The One With the RFPs and Pumping

First let me say this:  I'm not an authority on babies, or breastmilk, or the effect of breastmilk on a baby's development. What I do know is that I've made the best choice for my family and for me. My choice is to exclusively breastfeed our baby girl until we introduce solids she reaches a year of age. I've said all along my plan was to breastfeed for at least the first year of her life. Even once we introduce her to solids (hopefully around 6 months or maybe sooner), she'll still need the nutritional benefits of breastmilk. However, I also said I wanted to have a natural drug free birth and we see how that turned out. Vowing to try to achieve at least one of my goals for raising this baby, I commit to breastfeeding my baby until she's at least one year old.

What does this mean for me (the weekday professional)?

We have a unique day care arrangement. Baby girl Andy goes to an in-home daycare/nannie in the nearby and neighboring town of Round Hill on Mondays and Fridays (more to come regarding that added expense in a future post), my mother in law watches her on Tuesdays and she's at home with her poppa on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Me:  I go to the office every day. My routine is the same as it was before I had the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. (yes, I'm biased - but in case you want to decide for yourself - a picture).

Well, okay, I'm stretching the truth. My routine is ALMOST the same as it was before I had the most beautiful baby I've ever seen (what? you want another picture...fine!)

 

What I'm trying to get at, is that my drive to the office is now accompanied by a nice leather satchel purse looking thing. It's contents provide me with the tools to supply each of Andy's caregivers with bottles of expressed breastmilk. Bottles they can feed her while I'm away from her. Seems simple enough. Pump enough bottles each day so that the next day, her caregiver can feed her my breastmilk. Simple. Sure. Um, hardly. It's hard. It hurts from time to time (and yes I'm doing it right). It reminds me I'm away from her. It breaks up my workday and not always in a good way. Simple. Yeah right! It's like I have two kids. Andy and The Pump. Don't get me wrong, I love feeding her. It give us some special time together, just the two of us. No one else in the world will have that with her. I race home each evening after work so I can have that first nursing session. It relaxes me, calms and soothes her and reminds me that I'm doing the right thing. The right thing for me and my family. And what's the greatest reward? When she's nursing and she stops to look up at me and stares into my eyes and smiles her sweet, innocent smile. There is a connection that happens in that moment that is beyond anything I can explain. It's like, in her own little way, she's saying thank you. Thank you momma for feeding me the good stuff and thank you for the bottles you work so hard to pump for me, but most of all thank you momma for letting me have the "fresh milk" from you whenever we're together.

I've been back at work now 4 weeks if someone were to ask me how the pumping was going - my answer would be a disappointed sounding "alright I guess". I often delay or put off pumping at work for distractions, meetings, getting busy and a whole host of other excuses and therefore sometimes don't pump as often as I need to. Because of that, my supply is suffering. I get enough bottles and ounces but it's harder than it was in the beginning. In the past two days I've re-vowed to get back on track with pumping with enough frequency and trying not to worry about how much I am pumping (lord knows she's not starving with the rolls I see on those thighs). I've also added a natural supplement, it's called MotherLove More Milk Plus. I'm praying it helps.

We're looking forward to the weekend. Baptism class at church, a balloon festival, maybe a trip to the pumpkin patch if I can convince the hubby and a country club brunch with Andy's Uncle Bennie and Auntie Lauren. How will I ever decide what will she will wear????