Once upon a time, I hooked myself up to a double electric pump three times a day, for twenty minutes at a time. At the end of each day I would have six to seven ounces of milk, which I immediately froze in breast milk storage bags. Even with the occasional errand or morning of sleeping in, during which times Dan would have to feed Ryan, the frozen milk supply hovered around the 200 ounce range.
Then we got the eviction notice, and our life fell apart. (Seriously, that’s how it felt. We were that stressed, that upset)
Suddenly we were busy looking at houses, going to appointments to discuss financing and fill out applications. Then Daniel’s grandmother went into the hospital. And then, a week later, she died. Then we were packing. And then we were painting. And then we were running over car loads of stuff to the new house. And then we were running to the new house to meet the company who would turn on the water. And the company who would install the propane. And the company who would bring the fridge and range. And the company who would bring the washer and dryer. And then the guy who would do the estimate on replacing our kitchen floor (thanks, washer and dryer company).
And then we were moving.
I was busy, and I was stressed. Very, very stressed. The end result? When we moved to the new house I brought one lonely little seven ounce bag of milk.
Once we finished unpacking, I threw myself at that breast pump with open arms and open bra. I pumped three, four, five, six times a day. It took me nine sessions (that’s 180 minutes, people!) to get six ounces. I was thrilled and only slight discouraged.
That was six days ago. Five sessions after that gave me eight (eight!) ounces. Three sessions after that gave me six ounces. Tonight? One session gave me two and a half ounces.
I’m getting there!
Just wondering, like the less you pump or nurse, does that make your breasts hurt?
Good luck
Sheena – if the decrease is gradual, it isn’t too uncomfortable. But if it’s sudden – like one day I suddenly miss one or two feedings and/or one or two pumping sessions, it is. My breasts will be very full, and of course very heavy, hard, and tender to the touch. They’ll even start aching.
My breasts are very used to having milk removed every two to four hours, with the exception of night time, since after I pump and before Ryan is up in the morning I’m asleep for seven or eight hours.
Chien Yee – thank you!
Good stuff, thanks!
Thanks, Jenn. Happy Easter.