5 Things I HATE about Pumping . . . And How I Make it Through

I don't consider myself to be a complainer. I really do try to look for the good in things. I do this for my own sanity. Perspective is a powerful thing.

But, I HATE pumping!

You may be thinking, "HATE" is a strong word. There are very few people or things that I would use that word for. Pumping is definitely one of them. But, to put things in perspective, there are thoughts, people, and products that help me make it through.

So . . . here is my list of the 5 things I hate about pumping and how I make it through.

1. The noise the dumb machine makes – enough said. There’s nothing quite like it. It's annoying and grating and so many other things. My friend MaryBeth has an awesome impression of a pump – she has the noise down perfect. So, when that awful noise starts getting to me, I just imagine MaryBeth making her pumping noise and it just cracks me up.

2. The time it takes. I have to do it at least 4 times a day on the days that I work. Once in the morning before I leave and three times while I’m there. That’s at least 45 minutes to an hour I spend hooked up to a machine. My lunch is always short because I have to pump. I have to step out of meetings because I have to pump. The good news, I can catch up on Facebook and practice my Sudoku! I've mastered the easy and medium and moved up to the hard:)

3. All the sterilization – I spend at least 20 minutes every day I work cleaning and sterilizing pump parts. The tubes, the containers, the horns. How do I manage? Those Medela bags that you put in the microwave are awesome!!!

4. It requires privacy, which I don’t have. My desk is in a cubicle. I’m out at schools a lot. I constantly have to ask my boss or the department next door or someone at a school if I can use an office with a door. I have to put chairs in front of the door so no one comes in! The good thing . . . I’ve realized there are a LOT of people out there who are incredibly supportive of breastfeeding – more than I could ever imagine. The secretary at the data center even brought a small table and rolling chair into the bathroom so I would be more comfortable:)

5. It hurts! I know they say it’s not supposed to, but the truth is it sometimes does. I’ve experienced it all, from cracks to blood. I know – gross! How do I survive? I use a lot of Lanolin and think of my beautiful baby Molly smiling up at me and the joy that she already brings all of us!

So, I'll keep on keeping on. My goal is to make it at least one more month without introducing formula. Then, I may do what I did with Bailey after 7 months - nurse morning and evening and offer 1/2 formula and 1/2 breastmilk bottles during the day. This means I only have to pump once in the morning and once at work to keep up. I just want to do the best thing for this beautiful face!

Better run . . . time to pump!

Cammy