I. Hate. Pumping.

AngLK987

I'm really bad at it. If I'm not dumping most of what I pump all over myself, I'm leaking around the seals on the flanges on the pump, or I move and the pump falls off, I absolutely hate being tied up to a chair for that amount of time without the use of my hands b/c I have to hold the damn pumps... I also suck at finding a good time to pump, I try to in the morning after dd's first feeding, and anytime I skip a feeding like if I or mh gives her a bottle... But half of the time as soon as I hooked up dd fusses or wakes up to be fed... I have to go back to work jan 2 and want to have enough of a storage built up that I don't have to worry about her starving while I'm working..Any suggestions?

KamiSuzanne

Get a hands free bra, mine is simple wishes, and I got it at target. Saved my life. I pump in DD's room in the rocking chair. It has a foot rest so I can lay her on my lap and feed her, or just play while I'm pumping. I also have her play mat in her room and that entertains her for awhile too.

jill&eric

i agree. simple wishes hands free awesome! and adding a battery pack if you dont have one. you can totally walk around and do whatever

blu-eyedwife

I also don't love pumping, but view it as a necessary evil.  As pps have pointed out, a hands free bra is a necessity.  If you look below you can see one that many of us have.  That solves the problem of dumping, seals, falling off and no use of the hands.

 

As for the best time to pump - I used to try to do it after I fed LBB around 7:30/8, but ran into a similar problem.  Now, even though it sucks, I pump after his very first morning feeding - at 2:30 am.  He's fast fast asleep then and I don't have to worry about him waking up.  But I pump in his room just in case he does (and I think the pump helps act as additional white noise - a bonus).  My other consistent pumping is at night after he's gone to bed.  DH gives the last bottle of the night and I know I usually have from 6pm till we go to bed at 10 to pump without LBB needing a bottle.  I usually pump while DH and I are eating dinner.  When I miss a feeding, it's usually because I'm out and I try to pump in the car on the way out or back so I don't have to worry about a fussy baby.

kat72883

I also have the hands free pump.  I haven't attempted to walk around with the battery pack yet (maybe I should!) but at least I can surf the net or whatever while I'm pumping.  I usually pump after the second morning feed (we get up around 8, after that feed I either can't bear to put him down or get my shower or whatever, and then feed around 10 and he's ready for a nap), and then also after the 9-10 pm feed, when I put him in his crib.  As well as anytime he gets a bottle, like others.  I hate pumping but like you, I have to go back to work in Jan, so I would like to have a stash, plus I might as well get used to it!