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Houston Babies
+*+LilyCat+*+ re: pumping.
I just read your response to the pump question. I exclusively pumped with Elizabeth for six months and was so wrung out by the end of that period in my life. Having a toddler in addition to a baby probably made it worse, but I do SAH so I was able to work out my pumping schedule pretty well. The last 2 to 3 months I really only pumped 4 times per day and got plenty of milk. I never had to supplement. Still, it took all the discipline I could muster to pump for her.
I'm amazed and impressed that you're able to work full-time and pump so often. Do you find it grueling at all? How do you manage it? Are you intending to pump for a while longer? My hat is definitely off to you because I know how taxing it can be.
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Re: +*+LilyCat+*+ re: pumping.
Thank you, but I think I'm just doing what I do. Nothing terribly special about that. It is just better for our lives.
Taking vitamin D has helped me a lot. I know it isn't exactly related, but having low vit. D levels really made me physically exhausted and drained. I feel much better since starting to take supplements.
I was able to nurse him at night until two weeks ago. That made things a little easier, because I did not have to get up to pump at night. Now, it is a little tougher.
The pump bra makes it possible. I can sit here, pump, and type. That makes things a little less difficult.
I do skip sessions when need be. Still, I fear mastitis. I've had it four times. That makes me sure to not go too long between sessions. If I feel an area with a clogged duct, I start to pump out of fear until I can clear it.
Then, I weigh breast milk against formula. It is cheaper and with two that makes a difference. I also do not care for formula in general. I find it messy, the spit up to be worse, the stains to be worse, and the fact that it goes off so quickly to be annoying. That's a big motivator -- find something you dislike more than pumping and you make a choice.
I also want to be fair to my second. Maybe it is silly, but since my first had breast milk until 9 mos. I feel my second should too.
** Just don't count on it as a sure thing. I may change my mind any day. I often do change my mind several times a day. Then, I think about how much I would hate to switch to formula and I keep going.
Also, those of you who have two at home are doing a little more daily. My kids go to day care. So, I don't exactly have to be around a toddler during pumping sessions most of the time.
I had a pumping bra also and lovd it! it was definitely nice to pump "hands free." E. was a complete non-nurser so I was always up once in the middle of the night to pump. I'm sorry about the mastitis! That's definitely an incentive to empty the tanks, so to speak. I've heard great things about vitamin D but haven't tried it myself.
I approached pumping for Elizabeth from a different perspective. Because I always supplemented with Sarah and only breastfed her for 4.5 months, the fact that I could exclusively give E. breastmilk for 6 months felt like a huge accomplishment for me. I was sad to move to formula but had no objection to it. It was a huge relief to give up pumping. I understand completely the desire to give a second child at least or more than what you gave the first one though. I hope you're able to go for as long as you want. For me it was definitely a labor of love, although I went back and forth and round and round with myself about it.
Sounds like you had challenges to nursing with each of your children. You did a great job lasting that long. 6 mos. was my goal, but I've decided to keep going.
One thing that's helped is having a bunch of pump parts. It limits the burden of washing to a chore once a day and not at work.