Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

AIBU to hate pumping?

50 replies

Cloudninenine · 15/07/2021 21:36

My baby is 7 months old and pretty much exclusively breastfed. I had the idea that I would pump regularly to build up a supply of milk in the freezer, but in reality it’s SO hard.

I only ever seem to get an ounce at a time no matter how long I try, and I find it painful (unlike breastfeeding). It’s also awkward and time consuming and inconvenient. I spent £££ on a hands-free electric pump which barely works with my huge boobs.

The result is I have no stash in the freezer, and any time I have to leave my baby (thankfully this is rare) I have to work frantically in the days ahead to build up enough to get him through.

Did anyone else find this so hard? And does anyone have any tips for more successful pumping? I’m going back to work in 3 months and I don’t see how I will ever have enough milk to leave him ☹️

OP posts:

recreationalcalpol · 15/07/2021 21:54

Pumping is hard, but I don’t really think you need to worry about it. In three months he probably won’t need milk when you’re not around so don’t worry about that. I really don’t think you need a big freezer stash. For context, I went back to work at 16 weeks and hardly touched the stuff I had saved in the freezer - the milk I pumped during the day at work was enough to get DS through the next day and I added a bit more at the weekend.

Have you tried a haakaa pump? You just attach it to the other boob whilst feeding and collect the let down. It’s totally hassle free and not painful or faffy.

Merryoldgoat · 15/07/2021 21:56

I made next to zero breast milk so tried pumping to build my supply. Most miserable month of my life.

I also have huge breasts. The number of people who seemed unable to understand large breasts does not equal masses of milk was depressing.

StepladderToHeaven · 15/07/2021 21:58

YANBU. I was lucky in that breastfeeding was easy for me, but I absolutely hated pumping. So much effort for tiny amounts of milk!

If I were you I'd ditch it and give formula if you need to be away from your baby. They're still getting the benefit of being mainly breastfed, the occasional bottle of formula won't do any harm at all.

(I have massive boobs too - I wonder if that's why we both struggled?!)

Aquamarine1029 · 15/07/2021 21:58

Is your baby not eating any solids? In 3 months time their diet should be very varied, and they won't need much milk from you. You could breastfeed in the morning and evening when you're home.

elevenses75 · 15/07/2021 21:59

I hand expressed - takes ages
Or pumped one whilst he fed on the other, I could get a lot but I hated it. Preferred just feeding him myself. When I went back to work he was fine. He’d feed once I got home overnight once and first thing so I didn’t feel he missed out. I just didn’t enjoy pumping it’s sore with bigger boobs too

Fupoffyagrasshole · 15/07/2021 22:00

Yeah I just never bothered! Was planning going down that road but decided not to because of the hassle ! I just breastfeed and use the haaka most mornings and build a bit of a stash up that way!

I’ve got formula there as a back up of i ever need it although haven’t yet as haven’t needed to leave the babs yet!!

Life is hard enough with a small baby without adding an extra thing I felt 🙈

3womeninaboat · 15/07/2021 22:03

At 7 months, just mix feed. Breastmilk will still be the vast majority of the intake.
By the time you go to work the baby won’t need your milk the same way. It seems impossible now but it’s true.

Elune · 15/07/2021 22:03

What'll probably happen is that he just wants to feed more when you're around and might want to increase night feeds again. At 10 months, he won't need access to a lot of breast milk during the day.

EmRata95 · 15/07/2021 22:03

I successfully breastfed four babies, but could never get away with using a pump! I would sit for ages trying to express but nothing would come out. I spend a fortune on various pumps but I could never get more than an ounce off each side. In the end I got one of those suction ones you put on the opposite breast to the one your feeding from and I got slightly more out with that. I think some boobies just don't like breast pumps!

HalloHello · 15/07/2021 22:03

Yep same, took me a week to pump enough for 1 bottle so I could go out for a meal with my husband! Not worth it. I've already decided I won't bother this time and if I need to leave the baby, will just use formula.

TheKeatingFive · 15/07/2021 22:04

Pumping is brutal. I tried very hard to build up a supply with DS1 but with DS2 I couldn’t be arsed and he had some formula between 7 and 12 months old.

If I had another one, it would be so low down my list of priorities.

Elune · 15/07/2021 22:06

Also I would 100% just use formula and not stress about it, and I exclusively pumped for 3 months cos DD wouldn't latch (she finally did and I breastfed her till she was just over 1). It's honestly one of those things that isn't really massively important. I stressed over it quite a lot with DD. Currently pregnant again and I won't fret about topping up or giving some formula if needed because it really is so unimportant once you get out of the tiny baby fug.

Homemadearmy · 15/07/2021 22:06

I never pumped either. I bought cartons of formula for if I was going out. The only pump I got on with was called a breast reliever and you used to.be able to get them free from the health visitor. Stashes of breast milk seem more popular in the USA and you see people with freezers full of them. I'm in awe how they do it and feed

Chwaraeteg · 15/07/2021 22:08

Just don't pump. I hated pumping too. Didn't bother at all with my second. When you go back to work you can just breastfeed in the mornings and evenings. The baby will be fine and your milk supply will adjust quickly.

