Hanging up the Horns

That's right you read that right...I am hanging up the horns. I started pumping regularly in September of 2010 and one year later I will be done. Tomorrow is my last day and I have to say it's been a journey.  There were times when I was delusional and I thought I would be able to pump until she was 18 months old, but that was really until I realized that I could nurse her and not pump and it would be okay.

When I first started pumping I was working in the office 3 days a week and it was a bit tough. I had to schedule the room, get my pump and go downstairs for 3 breaks at a 1/2 hour each time. When I first started I didn't have a hands free pump, so I had to hold both of them the entire time - talk about a pain in the butt. You can't read a book and turn pages and stuff when you are holding both bottles.

It got SOOO much better once I got a hands free pumping bra. For all those ladies out there that are pumping if you are doing it a lot you NEED to get one of these. It was the best $30 bucks I have spent on pumping supplies. This really is what saved me. It helped me go from being handicapped pumper to a pro-pumper where I could work while pumping. It really helped me not have to extend my work day by an hour each day and able to still get things done.

Some things I learned over the last year of pumping.

1. It's not easy
2. You definitely need to have a hands free pump system or bra if you are going to pump as much as I did
3. You need to have a nice room/set up to pump to feel comfortable because it will effect your output.
4. A pump is loud over the phone and sounds like either a treadmill or a dog barking - yes that happened to me
5. It's not easy to pump in the car
6. It's definitely not easy to pump in a women's locker room, or in a hallway - but it can be done, same as #5.
7. You need to have support to pump for a long time
8. You need to not feel guilty when you want to stop, no matter when that is
9. Size does matter!! The size of the horns definitely has to be right or it can effect your output
10. Hand compressions while pumping increases your output (unfortunately I didn't learn this until about 5 weeks ago)

I am so glad to be done pumping and I am praying that I can keep nursing my baby girl for a lot longer. I really like the bonding time that she and I have while nursing. But I have to admit that it will be super nice not to have to worry about not having milk for her, the stress of not pumping enough. Now we can go out to a restaurant and if in a pinch we need milk we can get it from them. Gabby is taking to whole milk like a champ. I have about 30oz left in the freezer so when that's out it's out....Another chapter closed and another one opened....

I want to give all my pumping mama's out there a big round of applause. Keep it up!! I am here to support you as I know I will need your support the next time I do this!