PUMPING TOO. Eff this pump.

[ssmjlm]

Pumping is the suck, the huge huge suck. I hate it. I had said to DH I wanted to pump extra while I was off over the holidays, but then I never did b/c I just wanted to enjoy my time off. DH said he was glad to not have to wash all the parts.

But I've made it almost 9m. I can't wait to start tapering off sessions. I can't wait to be free.

[glauren]

Another pump hater checking in. We supplement with about 50% formula and I pump twice a day to get 6oz total on a GOOD day. I almost wish I didn't enjoy nursing so much so I could just give up.
Velar Fricative that's one of my biggest issues - my job requires a good amount of spontaneity and I feel like my work productivity is suffering because I'm tied to my stupid pump. And I'm only pumping 2x/day!
When I'm done pumping for good I plan on going full-on Office Space on my pump.

[Deleted]

I hated pumping but my rationalization at work was that I had 20 minutes, 2x a day to Facebook, GBCN or just close my eyes for a couple of minutes :-)

[lmb5109]

Right there with you! I thought I was done and just able to nurse morning & night but DD has decided she's done nursing so I'm back to pumping 3 times a day do she can have BM through the flu season, it fucking sucks!!

[cincodemayo]

It just really blows to live and die by that damn pump. Like the overall happiness in my day is defined by the ounces I produced. And I refuse to pump 3x a day at work, I just can't. My nips get so sore too.

[yellowbrkrd]

I hear ya! I loath the pump. It especially sucks because we are so busy at work and I have to get up and leave in the middle of something because our pump room is booked solid. I am sure my co-workers hate me because of it.

[Deleted]

It really does. Of all the possible things to not look forward to with an infant it is pumping I am dreading! And I won't even be going back to work until 5/6 months so It isn't as though I have to worry about it anytime soon. I just hate it that much.

[AmyRI]

DD is 1 year and 2 days old and it's killing me inside to still be pumping.  I hate it, too.

[tigress]

Yes pumping sucks. You are doing great!

I read the post title as "pumping socks" not "pumping sucks". I was wondering WTH pumping socks were and why someone would need them lol.

[halfpint]

Pumping is the worst. It's a large factor in my decision to leave my job. It's such a huge stressor for me - am I pumping enough, did I remember to pack all my little parts, scheduling meetings around pumping sessions, worrying that I'll oversleep, washing parts 2-3 times/day...I've been late to work several times because I'll realize I forgot to grab my pump parts and had to turn around.

[countthestars]

Jan 8, 2014 13:39:13 GMT -5 halfpint said:

Pumping is the worst. It's a large factor in my decision to leave my job. It's such a huge stressor for me - am I pumping enough, did I remember to pack all my little parts, scheduling meetings around pumping sessions, worrying that I'll oversleep, washing parts 2-3 times/day...I've been late to work several times because I'll realize I forgot to grab my pump parts and had to turn around.

Do you have a fridge that you can store your parts in?  They do not need to be washed between every pump if you can keep them cool in a fridge between pumps (wash 1x per day instead).

[halfpint]

Jan 8, 2014 13:46:41 GMT -5 countthestars said:

Jan 8, 2014 13:39:13 GMT -5 halfpint said:

Pumping is the worst. It's a large factor in my decision to leave my job. It's such a huge stressor for me - am I pumping enough, did I remember to pack all my little parts, scheduling meetings around pumping sessions, worrying that I'll oversleep, washing parts 2-3 times/day...I've been late to work several times because I'll realize I forgot to grab my pump parts and had to turn around.

Do you have a fridge that you can store your parts in?  They do not need to be washed between every pump if you can keep them cool in a fridge between pumps (wash 1x per day instead).

I do - but I get up, pump in the morning, wash them after that (since they won't be refrigerated during my commute, and odds are I'll forget to put them in the fridge when I get in), and then wash them again when I get home.  If I add in a night session, then I wash again so they're ready in the morning.  

[soozy87]

I hear you. I quit my job to stay home with this kiddo, thinking that BF would be wonderful. Well, my kid hates it most of the time and so do I. I try to nurse him sometimes but he takes forever to finish and then when he has gotten all of the easy milk out he starts screaming until he gets a bottle. So I end up breastfeeding and the pumping. Super fun! So most of the time I just pump as it saves us both frustration but I am so looking forward to the day that we are done with this!

[satsuma]

Jan 8, 2014 11:11:55 GMT -5 @starry said:

Honestly pumping again plays into our child spacing plans. I need a loooong break from that bs. Next time I am only pumping twice a day after 4 months though. I just can't go through 3 or 4 a day until seven months again.

Mine, too. I really don't want to see that thing again for a long time. 

[satsuma]

Jan 8, 2014 13:56:57 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jan 8, 2014 13:51:53 GMT -5 halfpint said:

I do - but I get up, pump in the morning, wash them after that (since they won't be refrigerated during my commute, and odds are I'll forget to put them in the fridge when I get in), and then wash them again when I get home.  If I add in a night session, then I wash again so they're ready in the morning.  

