Comments on: Already dreading the breastpump http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/ motherhood, and all the rest of it. Mon, 06 Sep 2010 05:25:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Brianne http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2115 Brianne Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:39:42 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2115 Every word written by "Anonymous" above resonates with me! There were times I felt such anger while pumping, thinking to myself, "Some daycare worker five miles away is holding MY son and trying to get him to take a bottle, which he is just going to fight and refuses, while I am stuck here in this office stuck to a milking machine so that my family can have health insurance and a mortgage payment." Anger is a very strong feeling that I feel very rarely, and I was shocked that something that seems as innocuous as using a breast pump caused these feelings to arise. Good news to all pumping working moms is that 1) you are doing a great thing for your child, even when you are struggling with negative emotions and 2) there is an end to pumping! That can be difficult to remember. There are times you might just have to take it one day at a time. I celebrated for many reasons when I reached his 1 year birthday. One of those reasons was I got to quit pumping!! I happily began "weaning" myself from the pump (Medela Pump In Style, which I loved) at work which ended up taking me one month. My son is currently a happily nursing 21-month old. Boy, I never expected to be nursing a toddler, but it has been a surprisingly good, positive experience. Hang in there, pumping gals. You can get through this!! Every word written by “Anonymous” above resonates with me! There were times I felt such anger while pumping, thinking to myself, “Some daycare worker five miles away is holding MY son and trying to get him to take a bottle, which he is just going to fight and refuses, while I am stuck here in this office stuck to a milking machine so that my family can have health insurance and a mortgage payment.” Anger is a very strong feeling that I feel very rarely, and I was shocked that something that seems as innocuous as using a breast pump caused these feelings to arise.

Good news to all pumping working moms is that 1) you are doing a great thing for your child, even when you are struggling with negative emotions and 2) there is an end to pumping! That can be difficult to remember. There are times you might just have to take it one day at a time. I celebrated for many reasons when I reached his 1 year birthday. One of those reasons was I got to quit pumping!! I happily began “weaning” myself from the pump (Medela Pump In Style, which I loved) at work which ended up taking me one month.

My son is currently a happily nursing 21-month old. Boy, I never expected to be nursing a toddler, but it has been a surprisingly good, positive experience. Hang in there, pumping gals. You can get through this!!

]]> By: KIMLW http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2100 KIMLW Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:42:29 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2100 Web is overflowing with the <a href="http://www.4writers.net" rel="nofollow">freelance writing jobs </a> , which should give all needed articles connecting to this topic. Web is overflowing with the freelance writing jobs , which should give all needed articles connecting to this topic.

]]> By: Liz http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2099 Liz Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:14:18 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2099 I also loathe pumping. I am always incredulous when someone wants to exclusively pump or will pump when they could nurse. I used the Lansinoh pump, it is the same as the Ameda Purely Yours but cheaper. It got the job done and I'd recommend for a part-time pumper or anyone on a budget. Otherwise, if I ever have to pump again, I think I will also invest in a higher-quality pump. The only good thing about pumping is that I got lots of reading done. :) I also loathe pumping. I am always incredulous when someone wants to exclusively pump or will pump when they could nurse.

I used the Lansinoh pump, it is the same as the Ameda Purely Yours but cheaper. It got the job done and I’d recommend for a part-time pumper or anyone on a budget. Otherwise, if I ever have to pump again, I think I will also invest in a higher-quality pump.

The only good thing about pumping is that I got lots of reading done. :)

]]> By: Cricket http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2095 Cricket Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:57:20 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2095 My first time I rented the Medela hospital grade from well the hospital and it was wonderful. It was clunky to drag around especially to jury duty but it was a great pump that I used for over a year. I rented it for $30 a month. The second time I bought a Medela that was a smaller version of the pump in style and I rarely used it. My first time I rented the Medela hospital grade from well the hospital and it was wonderful. It was clunky to drag around especially to jury duty but it was a great pump that I used for over a year. I rented it for $30 a month. The second time I bought a Medela that was a smaller version of the pump in style and I rarely used it.

]]> By: Katherine http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2077 Katherine Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:10:13 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2077 Hi Katie! I rented a Lactina from the hospital for a few months after I had my daughter. It was very bulky, but also had great output without feeling like it was going to suck me and my boob into another plane. I returned it to get the Medela Pump In Style because I didn't have a "permanent" spot at work to pump, so I had to tote my gear around. I would say that if you have an office with a door (and a lock) and don't have to have a mobile unit, it was pretty cheap to rent the Lactina when you consider shelling out around $300 for your own. I was not a huge fan of pumping, either. HOWEVER, my spin on it was that it was the ONLY part of my day that belonged to ME. I listened to my iPod or read or just closed my eyes. It's hard to interrupt your day like that, but if you can force yourself to take that time to quiet your mind, it seems like a tiny bit less of a necessary evil. Good luck and good health to you with your pregnancy. Thank you for sharing your stories! Hi Katie!
I rented a Lactina from the hospital for a few months after I had my daughter. It was very bulky, but also had great output without feeling like it was going to suck me and my boob into another plane. I returned it to get the Medela Pump In Style because I didn’t have a “permanent” spot at work to pump, so I had to tote my gear around. I would say that if you have an office with a door (and a lock) and don’t have to have a mobile unit, it was pretty cheap to rent the Lactina when you consider shelling out around $300 for your own.
I was not a huge fan of pumping, either. HOWEVER, my spin on it was that it was the ONLY part of my day that belonged to ME. I listened to my iPod or read or just closed my eyes. It’s hard to interrupt your day like that, but if you can force yourself to take that time to quiet your mind, it seems like a tiny bit less of a necessary evil.
Good luck and good health to you with your pregnancy. Thank you for sharing your stories!

