pumpingmom breastfeeding postpartum breastmilk momlife workingmom breastfeedingmom normalizebreastfeeding baby boymom breastfeedingmama breastpump exclusivelypumping lactation newmom pumpingmilk activewear birth fedisbest momboss motherhood breastfeed breastfeedingsupport breastpumping exclusivepumping liquidgold maternity milkymama newborn nursing babyshowergiftideas
A dear client sent me this photo this week. She recently made the decision to stop pumping at work. She has religiously pumped for her baby despite a very demanding job and has worked hard to make it to this point. I hope she’s as proud of herself as I am of her.
The end of your pumping, breastfeeding, or lactation journey can be a very bittersweet feeling. Pride in knowing you made it as far as you did, sadness if you didn’t feel your goals were achieved, or relief from knowing you can take your pump out into a field and beat it senseless, Office Space style (gosh I hope someone gets that reference). Whether you breastfed for 8 days, 8 months, or more, your journey is your own. You’ve got this, friend. And if you don’t, there’s help out there to provide evidence based non judgmental support allowing you to make the best decision for your family. Shared with permission.
Oh, the tears.
When I think about spilled milk, it takes me back to my early days of breastfeeding, when I was still figuring out my pumping equipment and was operating on so little sleep. Not a good combo.
Sometimes, I finished a pumping session and unhooked, only to knock over a bottle and spill the entirety of it on my nightstand and floor. It especially pained me since I wasn’t pumping enough for my daughter’s needs at the time and had to supplement.
One thing that helped me to feel less terrible about it was when I focused on the fact that, even if I lost all the milk, it wasn’t a wasted pumping session. By pumping and emptying my breasts, I was still signalling to my body to make more milk for my baby for the next feed.
So if you’ve spilled milk, Mama, remember — nothing is wasted. Not even spilled milk.
Love,
@pumpingcoach
: @chelslarss
Double tap if you agree!
Breast milk isn’t “free.” In fact, choosing to breastfeed my daughter has been costly in many ways.
The biggest cost was my time. As any mama who has had to pump knows, pumping is a labor of love. And it is labor. If a mama was paid a minimum wage rate for the same number of hours I’ve spent pumping, washing pump parts, resolving clogged ducts and thrush, and researching lactation and pumping, she’d make at least around $35k+ (and that’s not including any other baby care — just breastfeeding!). So looking at it that way, breastfeeding cost a minimum of $35k on time alone.
Then there were the actual costs of multiple lactation visits when we were still trying to make nursing work, a hospital-grade pump rental (for all 14 months), pumping bras, bottles, various flanges, replacement pump parts, lactation supplements, and assorted accessories to make pump life easier.
So breast milk may not be “free.” But breast milk is priceless. This liquid gold is a perfect concoction made by my body specifically for my baby and her needs. It’s protected her from illness now, and she will experience a number of health benefits for her lifetime. So even though breastfeeding has cost me a lot, it’s been a worthwhile investment, and one that I would make again.
Follow @pumpingcoach for more!
I work out
.
.
.
#imakecomics #fitnessmotivation #makecomics #thursdaythoughts #thursdaymotivation #heartrate #heartratetraining #hiitworkout #workoutmotivation #momswhoworkout #momswholift #momswholiftheavy #momswhorun #fitmom #fitmomlifestyle #fitmomlife #postpregnancybody #pumpingmom #pumpingatwork #drawriotdaily #dailysketchbook
Getting ready to donate the last 1500oz of milk! My lifetime donation will be around 26000 oz after this milk finds a home. This milk was pumped with the help of my @laviemom products! Check out my story today for more info.
#milkdonor #breastfeedingmom #donormom #twins #twinmom #breastfeedingtwins #pumpingmom #workingmom #liquidgold #normalizemilksharing #normaltermbreastfeeding #humanmilkforhumanbabies @normalizebreastfeedingofficial #boobhive
“She’s pumped in the field, down range, in tactical vehicles. She’s dealt with criticism, endured mastitis, cluster feeding, teething, elimination diet and breastfeeding while separated for military trainings. 18 months strong. Perseverance.”.
.
.
and: @juliejohnsonphoto
Amazingmama: @osiriiisss
#normalizebreastfeeding #pumpingmom #mamava #breastpumping #militarymom #workingmom #motherhood #lactation #motherhoodrising #motivation #military #femalephotographer #strongmom
I’ve certainly mastered multi-tasking as a mama of twins (and as a mom of 3). Mike snapped this picture early this morning before he headed off to work. I was bottle feeding both girls as I pumped milk for them. I was also listening to an audio book. Life has been pretty crazy lately but I get a lot of satisfaction out of what I accomplish everyday. Sure there are times where I feel like I’m losing my mind and I can’t handle it all. But I’m slowly realizing that I can do this! .
.
.
.
#twinmom #pumpingmom #momofmultiples #twingirls #momof3 #girlmom #girlmama #twinpregnancy #preemies #momlife #lifestyleyoutuber #youtuber #youtubemom #jamiesjourney