You should buy more parts.  I mean, if you don't leave your job.  I'm sure you have many other reasons, but if this is a large part of it, you can make it better.

I had three sets and it was a sanity saver for sure. 

[Deleted]

I hate pumping too but I don't really like nursing all that much. Like swizz DS prefers the bottle anyway. I cut way back and am only pumping 4x a day max, 2 at work. I feel like @starry that if he needs more than that I will supplement and be done with it. My goal is 6 months and I'm not sure whether I'll make it past then. I'm okay mentally right now with knowing there's an end.

[toesie]

I hate it with the fire of ten thousand suns. 52 more sessions!

[halfpint]

Jan 8, 2014 13:56:57 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jan 8, 2014 13:51:53 GMT -5 halfpint said:

I do - but I get up, pump in the morning, wash them after that (since they won't be refrigerated during my commute, and odds are I'll forget to put them in the fridge when I get in), and then wash them again when I get home.  If I add in a night session, then I wash again so they're ready in the morning.  

You should buy more parts.  I mean, if you don't leave your job.  I'm sure you have many other reasons, but if this is a large part of it, you can make it better.

I have extra sets.  I mean, it's not just the washing parts - it's the pumping, the scheduling the pumping, the hating being at work, and a general feeling that I want to be at home right now - if I loved my job, that might be different, but right now, it doesn't feel worth it to spend my time here rather than at home.

[Deleted]

I hate it too but now that I am at the end I am amazed i made it through. I have 30 pumping sessions left. That makes it sound like nothing.

[halfpint]

Jan 8, 2014 13:55:46 GMT -5 swizz said:

Jan 8, 2014 13:51:53 GMT -5 halfpint said:

I do - but I get up, pump in the morning, wash them after that (since they won't be refrigerated during my commute, and odds are I'll forget to put them in the fridge when I get in), and then wash them again when I get home.  If I add in a night session, then I wash again so they're ready in the morning.  

I always figure that if BM is good outside the fridge for 6 hours, so are the pump parts. 

Hasn't hurt anything yet!

I'm sure you're right!  But shit, I forget to put my lunch in the fridge most days until lunch time  

[everafter07]

Jan 8, 2014 13:52:52 GMT -5 soozy87 said:

I hear you. I quit my job to stay home with this kiddo, thinking that BF would be wonderful. Well, my kid hates it most of the time and so do I. I try to nurse him sometimes but he takes forever to finish and then when he has gotten all of the easy milk out he starts screaming until he gets a bottle. So I end up breastfeeding and the pumping. Super fun! So most of the time I just pump as it saves us both frustration but I am so looking forward to the day that we are done with this!

This what happened to us, too.

[sent]

If you had asked me about pumping as I was on my way to my preemie's c-section, I would have told you that pumping was something that only working mothers do while at work. Little did I know that I would be pumping a few hours later from day 1. Today is day 31 and I still pump. I only did the recommended 8 - 12 times/day the very first day. I drove myself so crazy in the hospital constantly washing that one set of pump parts. I was incredibly ragey at everyone by day 2, especially the lactation lady and I decided I would put myself on a 4 hour pumping schedule. My husband and parents helped me washing and drying the parts at the hospital when they would come visit to help me feel better.

She came home at day 16 and today we are trying a mixed nurse/pump schedule. She nursed a few times and the new lactation lady I saw yesterday suggested I pump 3x/day if I nurse her. If I don't nurse and instead bottle feed her, she said that I should pump 8x/day. What is with the 8x? I can't do it. It hurts enough doing it 5 - 6 times/day on days that we EP. Maybe if I get a hands-free pumping bra I will feel better. I understand that my milk supply could go down but it hasn't yet. If anything it has increased and I still make enough to freeze some extra if I want. My baby hasn't reached 6 lbs yet so I am nervous to have her nurse too much. It tires her out and I don't want this to slow her weight gain so I am still mostly EP.

But pumping drives me crazy too. I don't know how it will work when I return to work, though my work is somewhat flexible. Another lady I work with stopped at 3 months because she couldn't handle the pumping during work even though the boss is flexible about it.

I bought a car adaptor for my pump but now I'm wondering why did I do that? That just means I have to pump more!

[litasail]

Right there with all of you. 54 more days... 54 more days...

[mcfelix]

Jan 8, 2014 12:16:32 GMT -5 cincodemayo said:

It just really blows to live and die by that damn pump. Like the overall happiness in my day is defined by the ounces I produced.

Yep. This is exactly how I feel. I hate feeling like a failure bc I can't keep up with him. I have to pump 5-6x per day on top of nursing in the morning, before bedtime and any night wake ups. I pump on weekends to catch up my shortfall from the week. And it's so frustrating that DH just doesn't understand the stress from all of it. I do enjoy nursing though - that's what keeps me going I think.