Struggling to pump

I feel the same, have been pumping every 3 hours for 12 weeks now! Its draining and normal every day life is getting harder. My baby is now starting to sleep 7-8 hours but here I am at 3am still pumping! It feels like it’s all I do! Xx

It can be a hormone thing when you pump called (D-MER) but also if your nipples are hurting it could be an issue with the flange size. The pumping schedule is so grueling especially if you aren't producing how you want to. Stay hydrated. Drink electrolytes. Fuel your body because you can't make milk if you aren't eating enough. Any breast milk is better than none, don't let the ladies on social media that are over producers make you feel like you aren't making enough. Especially as a first time mom. Also there's no shame in stopping if you decide it's negatively effecting you. Post partum is so hard already and just more complicated if you breast feed or pump. Just be kind to yourself during this hard time 🫂

Hey mama I literally went through this. I know exactly how you feel! I tried to pump as much as I could and during the night too as that's the best time for milk production but I just found the whole thing stressful and really hard. My baby was BF anyway but I needed to increase my supply. I was combi feeding so I knew he was getting enough but I wanted my milk to be his main source. I initially had the double medela pump but I felt so trapped. I couldn't even hold my baby or move or do anything so I bought wearable pumps to give me some freedom. I'd be pumping for ages and all I'd get was like 10ml. It was soul destroying. I lasted until he was 4m old and decided I'd stop. Honestly, it was the best decision. I felt so much better and like a weight had been lifted and all this pressure was gone. I really respect mums who pump around the clock and have liters of supply. I wished that was me. I don't regret anything though, my baby is happy and healthy with a relaxed and happy mummy and that's what matters xxx

Are you trying to pump both breasts at the same time/ straight after each other or left breast at say 9am then right breast at 12pm then left at 3pm right at 6pm? I went through this and pumped both breasts and struggled to make much. My midwife then told me to only pump one breast at a time every 3 hours, so your body produces milk the same times a baby would normally feed xx

@Lorna I never heard of some doing that! That makes sense though! I usually do both breasts at the same time.

@Lorna did this actually help you produce more?

Exactly why I just breastfed directly from the boob. I couldn’t take the pump, wash, sterilize etc. I also felt like a cow with the pump

@Miranda Gray I’ve messaged you xx

I power pump and picked a show to watch specifically for when I'm pumping to keep my mind busy. I use pumping time as tummy time for my baby so I don't need to hold him but he's still being taken care of

@Roz maybe her baby doesn’t latch well 🤷🏼‍♀️ I swear it’s like they know we’re gonna pump. Can they smell it?! 😂 I try to wait until he’s napping to pump, and if he wakes up, I’ll entertain him with a toy or contrast book while he lies in his bassinet. If he starts screaming, that’s a different story.

Girl I struggled a lot. I don’t know how I managed to push through till my baby was 6 months old. A wearable pump sometimes helps a lot

ugh, I totally get it, pumping can be such a pain and it feels like a juggling act with a baby wanting you too, don't beat yourself up about the formula, you’re doing your best! Just looked it up on the 'Heal Baby Care App' and here’s what it says: "It sounds like you're going through a really tough time, and it's completely normal to feel overwhelmed and frustrated with pumping. Many parents share similar struggles, especially when balancing pumping with a baby's needs. It's important to remember that supplementing with formula is okay and can relieve some pressure. To make pumping easier, consider trying to pump when your baby is napping or using skin-to-skin contact to help stimulate milk flow. Have you explored different pump settings or types to find one that’s more comfortable for you?