]]> By: Clisby http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2076 Clisby Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:20:19 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2076 I've used a Medela Lactina and an Ameda Elite (I preferred the Elite), and they way outperformed the Avent Isis. The only advantage I can see to an Isis is that it's a lot smaller, so it can be good for occasional use. However, I did all my pumping at home, so I can't really comment on which of the hospital-grade pumps is better if you have to use it at an office. I’ve used a Medela Lactina and an Ameda Elite (I preferred the Elite), and they way outperformed the Avent Isis. The only advantage I can see to an Isis is that it’s a lot smaller, so it can be good for occasional use. However, I did all my pumping at home, so I can’t really comment on which of the hospital-grade pumps is better if you have to use it at an office.

]]> By: Anonymous http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2073 Anonymous Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:15:42 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2073 I think it is very sad that this is what is expected of mothers these days. I think it is very sad that this is what is expected of mothers these days.

]]> By: Jillian http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2072 Jillian Thu, 31 Dec 2009 20:43:53 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2072 Oh how I hate pumping. I do it over and over and I hate it every time. I hated it when I did it for my first son, and I hate it now. I am about as privileged as a working mom could be. I have an office and a supportive boss. I have some control over my schedule. I know my baby is happy at home with his dad. But it's when I pump that I feel the full force of the conflict between my career and motherhood. I look down at this thing attached to me in such an arresting way and I think "Unnatural mother. Your baby belongs at your breast and instead you are putting a machine in his place." It looks like something out of a dystopian movie. How's that for dramatic? I just miss my baby, and am most reminded of that when I pump. Also, I hate how it interrupts my workflow and how I shiver because office buildings are not heated to accommodate nearly-topless women. Oh how I hate pumping. I do it over and over and I hate it every time. I hated it when I did it for my first son, and I hate it now.

I am about as privileged as a working mom could be. I have an office and a supportive boss. I have some control over my schedule. I know my baby is happy at home with his dad.

But it’s when I pump that I feel the full force of the conflict between my career and motherhood. I look down at this thing attached to me in such an arresting way and I think “Unnatural mother. Your baby belongs at your breast and instead you are putting a machine in his place.” It looks like something out of a dystopian movie.

How’s that for dramatic? I just miss my baby, and am most reminded of that when I pump.

Also, I hate how it interrupts my workflow and how I shiver because office buildings are not heated to accommodate nearly-topless women.

]]> By: Brandi http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2071 Brandi Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:13:28 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2071 Hi Katie! Been following since I first saw you on Babble, but first time to comment. I nursed my firstborn for the first 6 mo, and had a pretty good set up as far as pumping went until 6 mo. But, things changed, and I had met my initial goal (breastfeed for at least 6 mo), and she was ready, so we quit. I am now nursing my second one, and have a far better situation for pumping (my own office w/door that locks!), and let me tell you that it makes a huge difference. Abbie is 8 1 /2 months old, and we are still going strong. Just like nursing, the more comfortable you are, the easier it is. Good luck, and a huge congrats! Happy New Year! Hi Katie! Been following since I first saw you on Babble, but first time to comment. I nursed my firstborn for the first 6 mo, and had a pretty good set up as far as pumping went until 6 mo. But, things changed, and I had met my initial goal (breastfeed for at least 6 mo), and she was ready, so we quit. I am now nursing my second one, and have a far better situation for pumping (my own office w/door that locks!), and let me tell you that it makes a huge difference. Abbie is 8 1 /2 months old, and we are still going strong. Just like nursing, the more comfortable you are, the easier it is. Good luck, and a huge congrats! Happy New Year!

]]> By: Marianne http://mamapundit.com/2009/12/already-dreading-the-breastpump/#comment-2070 Marianne Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:04:00 +0000 http://mamapundit.com/?p=2436#comment-2070 Ah, yes. I've been back at work for 4 months and breastfeeding my 8-month-old from day one. Pumping 3x a day is SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS. I have the Pump In Style and once I figured out that I needed smaller shields it became more comfortable, but the process is so annoying. I'm busy at work and have to drop everything to do it. I'm fortunate to have a lovely room provided to pump in, at least. But compared to the sheer pleasure of breastfeeding my girl, pumping feels so wrong. I'm determined to breastfeed for at least a year, though, so pump pump puuuump. Congrats, by the way! Ah, yes. I’ve been back at work for 4 months and breastfeeding my 8-month-old from day one. Pumping 3x a day is SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS. I have the Pump In Style and once I figured out that I needed smaller shields it became more comfortable, but the process is so annoying. I’m busy at work and have to drop everything to do it. I’m fortunate to have a lovely room provided to pump in, at least. But compared to the sheer pleasure of breastfeeding my girl, pumping feels so wrong. I’m determined to breastfeed for at least a year, though, so pump pump puuuump.

Congrats, by the way!

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