Losing hope

Hey hun, can I ask why you are pumping? If nursing is your goal, just keep baby on breast. You don’t have to pump if you don’t want to / need to.
And if you have a partner, they should be bringing you water and food and such. If they can’t nurse the baby, they can provide for you while you do it.

I’m a little bit over 2 months into my nursing and pumping journey and doing everything alone/live alone. The first month or so this was exactly how I felt. I just didn’t want to anymore. I had zero motivation to keep going so made a pro/con list and for me the benefits of nursing greatly outweighed giving formula. That being said I had to figure out what works best for me and my baby routine wise, I try to “meal prep” as much as possible for dinner in specific, like for example just make a big batch of pasta and eat it for a couple days then lots of protein bars and bowls of fruit, or toast and eggs, easy and quick things the rest of the day and always keep water bottles and juice boxes on my nightstand so I don’t have to get up.

I only need one hand to nurse realistically and will put a wearable pump on the other side so it’s not double the time (nursing then pumping after) rotating sides. I do that for each feeding except in the night (we cosleep currently so I can get proper rest) but will eat during feeds most of the time so I have time for everything else; showers/chores during naps or whatever else I need to do. But mama eating and water is sooo important while breastfeeding as well as taking care of yourself. You can’t pour from an empty cup baby needs his mommy to be taken care of too not just him. It’s gets easier I promise you just have to figure out what works best for you, it’s not a one size fits all that’s why it’s a journey. You can always send me a message on here if you need to talk as well. Blessings <3

hey. I pump because it seems like he’s not getting full at the breast even after almost an hour of nursing on and off he can still drink an Oz of milk(or maybe half an ounce) from the bottle. He usually drinks 2 OZ from the bottle alone

Do you have access to lactation consultants where you live? I was also nursing and pumping in the beginning and the LCs were able to help me. They did a weighted feed and showed me how much he was getting at the breast. It just assured me that I was doing everything right. That he was getting enough. That and wet diapers and weight gain.

They also explained that babies drink more from bottles because it is easier. They don’t have to work so hard to get the milk out as the bottle nipple has its own flow rate/leaks. That if my goal was to nurse, to just start there.

Breastfeeding is hard work. And no one tells us that. So you’re doing great. You’re doing everything you can for that baby. You’re a good mom. Just remember that. You’re a damn good mom.

ugh imon the same boat. im in the pumping ans nursing trenches.tryinf to produce or at leaat keep my milk supply, as I dont really jave much to store. I love nursing my baby so much but the pumping part is really starting to get to me

hello! How old is baby? It could be that they are cluster feeding. If your baby has enough wet nappies and is putting on weight, they are getting enough! Follow lucywebberfeedingsupport.ibclc on Instagram, lots of info on there!!

Lots of good suggestions and advice. Some babies just LOVE the boob, mine would be latched for 1.5 hours sometimes, probably even once or muliple times a day till 6 months. I couldn't have gotten through it without feeding in a carrier, especially for latched naps as it allowed to to eat, drink, walk around, go toilet ect ect. And again like a few towers have said, if babies sis gaining weight (according to their chart not comparing to other) and is doing consistent wet and dirty nappies they are likely getting enough milk and are probably just cluster feeding or comfort feeding

We have these ideas of how breastfeeding should be, as yes some babies can have a fill feed in 20 mins and go hours without milk, bit a lot of bf babies need constant milk, short frequent feeds or loooooooong feeds of being lagchs for 1+ hours, aslomg as weight is good and nappies are good it is not a milk issue, it's a baby being a baby. And that's not to say it isn't exhausting and extremely hard sometimes, but it helps to know it's normal

baby is 12 days old

oh yes, baby is 100% cluster feeding. They are encouraging your milk production! It’s a hard time for you as the breast feeder, but it will even out and baby will take less time to feed. You probably don’t need to worry too much about pumping, just keep latching baby it out works for you! If you’re worried, speak to a lactation consultant or someone who is well-trained in breastfeeding.