Whew – That’s a long title. 

I wanted a title that would fully describe what my past 9 months have been like.  My son will be 9 months March 19th, 2020.

So here’s my journey-

I always knew I wanted to try to breastfeed.  I knew that was healthy for the mom and the baby.  I knew it created a special bonding time and it’s what God created me to do as a mother.

Milo James was born after 27 hours in labor.  That’s a whole other story – Click here to watch my labor story.

I honestly don’t even remember feeding him for the first time.  I was recovering from a c-section and crying my eyes out due to hormones and medicine.  I just know it left a pretty bad mark on my breast due to a bad latch.

Milo did not take onto breast feeding easy.  Lactation consultants in the hospital constantly had to help me with his latch and my husband helped me hand express.

I was told not to pump for several months (6-8 weeks) so that my milk could come in.  My lactation consultant did show me how to use my pump.

Home I went.

Breastfeeding was everything but magical.

It was painful.  It was exhausting. It made my back and shoulders hurt.  It was stressful.  And it was mentally making me feel like a failure.

I completely breastfed my son for a month.

My son’s witching hour was rough.  He would scream at the same time every night.  I almost wanted to scream myself.

So I started doing research, which made me decide to try pumping.  My lactation consultants had almost made me fear pumping.  I had gotten the Lansinoh smart pump from my insurance company. 

I remember I read that my husband should give him his first bottle, so the baby doesn’t get confused with me and want my breast. 

Milo drank it like a pro.  I remember sitting there crying while my husband fed him.  I was crying for so many reasons.

I felt like a failure not being able to feed him.

Yet, I felt relief he wasn’t hurting me.

Gradually over the next few weeks, we learned that he liked the bottle.  He was getting enough milk so his witching hours weren’t as severe.  I wasn’t hurting and dreading breastfeeding all time. 

I eventually decided to become an exclusive pumper.  That means I still breastfeed my son – just through a bottle. 

I want to share all this information because I know what it’s like being the mom that wants to breastfeed so bad but can’t enjoy the experience.  I remember hours of researching different things about pumping. 

So here are my recommendations and tips I’ve learned.

Click here to watch my tips and recommendations!

Click here to watch my Day in My Life as an Exclusive Pumper at 6 months!

Click here to watch my Day in the Life of 3 Month Old! 

Recommendations:

1. Sit somewhere comfy!
2. Have a permanent pumping spot.  Mine is the end of my couch!  I never have to move my pumping things!
3. Grab a water!  ALWAYS drink while pumping.
4. Jersey T shirts are perfect in the colder months.  Raise your shirt, hook up, pull it down, pump pump pump!
5. Have a soft blanket to wrap around your belly and legs.
6. Toys and Bottles – as Milo has gotten older I grab anything I need to keep him entertained while I’m pumping.
7. Olive oil or Coconut oil.  Use this on the flanges (watch the video and I will show how to apply it – Click here!) AND ALWAYS USE coconut oil on your nipples after pumping!  Trust me! #crackednipplesurvivor
8. Washcloth – use to wipe milk off your breast when your done. 

Tips:

1. Join Facebook groups!  Mom Facebook groups are SO helpful!!  I currently am a member of – June 2019 Mamas, Pumping Moms – Over-suppliers, Exclusively Pumping, Nursing and Pumping.  I would not have learned everything as quickly as I did or felt as connected to people going through the same things. 
2. Stick to a schedule!!  There are all kinds of pumping schedules.  Find one you like and stick to it.  I started out 6 times a day.  (5 am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm).  I stuck to the schedule like my life depended on it.  I now pump 3 times a day.  (5am, 1pm, 9pm).
3. Stick to the same amount of minutes.  AIM FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS OF PUMPING EVERYDAY!  When I pumped 6 times a day, I pumped for 20 minutes each time.  By sticking to such a strict schedule my boobs got trained. ;). NOTE- everyone is different but at least try this when starting out.  Once your boobs are trained – you can change your time.  I now pump 16 minutes each pump session.
4. Double bottles and flanges if you can afford it. It helps not have to wash parts as much.
5. I love my Medela Breast Pump Strap. I wash it every 2-3 days. 
6. Sticking to schedule can help prevent clots!
7. Boil your parts.  I did this religiously at first.  Then I slacked.  My parts got pretty stinky, once I boiled them again, they were like brand new.  Try to boil at least once a week.  And I’m preaching to myself on that one. 😉
8. When/If you are unthawing milk in the fridge.  Place milk in a cup, so if the bag has a leak, the milk doesn’t go all over your fridge,  I use Lansinoh storage bags and I’ve only had that happen a couple of times. 
9. Don’t look at your milk while you pump!  It will stress you out.  I saw a cool tip on Pinterest to cover your milk bottles with a sock while you pump.  I usually try to watch a show or YouTube video and just don’t look down till your done.
10. Flange size can change!  I went from a larger flange size to a smaller one by the time I was 9 months postpartum.  Pumping should not hurt and if it is check your flange.

I hope these recommendations and tips are helpful and provide some relief for some of you mommas going through the same struggles I have. 

If you have any questions, please ASK!  I am not a doctor but I do have my own personal experience to lean on.

My last thoughts is to tell you –

You are doing a good job

AND

Pumping is breastfeeding!

Gracefully Fashionable Britt