Weird pumping guilt

ALL THE TIME I am UK too never met another mum who pumps 100%. I’m at just over 11 months and even have family who say don’t know how you’ve carried on so long. I dreamt of breastfeeding and really struggled with it so felt like I owed my daughter (even though I have nothing against formula) but have met mums who have said I couldn’t do that it’s much easier to nurse. Yes but we aren’t all lucky to get that experience! Feel free to message if you like x

That’s so similar to my experience! Thank you I feel less alone at least 🤍

I nearly had mastitis at Christmas and my in laws were like “does this mean you’ll finally stop pumping?” Gee, thanks for the support guys!! And don’t get me started on “why don’t you just nurse?” 🫠

Did you also find that no professionals over here know anything about pumping? Even my lactation consultant didn’t really know much about pumping beyond what’s written on the la leche league website 😂

Congrats on nearly making it to a year! That’s amazing 🤍🤍

I went to a paediatrician who couldn’t help much bc of my baby refusing breasts only bottle n ended up asking ME why 😭😭if I knew I wouldn’t be there ..

I’m so sorry you feel alone in this journey. I’m in the US, but I’m originally from India. When I went to India on holiday, I remember feeling like no one understood me and why I chose to pump. I constantly kept getting asked ‘why?’ ‘Why did the baby not latch?’ ‘Formula is so advanced, you can go for it!’ ‘Didn’t latch? That’s so weird!’ Etc.
Although I’ve never met another mom here in the US who pumps as well. I remember meeting a couple of moms who straight up called me ‘you’re crazily dedicated, I can never dream of it’ for exclusively pumping for 18months.
And for the moms who say ‘taking time away from baby’, I’d have seriously punched them in the face. Glad I never met anyone who said that to me!

The only thing that helped me not feel alone was to follow exclusively pumping moms and pages on Instagram. Having the opportunity of seeing exclusively pumping content every time I opened Instagram made me feel a bit more normal. You can search by hashtags n follow!
🫶🏽

18 mos is incredible!! I’d really like to make it that far, but we’ll see how it goes with my supply. Can I ask how many times a day were you pumping after 12 months? If you can recall.

I’ve stopped going on insta since my little one was born but I’ll take a look for some accounts cause that’s a good idea, thank you!

I’m in the UK and pumped for nearly a year, and found that health professionals didn’t know anything useful about pumping. People would comment saying things like ‘oh gosh I couldn’t be bothered with that, pumping is too much effort’. My friends who were nursing their babies were pretty supportive because they knew how draining pumping can be, and they knew how much I wanted to nurse instead. I think the hardest part of pumping is that it’s kinda lonely as you don’t feel part of either the nursing gang or the formula feeding gang. And let’s be honest pumping has the shitty bits of both! (Maintaining supply and washing bottles!) I also got fed up of all the breast feeding info being aimed at those who could nurse - just made me feel totally defective. We should be applauding women who pump. What a labour of love ❤️

Thank you! 1yr is truly amazing too! When I started, I didn’t even think I could make it till 6months😅

I was pumping 4-5x. We started travelling more often after our bub turned one, so on super busy days I’d just do 4. (I also had a huge supply and a lot stored in the freezer, so I didn’t mind the supply drop when I’d do only 4pumps).

https://www.instagram.com/bemybreastfriend?igsh=MzY1NDJmNzMyNQ==

https://www.instagram.com/exclusive_pumping?igsh=MzY1NDJmNzMyNQ==

Just search the hashtag, you can find tons of influencers/bloggers who are currently pumping mommas.

the advice from health visitors and midwives is shocking, isn’t it?? I was given a pump to use in hospital shortly after baby was born and not one person on the ward knew how to use it!

Weirdly the only person whose made me feel normal about pumping was my GP, who is a not particularly empathetic young man, but I was explaining I don’t breastfeed, I pump and he said “do you feed your daughter with milk from your breasts? Great, you’re breastfeeding. Well done, I hear it’s a lot of work” and then moved along.

I feel so much better reading these comments and knowing I’m not alone in this struggle!!

thank you, that’s really helpful 💕

I do from my sisters. They say to me direct breastfeeding is easier but i presonally cant stand it, ive massive boobs and feel like im suffocating them. Im pregnant now and theyve asked why dont i just formula feed (ive nothing against formula both my other 2 had/ended up on formula) ive tried explaining i just find pumping more comfortable.

Your baby is still getting all the benefits of breastmilk, theres nothing wrong with pumping as i said i prefer it xx