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Pumping = torture!

ChristiansBrideChristiansBride
in Washington Babies

Any other pumping moms out there to talk me off the cliff? I'm seriously hating it, I know it's good for my boys - especially since they're preemies in the NICU but my whole day is crazy b/c of pumping.

Advice? Anyone ever been in a similar situation? I don't know what to do, keep doing it and potentially go crazy or stop and feel guilty.

I've never been 100% "on board" with either BF'ing or formula so maybe thats the dilemma...

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Re: Pumping = torture!

  • massagegirlymassagegirly

    Oh I hated pumping too! Keep it up your boys will need it and they will not get constipated on BM they can much easier on formula. It's a great start to a great immune system. It will get better as the boys can eat and get stronger! Then yuo may not need to pump. I am really glad I kept up on it.

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  • maddycatmaddycat member
    1st thing~ Don't EVER feel guilty!  You have to do what is best for you.  All I have to say is that it does get easier.  I wanted to quit everyday for about a month and then all of a sudden over night it became way easier.  The most important thing right now is that your little ones are getting fed whether it is BM or Formula.  Have you tried one of those pumping bras?  For me it was like a dream come true.  So when I was pumping I was hands free and I could read a magazine or mess around on the computer.  It made me feel somewhat normal :)  Hang in there!
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  • Seattle_JiLLnSeattle_JiLLn
    What is it that you hate?  the time?  or is it hurting?
    image
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  • IdahoGirlIdahoGirl

    What I HATE  is the hurting....  It's so painful for me.  Maddy still has a really bad latch, so they're already shredded - add in the pumping - OMG...

    And I want to stop every second of ever minute I'm doing it.  In fact last two feedings, I did (LC has me feeding then 10 minutes of pumping).  I am going to go back after this feeding because I truly want to bf, I don't want to formula feed.

    But you're not alone Heather, not by a long shot, I'm crying real tears right along with you.

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  • Seattle_JiLLnSeattle_JiLLn
    The pain does get better... Really!  I know, it used to hurt like hell.   Lanolin cream really helped a lot for me.  And time.  It's amazing because you think that it's going to hurt forever and then suddenly, it's not hurting anymore...
    image
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  • ChristiansBrideChristiansBride

    imageSeattle_JiLLn:
    What is it that you hate?  the time?  or is it hurting?

    For me, with the twins it really is the time. I feel like I have to choose between being with my boys and comforting them or pumping (or something special like actually eating food for myself!) Sometimes I am pumping and the boys will get fussy and I can't help them and just start to cry b/c I feel so tied down.

    Plus I'm not making enough so they're getting less than 50% of my own milk a day - I know some is better than others but when I spend so much of my time a day pumping instead of enjoying my babies it makes me frustrated.

    With preemies they can't "latch, suck, swollow and breathe" so they don't feed well with a bottle or BF - every time I've tried BF'ing it is so frustrating like IG is saying and it makes me want to give up. When they get that down maybe it will be better and i just need to have patience.

    The pain really has gotten better - after 2 weeks, I can crank that pump way up without it hurting - so it will get better IG!

    Maybe it's just the hormones... I feel like I just need someone to tell me what to do and for me to get on board with either pumping or formula... I'm stuck in limbo.

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  • RobynKRobynK member
    imageChristiansBride:

    imageSeattle_JiLLn:
    What is it that you hate?  the time?  or is it hurting?

    For me, with the twins it really is the time. I feel like I have to choose between being with my boys and comforting them or pumping (or something special like actually eating food for myself!) Sometimes I am pumping and the boys will get fussy and I can't help them and just start to cry b/c I feel so tied down.

    Plus I'm not making enough so they're getting less than 50% of my own milk a day - I know some is better than others but when I spend so much of my time a day pumping instead of enjoying my babies it makes me frustrated.

    With preemies they can't "latch, suck, swollow and breathe" so they don't feed well with a bottle or BF - every time I've tried BF'ing it is so frustrating like IG is saying and it makes me want to give up. When they get that down maybe it will be better and i just need to have patience.

    The pain really has gotten better - after 2 weeks, I can crank that pump way up without it hurting - so it will get better IG!

    Maybe it's just the hormones... I feel like I just need someone to tell me what to do and for me to get on board with either pumping or formula... I'm stuck in limbo.

    I was in this same place after my twins came.  I could only find time to pump 3-4 times per day and when I did I was SO tired I'd usually fall asleep while I was hooked up.  I was only getting a max of 2 oz per session so I gave up.  I tried to make it until their EDD to give them the benefits of BM. 

    I think you should set little goals -- like pumping just until their EDD.  Or just making it another few days.  If you decide to quit to spend more time with them then know you did your very best and it's important that you are with them too.  You don't want to spend more time with the machine then you do with your babies.  And not to be a total downer but it's even harder to do when at home and with the babies -- that's when I finally cracked and quit Sad

    Sorry hun -- you do what is best for YOU.  Either way you will have well fed babies that grow beautifully!

    Lilypie Third Birthday tickersLilypie First Birthday tickers
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  • Seattle_JiLLnSeattle_JiLLn

    Have you found a way to pump hands free?   You can cut holes in an old jog bra, or you can hook up the horns with rubber bands like this:

     https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/hands-free-pumping.html

    That really helped me - I could surf the web or eat or something while I pumped.   But I agree - I hated pumping.  It just seemed like such wasted time.  

    Ben was 4 weeks early, but wasn't in the NICU.  But since he was early he had a rough go with eating at first.  I'm still not sure what the issue was - he would seem like he was eating, but when we did the weigh/feed/weigh thing, he wasn't getting much.  And he was losing weight.   So I had to BF him for 5-10 minutes, then syringe feed him while he sucked my finger to make sure he got enough actual food, and then pump for 20 minutes.   Every feeding.  It SUCKED.  I know.

    But I will say that right around his due date, it all came togehter and I didn't have to keep puming or syringe feeding.    So hang in there.  Do what you can.   And know that it will get better.  YOu'll figure out a plan that works for you and your babies.   Maybe that means only pumping 20 mintues at a time, or only 4 times a day, or only in the night when you're home.  Or something.  You'll figure out a plan that works...

    image
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