The Washington Post on the cost of breastfeeding if it were paid work….

[Anonymous]

Calculator here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2022/breastfeeding-cost-time-money/

Does 486 hours over 6 months seem low?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Calculator here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2022/breastfeeding-cost-time-money/

Does 486 hours over 6 months seem low?

About 2.7 a day? Maybe as an average over that period for some kids (not for the newborn phase specifically). My daughter, she took forever to nurse and I would have laughed. My son was a faster eater though.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was an interesting analysis but a bit overstated. There’s a lot of work you can do while feeding or pumping so it’s not totally lost time. And she bought a lot of stuff that I never needed (special ice packs, special clothes, etc.). I nursed three kids for a total of about 5 years. She replaced her pump tubes after six months and I don’t think I ever replaced mine even Over the three kids. And I worked so used it to pump in the office probably 500 or more times.

But I agree with the larger point that it’s silly to call it “free”.

[Anonymous]

Did she include time to wash bottles and pump parts because that is actually the worst!

[Anonymous]

Appreciate what the author is trying to do here in trying to have a conversation about how breastfeeding is not free but I'm not sure if I like the idea of monetizing my every waking hour in that fashion. Kind of reminds me those stupid think pieces about SAHMs should be making thousands of dollars as a cook/chauffeur/babysitter. I agree that we need to value the time and effort spent in caregiving but I don't think it's wise to put it through the lens of capitalism.

And whether or not I breastfeed my kids still would have needed to eat, and how would one monetize the value of time and labor spent making bottles and cleaning them (one of my least favorite baby chores)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought it was an interesting analysis but a bit overstated. There’s a lot of work you can do while feeding or pumping so it’s not totally lost time. And she bought a lot of stuff that I never needed (special ice packs, special clothes, etc.). I nursed three kids for a total of about 5 years. She replaced her pump tubes after six months and I don’t think I ever replaced mine even Over the three kids. And I worked so used it to pump in the office probably 500 or more times.

But I agree with the larger point that it’s silly to call it “free”.

Agreed, but everyone's mileage varies in terms of what breastfeeding accoutrements and support they need.And when you're sleep deprived and stressing about your child eating it's very easy to make some late night Amazon panic purchases. With both my kids I had a few breastfeeding purchases that I later regretted as unnecessary. (Like the stupid haaka I hated and did not really work for me) general I was a pretty low maintenance breastfeeder and did not need a lot of extra products and extra support to get the job done

Also you're pumping situation is going to vary depending on your office. In my first job the lactation room was not really set up to be conducive to work. Wiith my second I was really grateful for that private office! (And one of the only Silver linings of the pandemic was that I was at home and didn't need to pump much so that was glorious. I haaaaaaaaated pumping (

[Anonymous]

I did work while I pumped at work and watched TV or read a book while I was breastfeeding (which I would normally have been doing at those times anyway). No lost productivity or money there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did work while I pumped at work and watched TV or read a book while I was breastfeeding (which I would normally have been doing at those times anyway). No lost productivity or money there.

I pumped at work while I had a very low key job. With a more demanding job, it would be much harder.

[Anonymous]

I pump at my desk at work- no lost time. Maybe lost time running to the fridge, grabbing more water to drink and constant bathroom breaks.

I saw this and think it’s a valid viewpoint but is feeding a baby a bottle quicker?! I mean someone has to feed the baby so breastfeeding is sort of equivalent time. Although only I can breastfeed as the mom.

I think new bras and bottles would be bought no matter what. My pump was free. Formula is like what- $50 a week? Babies cost money and time no matter what choices you make.

[Anonymous]

I nursed both my babies for over 5 years combined and never spent anything close to that on supplies. IMO a lot of what she bought is nice to have but not totally necessary. For instance, I got free formula from my OB and I used the insurance provided crappy pump & bags only as needed for my own relief; with such low usage I never needed to replace any parts. The only things OOP were really just nipple cream, a couple nursing bras and a second hand nursing pillow. I drove myself to an in network lactation appointment for my first (tongue tie) so no cost there besides gas, and I didn't need to see one at all with my second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Calculator here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/interactive/2022/breastfeeding-cost-time-money/

Does 486 hours over 6 months seem low?

About 2.7 a day? Maybe as an average over that period for some kids (not for the newborn phase specifically). My daughter, she took forever to nurse and I would have laughed. My son was a faster eater though.

Yeah, my daughter would nurse for 45 minutes, take a 15 minute break, and then nurse on the other side for 45 minutes. All day.

Some of this is very variable. I never used a pump or bottles with my daughter. But I went up 5 cup sizes to a 34K and the only available nursing bras were $50+. Though I would have needed new bras anyway, even if I didn't nurse. So for me the only nursing-specific costs are really time, a few nursing dresses, nipple cream, and extra food.

[Anonymous]

For the people saying that they pumped while working- that's only if you have privacy. I share an open office and have to go to another floor to the lactation room, which has no space set up to work. So multiple times a day I have to pack up my pumping equipment, head to another floor, undress to put on the pumping bra, pump, re-dress, visit the office fridge and sink, and head back to my office. It's ~30-40 min 3 times a day.

[Anonymous]

I spent well over $1k in special pumps, supplements, etc due to low supply.

I was pressured to triple feed, so nurse 30 minutes, pump 30-60 minutes, feed from a bottle….then repeat the process all over again.

I couldn’t multi-task by working while pumping because I had to massage my breasts the entire time to get any milk out.

So yea, it pisses me off when people tell me it’s free, or tell me I could have avoided the formula shortage by BFing, or think something is wrong with me because I hated BFing.

The mental toll was huge. H found me collapsed on the floor sobbing because I couldn’t take anymore.

A few weeks ago my oldest daughter had a big competition. I brought the baby and an older woman came up and asked me if I was BFing. I said no and she prodded me for why. I said I didn’t enjoy it so chose to stop (because I don’t think I need to justify my choice by saying “low supply” or whatever) and she just kept telling me how wonderful it is and how I should have. Ruined what was supposed to be a great day for my family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did she include time to wash bottles and pump parts because that is actually the worst!

ugh! No kidding. That part was absolute drudgery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the people saying that they pumped while working- that's only if you have privacy. I share an open office and have to go to another floor to the lactation room, which has no space set up to work. So multiple times a day I have to pack up my pumping equipment, head to another floor, undress to put on the pumping bra, pump, re-dress, visit the office fridge and sink, and head back to my office. It's ~30-40 min 3 times a day.

So true, with my first I lost my office and moved to open office. I also had oversupply so had to pump 3x a day and it was such a drain on my productivity, my day, and my focus. I felt so Guilty taking all that time I never felt like I could take a lunch or walk or do an errand, and just felt like I was constantly running around the building and could never get into a groove, and was constantly having to ask people to reschedule meetings since they completely ignored my blocked calendar times. Professionally it was just so hard and my LO had severe allergies so I had to pump for damn near close to 2 years. I have now nursed two kids 4.5 years and think she actually undershot the money. I have oversupply so am always using nursing pads, have spent thousands on lactation consultants. hospital pump rental, having mastitis 5x (literally hell), ENT for tongue/lip tie, extra pump and parts, nursing bras, pumping bras, oh yeah and bigger clothes since I hang onto about 12 pounds extra of fat when I nurse which means nothing fits me and I had to invest in clothes for my larger body that weren’t maternity clothes, and also get nursing clothes as well. After trying to pump in a dress at work I realized I had to always wear button up tops and pants or skirts or just pullover tops so I wasn’t naked in undies in the pumping room.