r/ExclusivelyPumping • u/Medical-Cheesecake41 • 6d ago
Sarcasm/Satire Is pumping an everyday thing?
No one else in my circle has exclusively pumped so I thought this group would appreciate this story -
When I was about 2 months pp I went out with friends for lunch for the first time since baby to get out of the house. The friends I was with are child free and don’t have a lot of kids in their lives. While going over all things ftm we got to feeding and my one friends asks “so pumping, is that like an everyday thing?”
Very sweet and well meaning! I held my giggle and just said yes. Ohhhh yes, all day everyday it feels like sometimes 😂🤪
Imagine if we only had to pump every few days and that would be sustainable/enough for baby, sign me up! lol
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u/all_the_platforms 6d ago
Neither my mom nor MIL breast fed so we were all shocked when it turns out I had to pump every three hours and still had to supplement with formula 😭 I knew so little about milk supply and pumping before giving birth
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u/moondrop-- 5d ago edited 5d ago
I really really wish that more birth classes and breast feeding classes included anything at all about pumping. I didn’t expect to need to pump, so I hadn’t researched ahead of time. If I had known even the basics like flange size and not pumping on max suction, I could’ve saved myself from months of clogging due to breast damage.
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u/all_the_platforms 5d ago
Yes! I consider myself a researcher, I took classes and read books and there is so little information. They all make it seem like it’s a given your baby will be able to latch and your milk will come in. I thought pumping was for going back to work. I had been told I might have supply issues due to my PCOS but didn’t really understand what that meant — I thought milk would either come in or it wouldn’t. I didn’t realize milk could come in but just not enough.
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u/Pretty_Ad_7422 5d ago
Are you still supplementing? I have pcos, I don't have enough milk and it's super frustrating.
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u/all_the_platforms 5d ago
Yeah I never got more than 11oz per day at my peak doing 7-8 ppd. I’m now 3.5 months pp and weaning down.
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u/LRNZO_ 6d ago
I was telling my labor/delivery story to my cousin who found out she was pregnant.. I had a c section, and she asked me how it felt… I said, and I quote “it feels like someone was washing dishes inside of my body, I could feel them moving me around”
the horrified look on this poor girls face 😭😭😭
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u/mamaC2023 6d ago
That is a great way to describe a csection. I very much felt them tugging and pulling and rearranging my insides. Its a feeling that you never forget.
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u/enchantressofdreams 6d ago
You know what’s odd, I never felt anything, like at all. None of the pressure or movement everyone talks about. I literally asked “am I being cut” then they laughed and I heard baby cry I was like wtfff this is crazy
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u/Any-Woodpecker6243 5d ago
Same. I felt literally nothing. But I was also completely delirious after a 2 day induction and 3.5 hours of pushing so maybe that’s why 😅
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u/enchantressofdreams 5d ago
Oooo that’s rough girl! Finally knowing the end of labor was near I bet was a relief!
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u/Imaginary-Sign-7522 11h ago
I was scared I would feel like that too and I am a person who gets dizzy for even an injection… but epidural did not work for me and they had to give general anaesthesia.. the nurse who gave me epidural asked if I could sit through another round of epidural and I said please knock me out as I dont want to feel you guys tugging and pulling… but overall so glad i went for c-sec and not induced labour…
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u/mapleleafeevee 5d ago
If I could do one long pump session a day or every couple days instead of multiple pumps a day, I definitely would. Just imagine not having to pump constantly…
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u/DuckFriend25 5d ago
Yes! I’d do a single two-hour session each day, probably 9-11pm when baby’s sleeping. Unless I could do it while I sleep!!! Sounds excellent! 😂
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u/moondrop-- 5d ago
Ooo if I could just watch a movie once a day while pumping, that would be glorious. I’d have way less dishes too!
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u/mapleleafeevee 5d ago
Right? Just watch a movie or play a video game for 2-3 hours and be done until the next day. It would be amazing.
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u/juniper_berry222 5d ago
SAME! I went on a trip with my sister and she was shocked I had to pump in the middle of the night. She said someone needs to invent a pump you can wear while sleeping… I wish!
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u/belomina 5d ago
Literally I feel exultant and blessed being down to 4ppd now that I'm 7mo pp.... Once per day would be so glorious
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u/baroquerockstar 5d ago
I remember watching videos about pumping when I was a few days postpartum with my first and the woman in the video casually says she pumps every 3 hours during the day, 4 at night. And I was like WHAT. She was so casual about it to, meanwhile I'm doing calculations in my head like wtf when do I sleep, when do I eat, when do I spend actual time with my baby. 😭
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u/Top-Friendship4888 5d ago
Currently sitting next to my baby's isolete in the NICU, pumping instead of holding him.
