I had to google "mortal enemy" to make sure was using it in the right context. "An enemy that wants to kill you". YEP, right context. I've got two mortal enemies in my life right now as a mother:
1) Carseat
2) Breastpump
Yesterday, I figured Blaine was 4 and a half months old, and napping much more predictably, so he could handle a trip 120 miles from home if I timed his naps out right. (The same trip he took at 2 months old and handled like a champion). Well, I was WRONG. Armed with earplugs, some toys for him to play with, and a blanket for him to grab, we took off. Counting drive time to and from, and driving time in the town we went to, I think I endured over 3 hours of high pitched, hysterical, scream-crying. Earplugs can't even save you from that. The only time he didn't cry was when he was out of his carseat (gas station, reststop). Gah. I've had suggestions to play his favorite CD so next time I'll be armed with ELVIRA on repeat (that never fails me). It didn't help that it was dark and rainy the whole way home, when the scream session was in full hystericss.
Now, breastpump issues. I've found the best time to pump is at 3 AM when my boobs are full full full. But what I call "success" is getting 1 oz out so actually my success is actually a big fat FAIL. So when I go away for a couple hours (we are talking 2 to 3 hours away) and feel obligated to leave 4 ounces, that literally is like 6 pumping sessions. Last week I left 4 oz and Blaine only ate 1 oz so I had to throw away 3 oz. THROWING AWAY THAT MUCH LATE NIGHT TIME KILLED ME. Then I realize with his size he needs a bottle that is like 8 oz and I know that is like 2 weeks of pumping. Yes something is enemy like in that situation because I know most girls can pump 5 oz at a sitting. And I know there is easily 5 oz inside of there, I can feel they are still full but nothing is coming out! Gah.
No one said motherhood would be easy!
12 comments:
I am certainly no pumping expert as it never worked for me at all but a good friend told me she could never do it until one night her husband was entertaining the baby but he started to cry and then her body reacted and "let down" and then she got the hang of it. After that she always used a blanket that smelled like him and/or a picture of him to get that response from her body so she could get the milk out. Have you tried anything like that?
i havent tried anything that smelled like him; that's a good idea! i'm willing to try anything! it is definitely a let down issue though, because when that tingling happens it really starts flowing but the problem is the pump wont cause the tingle. (that just sounds weird LOL)
I started pumping early with Eli because I went back to work when he was only 6 weeks, but here's what I did:
I struggled for through pumping enough to get 1 good bottle (he was little, so this was only 3 or 4 ounces & it took me a few days!). Then, Hubby fed him said bottle during a normal feeding time and I pumped while Eli was eating. It took a few times of doing that to be able to pump a bottle's worth at a time.
I think something key with pumping is doing it regularly... I work so it is a little different for me, but I get 7-8 ounces when I pump now. Eli is 6 months next week and he takes 7 1/2 ounce bottles and eats 5 times a day
Hope this helps!
Beer!
Can I add stroller to the list? I wa trying to push it today with heavy Christmas presents in hand. It was pouring rain and windy so I covered Noah with a blanket. The wind blew off the blanket so he got wet while I chased it...packages in hand! What a mess! I feel your pain :)
I think not being able to pump enough is why some Moms add a bottle of formula once a day.I know it is the last thing you want to do but sometimes you have to be gone during a feeding. Heather had a hard time getting more then two oz even with a commercial pump so when she just had to be gone at feeding time we mixed the breast milk and formula together. I guess it was a good thing we had gotten Ian adjusted to formula then since he ended up having to have a feeding tube after his surgery.
peg! ugh, aint that the truth! if i had to go back to work, like i know heather did, i probably would have had to of gone that route. luckily i am only gone like 1 or 2 times a week for 2 or 3 hours at a time max so in reality, that little chubby thigh guy doesnt even need to eat when I'm gone! i also prob would have started solids at the first possible time (if i had to work) that way other people could feed him those.
You know my pumping knowledge is limited to exclusively pumping(over 1200oz of breastmilk in my freezer currently), but here are a few things to try if you haven't already. Massage, massage, massage those girls while you pump. It makes a huge difference. Also make sure you have the right size pump horns. The ones that come with the pump are by no means the size that fit everyone. I actually found I have to use 2 different size ones otherwise I wasn't maximizing my output. Make yourself a hands free pumping bra. Cut some holes in an old sports bra. Then once you have a hands free setup, do something while you pump. Read blogs, surf the internet, etc. Get your mind off pumping. If you obsess over every drop that comes out it hurts output. Also maybe 3am isn't the best time for you. Your body produces the most milk in the hours between midnight and 5am, but if you are uncomfortable or just really want to get back to bed it can hurt production. Those are just a few things I've found along the way to help me out. Good luck!!
Great advice from Kari-- I'm completely jealous of her freezer stash. (1200 oz?! I have about 60 oz. in my freezer.) Massage seems to make a slight difference for me, and I had to go up two sizes in the pump flanges-- I think I could probably go up another size comfortably.
I do find that being distracted seems to help-- when I watch every drop going into the bottle, I never seem to get as much as when I'm busy, then I look down and see a half full bottle. (I use the hole in the sportsbra hands free method, too.)
I've taken Fenugreek for a few days to boost my supply and pumping output a little-- it seemed to work.
Currently, I get 4-6 oz when I pump immediately after Liam's first feeding. I then pump 1-2 other times during the day (I never wake at night to feed or pump-- Since Liam is sleeping through the night, so am I!) to get another 4-6 ounces. My goal is to pump 10 oz eaqch day between Liam's nursing sessions-- he gets 5oz each night in a bottle from daddy and 5 oz goes into the freezer so mommy can have a day/night out and grandparents can do the feedings.
This is hilarious. I can totally relate. As far as the car goes...immersion therapy is the way to go. Keep doing it and don't stop. Do you sit in back with him? Try it if not and bring books and read and just entertain away and he will settle into the drive.
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I totally hear you on the car issue - we had the same problem for Austin's entire first year. Never found anything that worked - besides not riding in the car. Sorry!
As for pumping...I would say DON'T pump at 3 a.m. - get your sleep! If you have plenty of milk first thing in the morning (which it sounds like you do), I go the pump on on side while nursing baby on the other route. This is only worth it if baby can get enough from one breast, but I've been doing this for 7 months now, every morning, and it builds up a good stash! Good luck...
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