You may find yourself getting engorged while at work while your supply is adjusting - so initially you may have to express a little bit of milk to make yourself more comfortable or get into a similar feeding routine before you go back.

CoffeeNeeded2019 · 15/07/2021 22:08

The only way I managed to express was first thing in the morning; whilst feeding on the other side. Oh, and not looking at it seemed to take the pressure off!
Any other time of day I could only manage an ounce or so, but mornings I could usually get 4-5oz off. (Baby used to feed around 3am and I would then feed & express around 8am)
Also have huge boobs so did find it tricky to begin with!
Although at 7 months I’d have been ok adding in formula if needed to save myself the stress. Remember to be kind to yourself

YukoandHiro · 15/07/2021 22:08

YANBU - pumping is vile.

When/what do you need to be away from your baby for? If it's returning to work in a few months then solids and water or oat/cows milk will be fine for the hours you're apart.

FlyingPandas · 15/07/2021 22:09

YANBU OP.

Pumping is grim, thankless, miserable, uncomfortable. Breastfeeding is lovely and bonding and beautiful but there's something soul destroying about expressing. I have vivid, horrible memories of sitting there feeling like a fat ugly cow, crying over the breast pump and hating my life. It's not worth it. Honestly. Unless your baby has major health issues or allergies, just give formula. Don't beat yourself up and just go with it. Express as much as you need to keep up supply and avoid engorgement but don't kill yourself trying to 'build up a stash'. Just get the Aptamil out and have done with it.

Honestly, in three years' time not one nursery teacher will have a clue which DC were BF and no-one will give two hoots what type of milk they had.

Good luck with your return to work.

Bathsandnaps · 15/07/2021 22:09

Pumping is best done in the morning ime.
Ideally before baby feeds as baby will be more efficient at milk removal than a pump, so go for the easy milk!

Some (lots) of people find pumping really challenging, so don't beat yourself up about.

Hankunamatata · 15/07/2021 22:09

I could only pump while feeding on the other. I gave up at 6 months and gave formula when I needed to leave baby with someone.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 15/07/2021 22:13

It's a myth that you can wildly increase your supply with pumping after the first 8-12 weeks post partum. After your milk supply settles down, you don't generally have a lot spare, your body makes what your baby needs and baby takes it, so there won't be masses spare between feeds to pump.

To build up a freezer stash usually you need to either:

Have been regularly pumping from the early weeks when its relatively common to have oversupply, and thus by pumping it daily, maintained that oversupply after your milk supply settles down.
pump regularly, eg add in a pumping session daily eg an hour or two after baby goes to bed. You may not get much at first but after a few days might get a couple of ounces.
then when you do leave baby, you pump every 3 hours or so while away and if possible, store it, so that you have it ready for next time.

BUT

It's a pain. It's so much work for an odd night or two away.
Not everyone responds well to the pump. Some people just won't ever get much.

PlanBea · 15/07/2021 22:22

I pumped using a hospital grade pump for three weeks as we had issues with a tongue tie. I then moved onto a pump I bought myself. I said to my DH if expressing is the only way I can breastfeed, I'm moving to formula as I hated every minute of it. I felt the pump got more affection then my baby food in those first weeks as I struggled to get anything! I've barely pumped in weeks now, and I don't think I'm going to even after spending loads on a pump.

I did find applying a heat pack during pumping helped, and massage (but no good with the elvie as I kept knocking it off). And not looking at the amount collected made me stress a bit less so I got a bit more. But in the end we settled on combi feeding, which has worked for us, rather than stressing about expressing.

Notlostjustexploring · 15/07/2021 22:30

Oh, I can recommend a silicone haaka pump. I used to stick it on the side I wasn't using while feeding in the house. Worked a treat to build up a stash. 1-2 ounces a feed was typical, occasionally I'd get a full feeds worth. Other types of pumps were a fucking pain and not nearly as effective.

CoalCraft · 15/07/2021 22:33

I pumped exclusively (no formula, no direct breastfeeding, just pumped milk in a bottle,) for four months and it was HARD.

This is probably not what you want to hear after spending the £££ but the handsfree pumps are notoriously rubbish. I'm sure they must work for some people buy no one I've spoken to!! I had a £40 double electric pump from Amazon and it was really good. Not uncomfortable and could take 100 mL from each boob in 15 mins.

Lan2020 · 15/07/2021 22:35

Pulping is hard. Well I found it really hard! I spent most of my day pumping and it was stressful! I once built up a stash of 6 full bottles in the fridge, we went away overnight and when we came home the fridge hadn't been shut properly, so I had to throw all the milk away. I cried and cried and my partner didn't get it!

Carboholic · 15/07/2021 22:54

Yes it’s hard. I hated it.

If you really want a stash and think you need it, the tips are:

A good pump
Feeding on one side, pumping on the other at the same time
If not 2, then looking at the pictures/ videos of the baby while pumping
As you are probably introducing solids, you could soon drop a feed but not tell your boobs and pump at that time instead.

Flip

1 2