[kimberlylibby]

If you have recently taken that crunchy mom quiz...

I want to tell you that if you are a pumping mom who has chosen to pump milk for your baby instead of giving up bf'ing (due to health reasons, physical problems, latch issues, work, whatever).... I want you to go back and add an extra 5 points to your score.

I think sometimes the natural/AP world doesn't quite get how MUCH effort goes into pumping! It's not that we're not AP enough to bf, it's that we're SO DARN AP that we won't give up!

We take bf challenges, look 'em square in the eye and pump the suckers into an oblivion!

It takes an awesome mom to commit to bf, but it takes an AWESOME POSSUM mom to commit to hooking herself up to the nipple ripper 10x/day or more in order to give her baby the good stuff!

So all you pump moms, here's your

! YOU ROCK!!

You are doing such an AWESOME service for your baby!! Woohoo! Be loud, be proud of your pumpin' mama self!!

Kimberly

 

[MelKnee]

I pumped for 5 wks for my first ds. I know how hard it is. I applaud every pumping mother.

 

[guestmama9924]

My SiL pumped for 12 months ...her boy got EBM exclusively! I was so proud of her

 

[Icequeen_in_ak]

Absolutely you all deserve extra credit!!! I didn't have to pump full time... only to help with my supply issues, and that was enough work. I can't imagine what goes into it full time.

I

in admiration!

 

[Messy Nessie]

ITA that pumping moms are awesome and deserve respect... I pumped for my DD for about 6 weeks while she learned to nurse and finger fed her a few onces every hour with a syringe after trying to latch her. Some may think I got off easy because eventually she latched, but I am very proud of my EPing period. It was an extremely difficult situation, I had severe PPD and we had no family or friends around to help and support us. Plus it was heartbreaking to not be able to put her to the breast and simply feed her. Those days are a blur in my memory...

As a working mom, I have to pump for my DD when I am not working from home. We haven't come to a situation where I am not able to take a break and nurse her, but I still pump twice everyday (and have for months) to make sure that I have a store in our freezer for when that situation occurs.

Pumping can be so stressful... from getting the support of your employer to take a break every few hours to do, or finding a place to pump while your running errands, dealing with resentful or nonsupportive coworkers/family/friends and then worrying if you are pumping long enough, getting enough, using it right, sterilizing it well enough, remembering all of the parts, analyzing your supply, etc...

Major props to all the pumping mamas!

 

[Mrs Dimples]

 

[RufusBeans]

I had to pump exclusivly for her first six weeks. Thank goodness she takes the breast now!

 

[buttercup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimberlylibby It's not that we're not AP enough to bf, it's that we're SO DARN AP that we won't give up!

Now that is a perfect quote. Thanks for sharing and the support. Thumbs up for EPing mommies.

Jenni
EPing for Helon 2 yrs (chooses MM over cows milk anyday) and Phillip 6 mos (who has to hold onto his bottle tight so Helon, the MM addict, doesn't swipe it)

 

[candiland]

Absolutely.

I can't imagine the sheer willpower it must take to make it happen.

I never enjoyed pumping. I can't imagine doing it all day, every day..........

You mamas ROCK!!!!!!!

 

[ShadowMom]

Where is the crunchy mom quiz?

 

[bec]

Hey, Thanks! That makes me feel good. I've been pumping exclusively for Emily for about 6 months now (I didn't start pumping until she was 5 weeks old).

Bec

 

[Carolinamidwife]

OMG!!! I totally agree! I was just thinking about this today. I am a militant bfer but I don't think I have it in me to pump. I tried to pump so I could go to a movie and I was ready to cry after 10 minutes. I have pumped a handful of times this week and each time I can barely squeeze out 2 ounces. I have so so much respect for pumping mamas, you all ROCK!

 

[~Megan~]

 

[bec]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheena OMG!!! I totally agree! I was just thinking about this today. I am a militant bfer but I don't think I have it in me to pump. I tried to pump so I could go to a movie and I was ready to cry after 10 minutes. I have pumped a handful of times this week and each time I can barely squeeze out 2 ounces. I have so so much respect for pumping mamas, you all ROCK!

Ya know, I used to think this too. I so admired (still do, btw

) my friend who pumped, but said I could never do it. And here I am, pumping away. You find that you do what you have to do. As strongly as I feel about breastmilk, I wasn't going to let a little thing like not being able to nurse stop my little one from getting that liquid gold!

As an aside, pumping on top of nursing full time is very difficult. As it is also hard to produce much for the occasional pumper. Your boobs take time to adjust to the pump (which is not at all like a baby's suck, no matter what the experts say).

Bec

 

[QueenSheba'sMom]

I agree

I pumped exclusively for about a year with my first baby, and only once a day for my second. Life is so much less complicated this time around!