Working and Pumping
I feel strongly about breastfeeding. Prior to giving birth I had no idea how strongly I would feel about it, as I always assumed it was a given. But my first few weeks of crying, pain, and "helpful" relatives simply made me a determined lactivist. Not only that, but I've always been proud of my boobs. They used to be my shining glories. Now they no longer look that great, but they also no longer belong to me. They are unequivocally the property of my baby boy.
Of course, I can't bring him to work with me. That's where the pump comes in. I have a Medela Pump-In-Style Advanced. It's cute enough to be inconspicuous (though totally noticable if you know what to look for), has plenty of space to fit my cooler in, and can either plug in or operate from a battery pack. Who knew that it would become my new best friend? I pump twice daily at work. That has become "Me" time. I get to shut my office door so nobody bothers me. I get to chill out at my computer and surf, blog, or chat on DS. Sure, it may be annoying to have to pump every day without fail (trust me, my boobs would mutiny if I didn't), but it's not so bad. I'm actually getting a little sad about the day I would have to give it up! Many, many people quit breastfeeding at a year, despite that being the minimum recommended time. I don't know about you, but I've always felt the need to go above and beyond most things in life. So to me, doing the minimum is like getting a C or a D in school. Passing? Sure. But that's about it. And unless I absolutely loathed the subject, a passing grade was never good enough for me. And when the subject in question is my child's health and future - well I think you can see where this is going.
So back to the pump. My baby boy is 10.5 months. So my days pumping are probably numbered. Thanks for the memories, PISA!
So back to the pump. My baby boy is 10.5 months. So my days pumping are probably numbered. Thanks for the memories, PISA!
I loathed pumping. Hated with a passion. Counted the hours until he'd turn 1 so I could give it up. But you know what? When that 1 year mark was approaching, I felt the same way you do: a little conflicted, and perhaps nostalgic. I was actually sad to stop pumping, for a lot of reason. I'm still breastfeeding my boy now (20 months) but I haven't pumped since last May, and the 12 months that I did pump seem now like they flew by - just as everything with these kids does. We'll wake up tomorrow, and they'll all be in college, and we'll forget what it even felt like to breastfeed. Makes me want to put on the brakes and pump forever.
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