Breastfeeding journey venting

Pumping is so hard and time-consuming, I get it. Could you try and pump while you're out? I have the momcozy m5 hands-free breast pump, and it helps when I'm out and about and need to pump. You just stick it in your bra and go. I like to put it on when I know I'll be driving. Or if you're on a budget, my favorite manual pump is the Medela Harmony manual pump. It drains me in 5 min per breast and is easy to just throw in your car.

I'm in the same boat. I'm tired all the time. I wanna eat everything in my house from how much energy is being consumed between nursing and pumping. I'm pumping anywhere from 30-50oz a day. My milk ducts get so swollen if I don't pump within 5 hours. But I'm determined. With my last, I only went a month because the engorgement was so bad and I was in pain all the time. I have way more knowledge now and I've been doing this for almost 10 weeks with over 1100oz in my freezer. I have the lansinoh discreet duo and elvie stride double hand free pumps. I prefer my elvie but the lansinoh does a good job as well. I use a spectra s1 at home to drain myself really well. When I'm out, I make sure I nurse as much as possible to keep myself comfortable.

I also have lansinoh reusable gel pads that go on cold and help relieve any nipple pain. As well as the gel rings that you can use hot or cold. Try massaging your milk ducts while you pump to relieve the pressure and pain. I've found that can help relieve them sooner. You're doing amazing. Doing both is so fucking hard and I'm with you there. I've wanted to quit sooooo many times but I'm determined to make it at least a year.

No good advice as im formula only just hugs. I swear the pumping is the hardest route so nothing but respect. Ice packs and warm showers and its ok to have a cry over it. Im sorry its a struggle but im glad you are able to vent here. You're doing better than you think ❤️

I feel your pain, pumping was making me so anxious, I’ve dropped it down to pumping once a day and I just nurse the rest of the time. I save the pumped milk for my husband to give the baby when I’m napping, but if I’m awake when she is hungry I’ll nurse her and we add the pumped milk to the freezer stash. I make just enough for an extra bottle a day

@Laura how did you go to just pumping once a day? When my son nurse from the breast he only empty one. When I pump I usually produce anywhere from 3-5 oz each breast

@Elizabeth I have pretty good freezer stash going on I was pumping hope to store enough for a years worth and then stop but I don’t even know how much milk I need for that

From what I've been told, it's 1,000oz per month to store

@Elizabeth I haven’t even been keeping track of how many oz or ml I have 😭 do I just start tracking it now

If you wrote the ounces on each bag, just count those and keep track 🙂

@Elizabeth I didn’t

How many oz are in each motif bag? You would need 23 bricks (gallon bags) with 7 - 6oz bags in each gallon bag to equal about a 1 month. Based on the picture it looks like 14 bricks and then about 2 more loose bricks, so about 16 bricks? So you would need about 7 more bricks to make a month.

Anywhere from 3-8oz most of them are 5 or 6oz though

Ah ok. Yeah hard to tell then. If you want to keep feeding your freezer in anticipation of stopping breastfeeding sooner, go for it if you want to! You are doing great! BUT - Once you feel like you can’t take it anymore, it’s ok to stop! With my twins, I stopped at 6 months because the demand was too much on my body. I did switch to formula, and my mental health and body felt so much better. I was no longer crabby all the time and in pain. Do what’s right for you momma! The baby will be fed no matter what, your well-being matters ❤️