Ahh pumping. Where the hell to start.
I wanted nothing more than to breastfeed my baby. (No problem with formula. I just always loved the idea of breastfeeding). As per every other idea I had about pregnancy and having a baby, my little one did a big fuck you.
Being born a preemie, he had issues latching, his mouth was just too small (as well as some other issues #tonguetie)
As y’all know, it was an emergent c section, so Jaxson was whisked away from me to the NICU, and I was left to be closed up and recover. It was hours before I saw Jaxson so we didn’t get the immediate skin to skin, or the chance to feed right away.
Because I’m diabetic they had him on IV fluids as well as the antibiotics. When I finally got to see him they did try skin to skin as well as latching. It was such a struggle. He had so many lines and wires everywhere that’s holding him was difficult.
The next day we discussed our wishes to breast feed. In the NICU I was provided a pump. (I had my own pump with me that I had been using while I was still admitted) while I started the vigorous routine of pumping and hoping my milk would come in I was offered donor breast milk through the hospital. We took the chance to use it. This gave me a couple days to build up a supply.
That is the next thing I struggled with since day one. My supply. It’s hard enough on full term babies, but moms who give birth early, and via c section often have an even more difficult time. The nurses and lactation consultants were no help. (shout out to Nova Scotia for still having the worst health care I’ve seen)
I was pushed every day to nurse, which wasn’t going well. It was causing everyone stress and just wasnt working for us. Jaxson was getting donor milk via NG tube. They said that in order to go home he had to be eating on his own for 24 hours. We made the decision to bottle feed. It just worked better for us. And it meant that dad could help with feedings.
Okay so more about the actual pumping. For the first 12 weeks (give or take) it’s recommended to pump every 2-3 hours all day. That includes over night. So at most, I only ever got 2 hours of sleep. It’s a hell of a process.
To lay it out, you start pumping (I was lucky enough to get a double electric so I could do both breasts at once) you’re suppose to pump until 5 minutes past when you empty. But figuring out when you actually empty is tough at the beginning. Sometimes you think you’re empty but there is another letdown that comes later if you keep pumping. Some women have to pump as long as 45 min or longer. I found a happy spot between 15-20 minutes.
It’s also important to get properly sized for flanges for pumping. In the end I had one breast that’s one size and the other is a different size. It makes a dramatic difference in the output
So for 15-20 min I was stuck sitting there. Usually trying to stay awake. Then once you’re done, you have to either put the milk away, or feed the baby, then clean your pump parts (which in the first 3-6 months should include sterilizing every time). Usually this was about a 45 minute event from start to finish. Which left me with 2hours and 15 minutes before I had to do it again. And that’s assuming someone else is feeding and changing and watching the baby while I slept.
That 3 hour routine played over and over for 12 straight weeks.
My supply was never great. I did lots of things to try to help. I was prescribed domperidone (it worked wonders for me) I ate lactation cookies like they were the only food source, hydrated allll day, and ate like I was eating for 3 people. (I honestly ate a ton of Oreos and swear they helped, maybe it’s just cause they made me happier).
In the following months I slowly lowered the amount of times per day I pumped. I settled around 5-6 pumps a day. Which is about every 4 hours, with 1 - 8 hour break where I try to sleep.
