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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Downstairs neighbour complaining about my breastpump, AIBU not to change rooms at night?

733 replies

Cealee · 08/12/2015 17:11

Just bought a new powerful pump as I'm exclusively expressing. We live in a flat that's split over 2 levels so our bedroom is on 1st floor, our lounge upstairs on 2nd floor. Our neighbour (on ground floor) caught me in hall to ask what the 'mechanical noise' is that wakes her up Blush I explained its my breastpump and that I need to express at 11pm, 3am and 7am to maintain supply. She said it makes ceiling vibrate and is very loud (even though it's not on the floor it's on a cushion on my bedside table!) She asked me to do it upstairs. I explained this isn't practical as my DH wears earplugs so I need to be able to hear baby if he wakes. She suggested I take baby upstairs with me!! Why should I have to move my sleeping baby upstairs (and risk waking him) every time I express milk? He's just started sleeping through and got used to his cot. And there's no way I'm going to move cot upstairs and sleep on sofa for the next 8months Angry

AIBU to think it's rude to tell someone not to express milk in their own bedroom? It's not like I'm playing loud music! I don't see why neighbour can't just get some earplugs!

OP posts:
Chippednailvarnish · 08/12/2015 17:12

YABVU.

And rude.

Chippednailvarnish · 08/12/2015 17:13

Oh yes and welcome to MN.

FlameProofBoots · 08/12/2015 17:13

Is this a reverse? Why can't you just go upstairs and take a monitor with you while you're expressing? Or get your dh to stay downstairs with the baby while you express?

momb · 08/12/2015 17:14

How old is your baby?
You won't need to express though the night for long, and it's may only be the 3am that's waking your neighbour. Could you go upstairs for that one out of consideration?

FrostyNipples · 08/12/2015 17:14

It doesn't matter why you are making the noise, you can move rooms.
YABU

RaptorsCantPlayPoker · 08/12/2015 17:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Whatdoidohelp · 08/12/2015 17:15

Put the pump on your bed. It will absorb a lot of the vibration.

Yabvu, if it is waking her up it doesn't matter if it's a pump or music

Cealee · 08/12/2015 17:16

But it's a breast-pump, essential for feeding my baby! I can't prevent it making a noise.

Oh and I'm a regular, I NC in case my neighbour's on here!

OP posts:
VikingVolva · 08/12/2015 17:17

You need a different pump ASAP.

It is simply not fair to disturb your neighbours like this.

Or rearrange so it is your DH who is disturbed (not your poor neighbour who is unconnected to the baby).

TaliZorah · 08/12/2015 17:17

Use a baby monitor?

YABU. Noise is noise whether it's a breastpump or vacuum cleaner

ButterflyUpSoHigh · 08/12/2015 17:17

YABU it must be very loud for her to have commented.

Stimpack · 08/12/2015 17:17

I'd be going apeshit if I was your neighbor, move the pump FFS.

Chattymummyhere · 08/12/2015 17:18

I think you should move where you express if your pump is waking her up at 11pm, 3am and 7am. Let's face it your going to be doing it for a while each time and it's very rude to be waking her up just so you don't have to change rooms. If it's loud enough that you wouldn't hear your baby crying if it woke up I would expect a complaints letter from the noise team in the near future if you don't move it upstairs and use a baby monitor to see if he/she wakes while your expressing.

BondJayneBond · 08/12/2015 17:18

You could get a baby monitor, so then you'd hear your baby if he woke while you were expressing in another room.

If the vibrations are waking your neighbour in the middle of the night, then I think you should try that. Why should she be woken by your expressing every night for the next 8 months or so?

Stillunexpected · 08/12/2015 17:18

Why is your DH wearing earplugs? Is it so he isn't bothered by the noise of his own baby? If so, tell him it's time to grow up and do his share of the night wakings! I also don't understand why you need to express so often - that suggests your baby is very young but then would probably be waking every few hours for a feed anyway? I only ever had to express in order to have extra for times when I might be away or to stop from leaking all over the place.

Chasingsquirrels · 08/12/2015 17:18

Bis it like some sort of pneumatic drill? Tbh i would say sorry i can't and leave it at that. Id happily do it elsewhere at other times but not in the middle of the night with a small baby.

RaptorsCantPlayPoker · 08/12/2015 17:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

shutupandshop · 08/12/2015 17:19

Yabu. Thats a choice you have made, not fair on your neighbour.

shutupandshop · 08/12/2015 17:19

Can dh listen for baby or use a monitor?

SauvignonBlanche · 08/12/2015 17:20

YABU, can't you use a manual one at night?

Spilose · 08/12/2015 17:21

YABU. Just move. Why is your OH wearing earplugs? He can listen out for baby or use a monitor.

Pollyputhtekettleon · 08/12/2015 17:21

That's tricky. Can you put more cushioning around it to try and mute the sound more? Wrap the motor bit in a towel?

I know this isn't your question but why are you waking yourself up to pump at times baby is not feeding? It would be much more efficient to feed your baby in the night when it needs it both for your supply and for your rest. Is it that you need extra the next day? That's ok very short term but you actually become more inefficient by not matching your babies times or feeding directly where possible. Up to you though. More just curious why you get up 3 times a night to pump. Sounds exhausting.

LittlestLightOnTheTree · 08/12/2015 17:21

Wow your attitude is disgusting

There are things you can do to make it quieter for your neighbour, but no, you feel you are 'entitled' to disturb people! You aren't the first person to have a baby you know!

NellysKnickers · 08/12/2015 17:21

Get a hand pump for night time and stop being so selfish. You aren't the first woman to have a baby.

MistressMerryWeather · 08/12/2015 17:22

YABU.

Tell your DH to take out his earplugs.