Done
After more than 14 months of pumping for Emma, I pumped for the last time this morning.
I'm done.
It's the right time to stop.
Still, I'm a bit sad.
At first, when Emma was so sick and small and fragile and we couldn't even hold her, supplying the breastmilk that she was given a cc at a time seemed the least, the only thing, I could do for her. So I pumped.
Eventually, as Emma slowly got bigger, she was able to breastfeed a bit, but it was hard work for her and she tired quickly and, as typical for micropreemies, she needed to be bottlefed, at least part of the time. So I pumped more.
Later, we discovered that Emma was aspirating, so we had to start thickening her milk which made breastfeeding impossible. So I pumped even more.
Pumping became part of our family routine. Big Sister still asks if I have to pump before we go anywhere :) I pumped while camping. I pumped on vacation. I pumped while we were driving down the Transcanada Highway [sorry, fellow travellers, you might have got more than an eyeful on your summer holiday on the east coast :)] Thank goodness for the Medela Pump In Style electric pump. For a long time, I was attached to that thing 6 to 8 times a day. And the freezer was full of bottles and bags of expressed milk.
Once we got the O.K. from her pediatrician, we started Emma on cow's milk (she's currently drinking 1/2 cow's milk mixed with 1/2 breast milk) and I cut back on my pumping schedule. Since then my supply has been steadily decreasing. Emma is also eating more and more solid food and she's just not as interested in bottlefeeding anymore. And, I'm meeting up with some of my favourite Mommy Friends in a few days for a Mom's Only Weekend in Toronto and I'd really like to go without my pump.
So tomorrow, for the first time in 430-some days, I won't be pumping.
Pumping is hard work.
But look at this face:
It was so worth it.
I'm done.
It's the right time to stop.
Still, I'm a bit sad.
At first, when Emma was so sick and small and fragile and we couldn't even hold her, supplying the breastmilk that she was given a cc at a time seemed the least, the only thing, I could do for her. So I pumped.
Eventually, as Emma slowly got bigger, she was able to breastfeed a bit, but it was hard work for her and she tired quickly and, as typical for micropreemies, she needed to be bottlefed, at least part of the time. So I pumped more.
Later, we discovered that Emma was aspirating, so we had to start thickening her milk which made breastfeeding impossible. So I pumped even more.
Pumping became part of our family routine. Big Sister still asks if I have to pump before we go anywhere :) I pumped while camping. I pumped on vacation. I pumped while we were driving down the Transcanada Highway [sorry, fellow travellers, you might have got more than an eyeful on your summer holiday on the east coast :)] Thank goodness for the Medela Pump In Style electric pump. For a long time, I was attached to that thing 6 to 8 times a day. And the freezer was full of bottles and bags of expressed milk.
Once we got the O.K. from her pediatrician, we started Emma on cow's milk (she's currently drinking 1/2 cow's milk mixed with 1/2 breast milk) and I cut back on my pumping schedule. Since then my supply has been steadily decreasing. Emma is also eating more and more solid food and she's just not as interested in bottlefeeding anymore. And, I'm meeting up with some of my favourite Mommy Friends in a few days for a Mom's Only Weekend in Toronto and I'd really like to go without my pump.
So tomorrow, for the first time in 430-some days, I won't be pumping.
Pumping is hard work.
But look at this face:
It was so worth it.
posted by Laurie at 21:32
6 Comments:
Bittersweet congratulations are in order. Huge milestone for you all. But Oh. My. Goodness...gotta go see that face (and those cheeks!) again!
See ya soon ;)
Way to go Laurie, you should be so darn proud of yourself. I wasn't able to pump exclusively for nearly as long as you and I felt as though I was attached to the pump. Heck, yours was practically an honorary member of the family!
We need to celebrate your dedication! You are a true supermom. As one who pumped for 6 months I can so truly appreciate al the hard work you put into this.
So pack that beast up and enjoy being done with this stage in your life!
You're an amazing woman, Laurie. Congratulations on pumping so long. Emma looks wonderful and has obviously thrived on mommy's milk.
Oh Laurie...What a beautiful face and I'm not sure that every mom could do it. WHICH makes you my supermom.
We did have a good time this past weekend didn't we.
Hugs
Oh So worth it! Beautiful girl.
Post a Comment
<< Home