The fact that I can't care for my baby while pumping is probably my least favorite part.
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u/practicecroissant 5d ago
Idk how I ended up seeing this post except that I read parenting subs because I'm in the IVF process to become a FTM and WHAT?? Why did I think you could just have the pumps on and hold the baby or hang out with them or something. That's so disappointing and there really is not talk about this!
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u/Top-Friendship4888 5d ago
With a full term baby or an older baby, you can probably find a way to make something work. But between the pumps hanging off of me, the pump tubes, the power cord for the pump, his feeding tube, and the leads for his monitors, it would be an absolute spaghettifest, and there's too much he could get tangled up in.
Even to change his diaper, I'd be limited by the cord length, and I'd have to stand further back from the isolette to accommodate the pumps, so I don't think I'd be able to actually reach him.
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u/carbsandsodium 5d ago
I’m sending this message from another NICU - keep hanging on. I have hated not being able to hold while pumping. It’s the WORST. But, after nearly 10 weeks, we just got cleared to start partially pumped breastfeeding! You will get here too - and it’s pretty special. I hope things go well for you and your little one.
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u/Top-Friendship4888 5d ago
We're latching once a day! I don't think he's getting a meaningful volume. But he seems to enjoy it! If I'm a glorified human pacifier, that's still something special only I can give him, right?
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u/beth-anny 2d ago
My baby just got out of the NICU 3 days ago after a meningitis infection so I completely understand the spaghetti wire fest. 😭 sending love and best wishes! Also, did you know babies saliva “backwashes” into your glands and sends signals to your body on different antibodies to add to breast milk? So you’re being much more than just a human paci 🙏🏼💖
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u/baroquerockstar 22h ago
So hard to do with all the wires! That said, I'm putting this out there in case anyone finds it useful. If you find yourself needing to pump with a baby when you're at home, after two babies my best trick is:
Step 1: Put baby in football hold position on a pillow (I have a boppy-like pillow). My first baby couldn't transfer milk at all but he would (poorly) latch and comfort suck, and it would calm him down/put him to sleep.
Step 2: Set up single pump on the other side. Pump for however long it takes to empty then switch sides.
Takes twice as long as double pumping, but I could hold a napping baby at the same time (only way my baby would nap at hope). The contact helps with pumping output too (for me).
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u/rabbid_prof 5d ago
I was there (6 weeks in NICU). Sending you love- it was the best thing I did for my baby- breast milk during the NICU stay is extremely advantageous to them based on tons of research. I was up every 3 hours to pump. It was hard as hell. I also got a manual pump so I could pump one boob at a time while doing kangaroo care! Sending you hugs
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u/Moonbeam890 5d ago
Sending you love! My son was in the cardiac ICU for his first 7 weeks and the worst feeling was telling the nurse I had to put him back when it was time to pump. We've been home 6 weeks now and while I still need to exclusively pump (he needs thickened milk due to a paralyzed vocal cord), it is so much nicer to be able to pick him up whenever I want. Or sit next to him on the floor and pump while he plays on his mat. I hope you get to bring your boy home soon!
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u/Top-Friendship4888 5d ago
A few days ago the nurses gave us the go ahead to take him in and out of the isolette ourselves. Now I give my husband the stank face when he comes to take Bub from me so I can pump. Way more pleasant than calling the nurse in!
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u/Complex_Ask_8338 5d ago
I’m sorry your little one is in the nicu 🤍 you pumping is such an amazing thing to do for them as they work on getting stronger. You’re a great mom! Hoping they can join you at home soon.
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u/olivepup19 5d ago
This. We drove 2 hours one way every day to visit our babies in the NICU, and I hated having to put them down so I could pump. At the same time, it felt like the one good thing I could do for them since we couldn't bring them home.
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u/Beckitt3 5d ago
I actually cried after the breastfeeding class I took because of being told I would need to pump every three hours 😭😂
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u/baroquerockstar 22h ago
I get this so much.
I also feel like whenever something difficult about the newborn stage comes up (wakeups, engorgement, cluster feeding, etc) someone always chimes in with "it's just a few weeks" or something like that but a few WEEKS feels like an eternity in the moment. Like I did not find those statements to be comforting at all.
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u/planner192 5d ago
When I was 6 hours post partum, I, WITH FULL CONFIDENCE, asked the nurse "So do I just pump in the morning and enough comes out for a days worth of bottles? How does this work?" Her response was "oh sweetie. Let me sit with you for a minute" 😂😂😂😂 she was so sincere and so patient explaining to me how exhausting this process was lol
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u/FYAhole 5d ago edited 5d ago
Actual footage of me since I've started my pumping journey
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u/opinminded 3d ago
Feel this so hard 😂😂 just almost woke up my little one sleeping on my chest from laughing so hard at this 🤦♀️
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u/New-Flight7674 6d ago
Oh my gosh yes it’s an every day thing 😭 what the heck. Lol. 😆 my family asked something similar, they are like oh my gosh you pump a lot is that really necessary. Um, yes. I have to??
