How Hard Is Pumping?

[Anonymous]

I never did EP, but I pumped 15-25 oz per day, Mon-Fri pretty consistently with three kids.

If you have a good supply, then pumping a bunch is not too hard, as long as you are organized and don't fall behind. But if you miss pump sessions here and there, it can take a lot of extra work to dig back out and work your way back up to the same level of supply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the moms I know who had severe PPD/mental health issues after pregnancy were exclusive pumpers. It can be incredibly draining (ha, literally). My advice is to just use formula.

Many nursing moms had the same issues.

Yes, but as my pumping friends said, they at least got the cuddly bonding part. Pumping can make you feel like a factory farmed dairy cow on a milking machine.

Nursing didn’t always this beautiful experience for everyone. I hated it and would I dread feeding my baby. There was no bonding fine with all the crying and pain. There are other ways to bond with your baby than nursing.

[Anonymous]

I did not find it hard. I nursed until 4 months old, then pumped at work and nursed when home until age 3. It helps to be super organized - there are a bit of moving parts and such. Once I figured out what triggered letdown, it all flowed from there (video with sound of my baby cooing did it for me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did not find it hard. I nursed until 4 months old, then pumped at work and nursed when home until age 3. It helps to be super organized - there are a bit of moving parts and such. Once I figured out what triggered letdown, it all flowed from there (video with sound of my baby cooing did it for me).

This is not what OP is asking. She asked about exclusively pumping.

[Anonymous]

Pumping was way easier for me than nursing but this was during the early days of covid so I never left the house and had nothing else to do

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did not find it hard. I nursed until 4 months old, then pumped at work and nursed when home until age 3. It helps to be super organized - there are a bit of moving parts and such. Once I figured out what triggered letdown, it all flowed from there (video with sound of my baby cooing did it for me).

This is not what OP is asking. She asked about exclusively pumping.

NP. Calm down. This is still good advice.

I learned after the fact that you can freeze parts until you get a chance to wash them. That would have saved me stress for sure.

[Anonymous]

Pumping for me is hard and a disliked activity but my supply isn’t great. I pumped like 8x/day and it felt relentless with endless washing of pump parts (also had SNS parts). I think it would be less frustrating if I produced more. I was afraid I would end up having to EP but after bodywork my baby is better at sucking so it’s quite a relief to not have to pump so much. Dreading going back to work and back to tons of pumping.

She‘s a slow nurser too so I get your frustration but just don’t like pumping.

[Anonymous]

I quit nursing at 3 months and the exclusively pumped until 13 months. I was never planning to go that long. It was all during Covid, so with exception of a few days in which I had to go into my office, I was at home, which I’m sure made it easier. For me, whenever I hit a wall and wanted to quit, I dropped a pump - I found that very helpful. And I agree with what other posters said about refrigerating pump parts to reduce cleaning - wish I had learned that earlier. I’d also recommend the Baby Buddha pump - I didn’t have that one, but my best friend did, and her experience was much more hands free than mine (I used madela symphony and pump in style). And remember, you can quit anytime!

[Anonymous]

Pumping is a huge PITA and a waste of time. Just FF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All the moms I know who had severe PPD/mental health issues after pregnancy were exclusive pumpers. It can be incredibly draining (ha, literally). My advice is to just use formula.

Many nursing moms had the same issues.

Yes, but as my pumping friends said, they at least got the cuddly bonding part. Pumping can make you feel like a factory farmed dairy cow on a milking machine.

Nursing didn’t always this beautiful experience for everyone. I hated it and would I dread feeding my baby. There was no bonding fine with all the crying and pain. There are other ways to bond with your baby than nursing.

Yes, BF was so frustrating when it wasn't working. We bonded more easily with that pressure off once I was EP (Im the 11mo PP)

[Anonymous]

OP here. I plan to take off 6 months and possible longer. My goal is to go back after 6 months but there is a possibility I may take off a year. I do have a really good supply. We are doing formula once a day since we needed to supplement and I want him to have it when I do switch to formula. He eats about 28oz of breast milk and I freeze 8-12 ounces a day. I make about 40oz and that’s part of why I’m willing to pump. I wouldn’t want to pump if I wasn’t making enough or enough to freeze.

I have a Spectra pump. I do have two pump parts but will order more. I have a ton of bottles. My baby is a very good sleeper and I plan time pump while he naps.

[Anonymous]

YMMV, but I rather liked pumping. But I had good supply, and easy letdown, and it was satisfying to see the bottles fill up. Am I the only one who thought that? Maybe. I didn't exclusively pump, but I did work so I was away all day.

One thing I did that was helpful was get a manual pump as well as an electric one. The electric was good for getting both at the same time, but the manual was good for getting some if I was running low and I wasn't sure I could commit to a full sit-down, hook-up session -- like if the baby was awake and I might need to tend to him. I could set it down as needed and pick it up again. I think this only works if you have good supply, but you said you did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:YMMV, but I rather liked pumping. But I had good supply, and easy letdown, and it was satisfying to see the bottles fill up. Am I the only one who thought that? Maybe. I didn't exclusively pump, but I did work so I was away all day.

One thing I did that was helpful was get a manual pump as well as an electric one. The electric was good for getting both at the same time, but the manual was good for getting some if I was running low and I wasn't sure I could commit to a full sit-down, hook-up session -- like if the baby was awake and I might need to tend to him. I could set it down as needed and pick it up again. I think this only works if you have good supply, but you said you did.

+1. Seeing how much I got from exclusively pumping gave me the motivation to continue when I was done with nursing. I planned to only exclusively pumping for 2-4 weeks to transition to formula but liked it and didn’t think it that hard. I had a solid sleeper though and I was able to pump and eat while he napped. I had a Spectra and would watch tv or look at my phone while I pumped. It took 20-30 minutes to pump and I was down to 5 pumps at 4 months. I did stop pumping at 6 months but I had to go back to work and didn’t have time to pump.

[Anonymous]

I nursed 2 kids until 18-20 months and I pumped 3-4x a day from 4-12mo with each. Pumping made me feel like an athlete, and not in a good way. I had to be really careful with my water, supplements, eating enough fat and calories, etc. to keep my supply up and I was a slave to my pumping schedule.

I enjoyed nursing, so it was worth it to keep nursing when not at work. If I did not enjoy nursing, I don’t think it is worth al the trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I plan to take off 6 months and possible longer. My goal is to go back after 6 months but there is a possibility I may take off a year. I do have a really good supply. We are doing formula once a day since we needed to supplement and I want him to have it when I do switch to formula. He eats about 28oz of breast milk and I freeze 8-12 ounces a day. I make about 40oz and that’s part of why I’m willing to pump. I wouldn’t want to pump if I wasn’t making enough or enough to freeze.

I have a Spectra pump. I do have two pump parts but will order more. I have a ton of bottles. My baby is a very good sleeper and I plan time pump while he naps.

I'm a PP and totally agree that good supply is key. It's what made it seem worthwhile. And like some other PPs, if baby was sleeping I did consider that "me time" - watched a lot of TV, read my Kindle, etc. Didn't find it that unpleasant honestly.