Pumping inspiration

[henriksmom]

I have been pumping for my preemie for eight and a half months. We tried breastfeeding for four, without longterm success. I want to give it up but every day I keep on going. It is so time consuming and very stressful. I do not have the freedom to do much since I have to always pump. Last weekend I pumped in our car in a parking lot. I worried so much about having enough that I finally gave my son formula (once a day) after using Domperidone. We almost made it to 6 months corrected before he got formula.

I just wanted to hear from others who struggled with the desire to go on. The weather is nice now and I am still stuck at home every three to four hours pumping. When I go out it is difficult to enjoy myself because all I think about is when I have to be at home to pump. I know things could be worse but right now this has been eating me emotionally. Any advice?

[waldenmommy]

Can you get a battery pack/car adaptor and a pretty nursing shawl and pump in the car? I had a friend talk me through this when it looked like I might be long term pumping. Apparently, with the right supplies and planning, you can pump on the go fairly easily!

(I will type more when we get back...)

[AppleCrisp]

Did your OB give you a prescription for a pump rental that might be paid for by insurance? I wonder if those hands-free pumps are available and if they actually work...does the hospital have a lactation consultant you could ask about it? I'm pretty sure Medela makes a hands-free. And I know my Pump in Style has a bettery pack for the car and a cooler to keep the milk in.

I totally hear you....I have to pump every 2-3 hours, day and night, and its stolen my life! I get home from a long day at the NICU and I have to pump instead of eat or play with my son...I have to get up at the crack of dawn to pump before my son wakes up...and if I forget to set the alarm at night I wake up in horrible pain!

[noahs.mom06]

I've been pumping 5 1/2 months now. Until recently, DD didn't take any feeds by mouth, so anytime I went anywhere, I had to take my pump along. I have a PISA, with a battery pack. I pump in the car on the way to places as much as I can (not when I'm driving, only when someone else is driving), otherwise there have been a few times where I've been at someone's house and had to ask where I could go pump, I've gone out to the parking lot from stores to pump, and I've pumped in bathrooms. I guess I feel like you do what you have to do... my DD doesn't tolerate formula, so I don't have much of a choice. Now she's allowed/able to nurse 5x/day, so when we go out I just have to take a nipple shield instead of the pump. Keep going if you want to, but if you feel like it's time to stop, then stop.. I think it's more worth it for you to be happy than it is for you to keep pumping.

[henriksmom]

Thanks for the responses.

I know that there are worse things in life than pumping for a preemie. My husband and I share a car so sometimes I just want ti go out when he works. I have the Pump in Style but find that it is not getting all the milk out anymore. The hospital rents hospital grade pumps but it is an hour and a half away on the bus. A store rents it but none of them have it now. I may be struggling with the guilt of feeling tha I would not be contributing to my son's prgress and growth if I stop pumping. Also I am a stubborn one.

[SaraLe6]

I'm feeling pretty resentful of pumping right now.. my first son refused the breast completely after 8 weeks and never went back, I was stuck EPing for 9 months until my pump motor went out and I was only able to pump a few drops per 20 minute session and a TOTAL of maybe a 1/2 ounce in 12 pumpings per day. I feel totally guilty that he got formula from 9-12 months because of that but I also HATED pumping, hated feeling tied to the pump, hated that I had to prop a bottle in my baby's mouth while I pumped because he would scream while I pumped otherwise, hated everything about it basically.

Now, I have a preemie that was born 8 weeks early. He wasn't able to take anything by mouth for the first 2 weeks and still, at 11 1/2 weeks old (3 1/2 adjusted) he is not taking the breast. He is willing to "latch" but is terrible at it and no LC has been able to help us so far. The whole experience has been awful, breastfeeding is excrutiating and he's not transferring hardly anything so here I am again, EPing and completely hating it. The only upside is I was able to buy a Freestyle with my tax return so I have quite a bit more mobility since the pump fits in my purse as opposed to dragging around the regular sized pumps, AND, it comes with hands-free attachments which have been nice the few times I've used them. But I still hate pumping every 3 hours and I find myself putting it off more and more, many days I'm pumping more like every 4-5 hours and I have NO motivation to step it up.

ETA: You say your PIS isn't getting all the milk out anymore, have you changed the white membranes recently? They have to be changed every 3 months during "regular use" (2-3 times a day) and as often as every 3 weeks while EPing. Also check your pump parts for build up or warped parts. You may need to boil them for awhile or even replace them (the connectors anyways).

[OGirlieMama]

For some reason, I don't feel like I ever resented pumping. I was sad about not being able to nurse, and frustrated by the limitations pumping placed on me, but I guess my resentment was saved for other aspects of the preemie multiple experience. I did pump for 18 months. Many people thought I was nuts to continue that long, especially since my girls were good eaters after age 1 or so. But I was stubborn and found it very hard to give up.

Sometime around a year I was able to drop down to 3-4 pumps per day, which made it a lot easier. I used a hospital-grade pump at home (which I highly recommend, especially since you say you're having troubles with the Pump in Style) and used a PIS if I was out and needed to pump. Somehow I managed to do it, though I really don't know how at this point!

Have you joined the EPer tribe here on MDC? I found those ladies very helpful and inspirational. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...9#post13564169

[jlovesl]

I feel for you. I pumped for 11.5 months. We had a little actual breast feeding for 3 months. But my baby got reflux so pumping and feeding via bottle was easier on him.(sat up to eat). I was stubborn too. I know that's why I went so long. Near the end I did supplement formula. More so because my supply went down but the little bit of freedom it gave me was refreshing. Don't feel bad if you really feel the need to stop. I know how mind numbing that pump can be. Good Luck and Happy Pumping....

[jlovesl]

Oh forgot to tell you that my boy was 9 weeks early. After 6 weeks in NICU he was exclusively breast fed. But 3 months after we got home, was when we went to pumping only....