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Breastfeeding challenges: to pump or not?


I’m an occasional participant in the Life with Levi Breastfeeding Blog Hop. Today’s post was about pumping. On a plane. What a rockin’ mama because I don’t think I could! So I thought I’d blog this topic, because today I actually said to a friend, “I hated pumping!”

Why? It was uncomfortable, time-consuming, and inconvenient.

I do have an awesome Medela Pump In Style double electric pump. Which is definitely the way to go. I love this pump. It worked like a champ. However, personally, I disliked having to hold the funnels on the entire time. Perhaps I should’ve gotten the kind of pump that has the strap on apparatus. I found sitting there, holding bottles to my chest for 10-15 minutes was very uncomfortable. My back would get sore and tired, and I had to sit in one certain position otherwise the suction would release. Maybe I’m the only one with that problem.

Compared to nursing my baby for 10-15 minutes and enjoying the snuggles, soft skin, and smiles, pumping is a boring, time consuming effort. I couldn’t do anything else while I pumped (sometimes I would watch TV, but mostly I pumped upstairs where we don’t have a TV) so I felt I was wasting my time.

Pumping also was inconvenient. I tried to take people’s advice and let my husband give the baby a bottle in the middle of the night so I could get extra rest. But I’d wake up from the crying, have to wake up hubby. Poor guy would be in a sleep stupor trying to go downstairs, heat a bottle, meanwhile baby is still crying because he’s waiting and I’m there NOT nursing him. I’d get all engorged from not nursing (and hearing him cry), and then I’d have to go pump anyway at 2 a.m. So much for the extra sleep I was supposed to get! So after a few tries, I gave up. It was just easier to nurse and get back to sleep than go through that circus!

Now, not that pumping didn’t help me out. I definitely recommend having a pump for those early months when you’re adjusting. And of course if you’re going back to work while continuing to breastfeed, you’ll definitely need one!

I certainly needed mine to reduce engorgement and the pain that goes with it. Also, I liked using my stored breast milk later on for mixing with rice cereal once he started solids. And of course, there was the time I got mastitis when pumping was a TOTAL lifesaver, as I had to go 24+ without nursing to allow myself to heal. I would not have survived nor been able to continue nursing had it not been for my trusty Medela pump.

Next baby, I’d like to get more of a routine where I can pump at a convenient time for me, and store the milk for those times when I need extra rest, have someone else watching the baby, etc. But this first time around, I was barely able to keep the breastfeeding boat afloat the first 5-6 months, so it was better for me to just nurse. Then, after that, breastfeeding became fairly easy, so again, more convenient to nurse than pump.

So, while I appreciated having the pump as an option, it never became my first choice for feedings.

How about you? Did you use a pump? Love it? Hate it? Do you have suggestions for a good routine that includes pumping?

Stephanie

Sunday 3rd of July 2011

I pumped a tiny bit with my first baby and not at all with my second baby. I just found it to be easier and more convenient to bring my baby with me everywhere. I know that's not possible for (or preferred by) all moms, but it worked for me. :)

Stephanie

Sunday 3rd of July 2011

I pumped a tiny bit with my first baby and not at all with my second baby. I just found it to be easier and more convenient to bring my baby with me everywhere. I know that's not possible for (or preferred by) all moms, but it worked for me. :)

Jen - Life With Levi

Sunday 3rd of July 2011

"uncomfortable, time-consuming, and inconvenient"

This is soooo true. I might pump like a champ, but that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to hanging up the flanges eventually.

I think, though, that like most things, once you get into a routine, it becomes second nature. As you've noticed, I've started making a little game out of it, challenging myself to find new, innovative ways to use my breast pump. It's not for everyone though.

I'm really glad you linked up this week and shared your pumping experience. I hope you'll join in next week when we talk about Breastfeeding Body Changes.

Jen - Life With Levi

Sunday 3rd of July 2011

"uncomfortable, time-consuming, and inconvenient"

This is soooo true. I might pump like a champ, but that doesn't mean I'm not looking forward to hanging up the flanges eventually.

I think, though, that like most things, once you get into a routine, it becomes second nature. As you've noticed, I've started making a little game out of it, challenging myself to find new, innovative ways to use my breast pump. It's not for everyone though.

I'm really glad you linked up this week and shared your pumping experience. I hope you'll join in next week when we talk about Breastfeeding Body Changes.

Amanda Alvarado

Saturday 2nd of July 2011

I never really had a choice on whether to pump or not since when I had dds I was still in school and when I had dd, I was working full time. Both of them were totally different. With ds, I was able to pump enough to keep him exclusively on breast milk until he was 6 months. With dd, I was lucky to get enough for a bottle a day! I didn't like pumping but it was a necessity because I wanted them to get as much as possible. Ds nursed until he was 13 months and then weaned himself and dd nursed until 10 months when I got pg again with our angel. It was on Dr's orders that I stopped otherwise I probably would have continued to nurse her! LOL

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