Working While Pumping
Let me begin by saying that I hated pumping. I HATED IT SO MUCH. I could write an entire post about all the things I disliked about it. I could also include all the ways that, as a new mom, I inadvertently made my pumping life harder. But I will instead tell you the things that I wish I had known, and maybe you knowing those things, too, will make your pumping life easier. That’s my hope, anyway.
So, an entire post on working while pumping? Yes, it sounds a bit ridiculous, but, honestly, pumping was something that I didn’t even think about my entire pregnancy, and, in hindsight, I wish I had. I’ll blame my husband and my mother a bit here: my mom was a SAHM, so she never pumped — ever (isn’t that wild to think about?). And my husband was so encouraging of chest feeding that he worked overtime to make sure I always had boobs available for Baer. I had my Spectra on my kitchen table, unopened, for ten weeks before my mom gently encouraged me to open it. Perhaps this was psychological: opening the pump and using it meant that maternity leave was coming to an end, and that was a reality I did not want to face. I did open it, though. And hated every damn minute I was hooked up to that thing.
Does anyone actually LIKE pumping? I feel like a distaste is pretty universal. But we do it because we want to provide our babes with chest milk, and this is a noble cause. Baer came on the cusp of the Willows and Elvies — they were out there, but they weren’t wildly popular yet, and lord knows insurance didn’t cover them. I instead nursed Baer at home on one side while the Spectra did its work on the other. At work, I tried to relax and unwind in the pumping room, eating my lunch while simultaneously producing every ounce that I could — not ideal. Since I can’t give you a luxurious pumping room or hand you a glass of water (with hospital ice!), I can give you some tips to make your pumping life a little less stressful:
Start early and build a stash. I didn’t realize this was even a thing until it was almost too late. I was so busy trying to keep up with Baer’s nursing needs (the kid cluster fed like it was his job) that it didn’t even occur to me to try and build a stash for when I went back to work and wouldn’t be around him 24/7. As a result, I had to send him to daycare with supplemental formula, which had not been my plan at all. My advice to you: don’t procrastinate! Pump and build that stash!
Stay hydrated. Water is your best friend while chest feeding. I will admit that I suck at drinking water, I just don’t find it tasty, and when I have a headache, it makes me nauseous. I know, I’m weird that way. But while I was feeding Baer, I forced that water down as best I could. Science has shown that dehydration does cause a decrease in milk production, so follow the research and make the milk!
Try to relax. Easier said than done when you have two noisy suction cups on your bosom. Just try your best. Find a room with a comfortable chair and low lighting, pull out your phone and scroll through pictures of your sweet baby (supposedly this helps with milk let down). While you’re on your phone, turn on some calming sounds to take your mind off of the task at hand. I’m a huge fan of the Calm app — it helped me out when pumping and continues to help me relax post-nursing.
Make a routine. This is so important. Block out time throughout the day to pump. Again, I didn’t do a great job of this, and, in hindsight, I wish I had advocated for this more. No one told me I couldn’t have pumping time; I just assumed that I would get in trouble if I asked. After I stopped nursing Baer, I noticed a lot of my co-workers pumping more during the day than I had, and this made me realize I missed out on that opportunity. Let my mistakes guide you! Ask for your pumping breaks. Take your pumping breaks.
Don’t freak out. Pumping is hard! When Baer was a newborn, the milk flowed freely and easily. I was able to pump quite a bit and even use the Haakaa to catch extra milk while he was nursing. That ended around month five when I was away from him for a week and was exclusively pumping. While that made me sad, I was still able to nurse him at home while he had formula at daycare. Of course, we started baby-led weaning at six months, and he self weaned at 11 months, so our nursing days were always numbered! It’s easy to feel like a failure if nursing and pumping don’t come naturally, but in the grand scheme of things, fed is best. As long as that baby is happy and growing and getting the nutrients they need, that’s all that matters!
Hope you’ve found this post helpful! If you have any questions about our feeding journey, feel free to reach out.