Pep Talk?

[7libramama]

Hi all, I am new to this, but it seemed like the place to come. I have a 7week old daughter and am going to be returning to work Nov 3. I am beside myself! I so don't want to leave her and am so worried about our breastfeeding relationship. I nursed both my sons till they chose to wean, but it was easier as I was a work at home mom for one and worked in their daycare for the other. My daughter I feel is getting the short end of the stick. I have a pump and have been practicing and trying desperately to make friends with it, it's not as cute and sweet and smells nothing like my baby. Any pointers, advice and encouagement is greatly welcomed. I keep telling myself I can do this. She nurses very often throughout the day I hope I can pump enough for daddy to give her.

[babysanchez614]

you can do it!

i know pumping is not the funnest and most exciting thing in the world but once you get passed that hump it's not so bad. i hated it when i first had to do it. but then i started to enjoy seeing how much milk my body could produce and knowing that i was providing my baby the best nutrition possible. the thing that helped me the most is telling myself to just take one day at a time. if you keep telling yourself oh my gosh i have to do this for ___ more months, it will make it seem so daunting and can drive yourself crazy. just one day at a time and it will go by so fast.

think of it as time to yourself to relax and reconnect.

best of luck!

[MaryJaneLouise]

You can do it! It will be hard, but it is worth it.

Try practicing pumping now while you have the baby, to get yourself used to it. Can you pump on one side while she nurses on the other?

If you run into supply problems while pumping, check out the stickie at the top of the forum (low supply). It also has some good pumping tips.

Also, what kind of pump do you have? The right pump can make all the difference in the world.

Here's some good info from kellymom:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/index.html

[7libramama]

Thanks so much! I have started trying to "make friends" with the pump. I have a Medela Pump in Style. It's a nice pump. I am doing okay with it. The noise gets me! I have decided the IPod is a must during pumping! And thanks for the reminder to stay in the now. I was thinking ahead to how long I am going to be doing this. I stand firm on child lead weaning so...here goes!!! I keep telling myself I am lucky because daddy is the one who gets to give her the milk I pump and he is so very supportive! I just hope my employer will be as open to it when I am 6 months in and still pumping.