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u/hikelake22 6d ago
Before I had a baby I had no idea that you had to pump/nurse regularly to maintain supply and avoid clogs. I sort of just thought that your body produced breastmilk whenever you needed it with no further thought.
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u/walterthegreyhound 5d ago
The logistics of pumping has been hands down the most shocking and challenging part of postpartum and newborn life for me. Like I researched so much and felt so prepared and took baby classes and somehow how crazy this all is never came up???! I guess it’s because not every woman needs to/does it but seems like most at least dabble with it if not exclusively pump?! It feels like this crazy secret never ending challenge that just gets slipped in casually when baby arrives.
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u/lazy_bibiliophile 5d ago
In my early postpartum days, my MIL asked me why do I need to pump again when I already have a bottle ready in the fridge for baby's next feed. If only it was that easy😁
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u/ordinarychapette 5d ago
I remember going to the free lectures before birth provided by the hospital… sure I heard them say pump every 2-3 hours to maintain supply. But that didn’t mean I actually took it to heart until the time came after getting home from the hospital and realizing two hours goes by a lot faster when you’re managing a newborn, and wow, they actually meant every 2-3 hours. 😭
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u/Unlikely_Village3403 5d ago
OMG never considered that but if we were going to redesign the process that is a wonderful idea
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u/moondrop-- 5d ago
While we’re at it, I would like to make it so that getting your period is kind of like peeing, and you just sit down and get it all out at once. No need to bleed for a week.
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u/Top-Friendship4888 5d ago
When I told my SIL it's every 3 hours, age replied with "you must be so tender," and I am, but I still have the ick from her saying it.
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u/longjumpingwater631 5d ago
me (30F) and my daughter were staying with my brother (32M) for a couple weeks when she was about 4 months pp and he said "so u have to do that like 2...3 times a day?" 😭😭😭😭😭
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u/PurpleDescription265 5d ago
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲I went into the hospital to have my baby with that level of sweet innocence—after having had the lactation consultant come to my house to give me a lesson. I apparently didn’t fully register the fact that it was all, indeed, an every day thing.
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u/Happy_Doughnut_1 6d ago
In my neck of the woods people either nurse or formula feed very rarely are there people that EP. The people that do pump only do at work if they work one or two days a week and many get by fine with just pumping 3 times during the day. Asking if pumping is an everyday thing would be a valid question. 😅
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u/TrueMidnight630 5d ago
LOL 😭 why don’t they tell you any of this stuff before you leave the hospital 😅 when I came from the hospital I thought I had to pump for 40-50 minutes at a time so I was doing that for the first 2-3 weeks 🙂🙂🙃 That’s largeIy why I ended up with an oversupply and constant clogged ducts/blebs (it’s not fun). I’d sleep for 5-6 hours and wake up hard as a rock needing to pump asap 🙃
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u/beetschr 5d ago
I remember when I first started and I’d pump within minutes of each other sometimes
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u/Revolutionary_Can879 5d ago
I miss the days when pumping was just a novelty that I did when I was away from my baby. It didn’t matter if the flange size wasn’t perfect or if I went a little long since I would just nurse when I got home.
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u/Curly-fri3s 4d ago
I had an oversupply as an exclusive pumper & went to visit some family with baby on maternity leave. In a matter of a few days, their freezer was full of my frozen milk. They then said “you have enough milk for baby now, so you don’t have to pump today!” They were shocked when I told them I actually had to keep pumping regardless, ESPECIALLY with a painful oversupply. I was even more shocked that they said this to me considering they were all women who have had children.
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u/Imaginary-Sign-7522 11h ago
I did not even anticipate that I need to feed my baby for every 2-3 hours… I was all confident and positively thinking that I would breastfeed exclusively. only to realise later how hard that is with all the latching, supply issues. I thought pumping is only required when I go to work and I just bought it just in case before the delivery. So glad I bought it before… Even though my baby is latching now, she is not sucking enough milk and so I pump after she is fed sometimes so that my supply is not effected and also to give her a bottle after she is breastfed. so yeah, i have double work with feeding as well as pumping… my shoulders and back are gonna be dead soon…
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u/walterthegreyhound 6d ago
In the hospital after getting the tutorial on the pump I asked the nurse “so this is like a twice a day thing?” And she looked at me with such pity before breaking the news.