4:30-5am ~ Stumble out of bed to change, feed B from one side & pump from other
5:15am ~ shuffle downstairs, pour pumped milk into larger bottle to take to MIL, deconstruct pump & wash
5:20 am ~ reassemble pump
6:15am ~ pack pump for the workday & put in car
9:00 am ~ 1st pumping session locked behind a classroom door praying no one disobeys my sign for privacy.
Pump needs to be rearranged to double instead of single pump (again!)
9:30 am ~ combine pumped milk into 1 container, reassemble pump & run upstairs to fridge to hide milk in lunchbag while also making copies and finding time to pee
12:20 pm ~ run upstairs to get lunch, pee, run downstairs to lock classroom and start pumping session #2 (with more prayers no one walks in).
While hooked to pump, return emails, eat lunch, return calls (with pump covered with coat) & grade (more prayers I don't spill milk on papers to be returned)
12:45 pm ~ combine pumped milk #2, deconstruct pump, quickly hide pump and milk as students fill into room
2:30 pm ~ optional pump session #3 (although it rarely occurs because 9 times out of 10 I have a meeting, parent, call or student making up work).
3:00-3:30pm ~ retrieve milk from shared fridge and bring pump and milk back home for the millionth time in lunch bag that has extra cooler pack in it.
4:30/4:45 pm ~ feed B
4:50 pm ~ optional meeting of hubs at the gym to exhange kids AND MILK so he can put in fridge at home.
I have even taken the bag of milk in the gym locke rroom or to T's taekwondo practice with me to avoid it sitting in a warm car.
6:30 pm ~ make decision on ultimate usage of said pumped milk. There are three options: 1. freeze for future use 2. become part of bottle I provide MIL fresh every morning or 3. become part of new homemade baby food I make. (most often 4 oz are part of tomorrow's fresh bottle, 2 left for babyfood & 4-6 are frozen)
7:00 pm ~ deconstruct pump and leave parts in sink to wash after kids go to bed
7:30/8:00 pm ~ feed B
9:00/9:30 pm ~ wash pump parts, bottles, lids, etc
10:00 pm ~ set up pump for single instead of double pump (again!) & set out parts to dry for tomorrow
11:00 pm ~ optional pump session (if needed)
11:15 pm ~ trapse back upstairs, sneak into B's room to plug in pump ready for morning
Start all over again!
I'm exhausted! I want to quit! Why don't I? Because I truly believe that breastmilk is the best form of nurishment for MY baby (that's just my own perrogative). It's important to me that I continue as long as I can. Minor victory that I made it to my goal of 6 months ::does happy dance::...now it's 1 week at a time! ::deep breath::
You are AMAZING! Your dedication is truly remarkable. Way to go mama!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mrs. G! I'm growing weary...but taking it one day at a time! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll admit, I've taken the little cooler full of pumped milk into the gym with me to avoid leaving it in a hot car, too.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how you do it - getting up at 4:30 every day. For me 5:45 has been rough. You are doing an amazing job!
Wow, that is impressive!
ReplyDeleteI breastfed mine, but pumping... ugh. That didn't really work for me.
Big props to you for keeping this up!