Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Pump Up the Jam

Sunday was such a fun day! I had a last minute photo shoot to do in a town a little over an hour away. I had been waiting for a new baby to arrive, and got the word he came on Monday, so Sunday morning I headed to their house for a newborn shoot. It was so awesome, but made for a very long and tiring day. I was gone so long that it had been about 7 hours in between pumping sessions. By the time I got home and hooked up to the pump I was completely engorged and had multiple clogged ducts - again. *sigh*

The thing that is so frustrating about clogged ducts (aside from the pain factor) is that the solution to them is so random, and finding it so very painful. This time around it took me all afternoon Sunday and all DAY Monday to get the clogs out. I spent over 24 hours doing warm compresses, HOT compresses, hot showers, massaging and PUMPING (my goodness the pumping!) trying to get the darn things to budge, and my poor, poor bewb [creative spelling courtesy of Lotus] just got bigger and more misshapen. (I'm sorry for the ick factor of this post - but this is something I do want to remember someday)

I don't know what actually did the job, but at about 4:30 Monday afternoon, it felt like someone stuck 20 hot needles in my bewb and suddenly the rocks were gone. For two days now I have been dealing with those hot needles - poking me at random moments and freaking me out. This hurts people!!

It's getting better, but my supply really took a hit. Now I have the lovely task of building it back up again. Guess what does that?

Pumping. Lots and lots of pumping.

*sigh*

I said I would try for 3 months and I made it that far with no problem. I thought by then things would be easier - but it seems to be just the opposite. Now I have almost made it to 4 months and my new goal is 6 months. Actually no, that's not right - my new goal is to make it through our vacation.

We are going on vacation soon; 10+ days of driving across country with kids and extended family in tow.

Have I mentioned that I am completely INSANE??!?

Yeah, I have no clue how this whole pumping thing is going to work out. But I am going to give it a go, and if it is the beginning of the end then so be it. I am really quite scared of the whole thing. But I know it will work out in the end, no matter what happens.

So, in the interest of retaining a fraction of my sanity, does anyone have any traveling-with-small-child tips?

I look forward to hearing from you. The comment button is below. Right there, see it?
Thanks!

Until,
D :)

6 comments:

Jill said...

I am in the midst of posting my 17 hours road trip on my blog. Main tips: news toys, and cool stops! Are you more concerned about Kiddo or Port? Babies are harder, particularly breast fed, you stop on THEIR schedule!! Forces you to stop a lot. I did do that once with JM at 4 mths or so. Both my girls traveled great this time though. I bet Kiddo will be a great helper!

Julia said...

I've flown with Chloe internationally before she was 2, and the only thing that kept my sanity was to bring a bag of new (toss & go) toys from the dollar store and lots of DVDs for the portable DVD player. Does your breast pump have a car adaptor by any chance? You can probably pump while hubby drives. I've done that before, and just kept a small cooler in the car to store the milk. If yours does not, you're more than welcome to borrow mine.

Jennifer said...

DVD player!!! And kudos to you for pumping this long! I still don't know how you do it.

Lotus (Sarcastic Mom) said...

Pumping is SO hard! I am going to say a little prayer for you. Sore BEWBS are no fun. :-)

Victoria said...

Bourbon. Lots and lots of bourbon.

Mollie said...

I second Vick ;)