Pumped

[dancerjodi]

I went to my last Thursday drop in group at Newton Wellesley Hospital (lactation support) and talked with Sherry (consultant) about what Beth (Isis Consultant) said. The two of them go way back, and Sherry said that Beth is the best and she'd support whatever advice she had. Except for her bottle suggestions - she suggested a breastflow bottle and gave me one to try. She also said that the Symphony pump would most definitely be more efficient timewise and if I use it well/often over the weekend, it could boost my supply.

Mina fed from me fairly well at the group yesterday - she took in 3.6 ozs which is about a normal at-breast meal for her. She was difficult/fighting/coming off in the beginning but then settled in well eventually. I was probably feeding her for 40 minutes between the two sides (which is long, but seems average for her, at least now). Hopefully new bottles will help with this.

I did pick up the Symphony after the group at Isis, and it is way faster/better/easier. I'll use it at home over the weekend and bring it into work next week and leave it there (I'll have the Pump in Style for at home). I'm wondering now if I should get myself another hands=free bra. It would surely be easier than carrying one back and forth each day, though it's not large, forgetting it would be a huge PITA at the office.

We're dropping her at the childcare center today and spending the day together, getting some things done. I want to stick fairly close to home so that I can pump every 3 hours as if I was at work. We'll drop her and leave my car for an oil change and get breakfast (or vice versa). I want to bring some things to my office and get the key and such. Maybe I'll go get myself that new (larger) fall/spring jacket. The girls are too big so the old trenchcoat won't close well, and there is no way in hell I'm wearing my fancy leather jacket that I bought in Florence out with a spitting up baby. For a while, that will be for special 'date night' events.

So weird, that my little girl will be 12 weeks old on Tuesday. My first day back at work and I have dance class that night, so it would be a long time away from her on the first day. It is also our wedding anniversary, so I'm going to skip class so that the three of us can spend some time together.

Comments

[nepenthedreams]

You'll soon get into a rhythm and you'll rarely forget everything you need.

My worst day was when I forgot the milk containers .... luckily CVS carries Medela compatible bottles.

Wow - first day - the first day will be the hardest. I know my boss told me I didn't have to stay at the office the whole first day.

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tips! My boss is very flexible, which is making this easier.

[nepenthedreams]

I think I might have mentioned this on Gauri's journal, but I ended up leaving the "corset-style" pumping bra in my pump bag for emergencies along with all the other supplies. But I also got some hands-free pumping bras that are meant to be worn like a regular bra and most days I would wear those. I think it makes sense to leave one with your pump for emergencies.

Then I dragged my heavy Symphony to/fro work (and to/fro the pump room) every day because we are not allowed to leave anything in the pump room ... and because I didn't have another good pump at home. Ow. I was so jealous of my friend at Children's Hospital where the company bought a Symphony for any nursing mom to share (you just had to bring your own supplies for it - the tubes etc).

[dancer.livejournal.com]

They are restructuring the space in my office, so I left with a cube and am returning to an office with a door that locks and has no windows! I am so happy to leave the Symphony there (the Pump in Style will stay at home).

I have the one hands-free bustier style that Isis sells and I LOVE IT. I have to put over whatever regular nursing bra I'm wearing (pull the shirt up, the bra down and put this on over it all). The more I'm doing it the faster/less awkward it is.

[nepenthedreams]

SWEET! Congrats on the office. That's amazing! I would have given anything to have been able to pump while I was working - I always had to get up, go to the other side of teh building (in one place, I had to go down an elevator even) - get set up ... we also didn't have anyway to schedule so I had to hope that no one else was already in there pumping.

I shouldn't complain - some women have to pump in the bathroom - or their cars. I talked to a lawyer who had to pump in her car before going into the courthouse.