Boosted!

Though it may not seem like a big victory, I feel like sharing how my pump-esteem has been boosted. Since returning to work full time, I have been pumping four times per day, in part to make sure I get out the ounces I need for my little one and in part to make sure I am continuing to stimulate my supply. However, I have had the occasional day when I was only able to pump three times. One of those days happened last week, but I was still able to get out the ounces I needed plus a little extra. So I decided to try an experiment and see if that trend would continue and so far, IT HAS! I have been getting out my ounces and for the most part, I have had a little extra. We will see if this continues and if I see production drop, I'll reincorporate that fourth pumping, but it feels really good to be balancing what my daughter needs with a simplification in my working day. While I will pump as long as she needs me to, it isn't exactly my favorite thing to do so if I can do it less with the same results, I will.
At the same time, I don't want to be negative about the act of pumping. While plastic flanges aren't the same as having your baby cuddled up to you, it does give you reason during the day (or night depending on when you work) to be entirely "mom". The American workplace isn't famous for being supportive of families, but if you are pumping at work, then that is changing and you are part of the change. Plus, you get the emotional boost of knowing that you are providing for your baby not just financially but also physically and nutritionally while you are still at work. That is huge and you should eek every bit of comfort you can out of that thought. And who knows, maybe thinking about it that way will even help your letdown a bit more.

Final side note: the term "letdown" - prior to breastfeeding, this had nothing but negative connotations as it meant one was disappointed, but now it's what your baby wants and needs, even when he or she doesn't know what to call it. Funny how parenthood and breastfeeding can even change the English language.....