One of the reason why I could continue for so long is due to the facilities we have in our company (some credits have to be given to my understanding male bosses too). Some pro-breast feeding mums have persuaded the company and 2 rooms have been allocated for nursing mums, with a fridge too to store our supplies, long before Zara was born.
I have used these rooms for 14months now (1st 3 months at home enjoying my maternity leave). This is where I met Two Little Fellas, and some other nursing mothers; separated by a thin wall, we exchanged breastfeeding and parenting tips
On months when we have lots of new mummies who'd just returned from maternity leave, the rooms are occupied most of the times (sometimes a queue is formed). After a while, a new 'user' settles into a pattern, and chooses a time she prefers, or to meet up with a particular mum so that she has someone to chat to while 'doing her business'.
I'm currently the mum with the oldest kid still using the room (too bad there's no trophies for this one). One by one I see mummies dropping off, and they asked me when it will be my turn to stop (oh, Daddy asked me the same question too). I don't know, maybe when Zara is 18 months or 2yrs old? Or when I get pregnant again? Or I have so little supply it's not worth expressing anymore?? Which ever comes first.
From 3 times a day in the beginning, I now settle with once a day starting of this year. At 4pm, with a good pump, a good book, 30minutes later, I emerge with 1 of Zara's feed for the following day.
You have done well. You can't breast feed forever, have to stop some day.
ReplyDeleteDon't tell me you have tears welling up in your eyes or I will **piak piak** you!
HAHAHA! King's wife, I like the way you wanna *piak piak* Zara's mummy in case she gets sentimental.
ReplyDeleteZara's mama, you are very fortunate to be working in a place where your employers are emphathetic towards bf mothers.
I had to pump in the Ladies! Imagine that! I worked full time too. Still I was able to bf exclusively for 15 months. So I am very proud of myself.
Just trying to relate, isn't it very liberating when you find that you are able to pump without pressure, knowing that you are giving it to Zara just cos' you still can, rather than you HAVE TO? :)
Your post does bring back memories. I knew so many mothers from my company through the pumping section. I really admire you for making it thru to 17th months. I didn't make it pass 8th months because I am just so lazy.
ReplyDeleteI really 'fuk jor lei', breastfeeding for so many months. Zara's so lucky.
ReplyDeleteI have been total breastfeeding my boy for 6 months and I thought I am a super cow. Now I know who are the super duper cows!!
ReplyDeleteAnd Fuzzoo, I am really impressed with the under your desk part.:)
hmmm, I wonder how long my mum bf-ed me for? Zara's a lucky gal to have all her mama's nutritions! I think like JoMel, the ladies where I work who breastfeed their babies need to use the ladies, unfortunately. we only have a small office with no private rooms. luckily only one lady is preggers at this time, she can have the ladies all to herself!
ReplyDelete*tries not to stare too long at the breast pump!*
ReplyDelete*but it does look so Hi-Tech!! Built-in iPod too?*
*my eyes are getting heavier*
*so are my arms*
*and my head*
*ZONK!!*
....because I was so distracted, I forgot to say what I really wanted to say, which is... "ahhh, I love toilet pictures...."
ReplyDeleteKing's Wife,
ReplyDeleteNo la.. won't cry.. already so long.. and she already has this very strong bond with me.. breastfeed or not..
Jomel,
Wow, you pumped in the toilet and still can sustain 15months of exclusive breast feeding!! Terror! And my friend complained first week of returning to the office, it's so inconvenient to pump in the toilet and gave up.
A pat on your shoulder! You did really well!
Yup, I like it that I WANT TO DO IT, instead of I HAVE TO DO IT.
Michelle,
I upgraded my pump when Zara was 6mths old.. so that was the motivational factor too, that I must go on, to get my money's worth. :P You did well too, 8mths is long.
Jefferene,
How come you have another profile name?? Lazymama? Jefferene nicer la.. and you are not lazy wut!
Fuzoo,
Pump under the desk? How? No peeping toms?
Tracy,
I'm also lucky mah, some babies don't like taking the breast once they find that bottle can do the same, and faster flow and more consistant.. Zara likes it.. so just continue.
Amanda,
Well done! Keep it up. Now set yourself the next target. Zara was exclusively breast fed for ~13mths then later, I introduced one formula feed per day for her that's because my supply is dwindling.
May,
Good that you ladies understand she needs to use the ladies for giving food to her baby. Some people will not understand and will complain when nursing mum occupied the toilet cubicle for too long.
LB,
Huh? Toilet pictures?? This is nursing room pictures la.. not toilet.
You can stare for as long as you want, it's man's greatest invention for working mothers.. and it's not entertainment related.. Unless you use it for other purposes..
You know when I wanted to buy the pump and key in the something breast pump in google search, a few porn sites actually popped up.. Haha.
Wow that device looks so industrial. But it is good for Zara.
ReplyDeletehave to be careful with this post. Everytime I saw bf I kept thinking boy friend. keke
Off topic: Are you still having problems getting my voice post? I can try and email it to ya.
Jerry.Blakemore@brazosport.edu is my email at work. I tried to send from home to someone else but my firewall killed it.
I breastfed two of my younger kids till they were 3. I didn't need to use the pump cos' I'm with them all the time. The only caveat is, I've graduated from a mole hill to an airport runway ... ;)
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I don't think kids really need it after 1.5 years if they are eating other food as well. But it's not easy to wean off (if you don't put a foot down), and even harder for the mothers to become unattached to the bonding breastfeeding has provided.
Yup, your supply is really low. It sounded like a good time to wean off.
You have indeed done so well for little zara. She must be proud of having a mother like you caring so much for her. Keep it up! :-)
ReplyDeleteI also used to pump in the ladies during office hour. Got to schedule my pumping time to those less 'trafic' time or after the bosses go out. :( However starting last year Dec only direct breastfeed LLS before go to work and at night as a measure to slowly wean him off.
ReplyDeleteoh, pity those poor tits.
ReplyDeleteI really like your persistence. Something I didn't have when I was breastfeeding. That's why it was only about 3 months. There were lots of problems then and I just didn't have the will power to sustain. I still feel guilty and it doesn't help that my husband sometimes reminds me of it.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness your company is understanding and you can continue for so long. You get a trophy from me for that too!
Good thing you have understanding bosses and a place to pump. Already a breastfeeding mum has to go through lots of difficulties, pressures and lack of support from many angles and having to pump in the toilet is really sad but if we have to do it, we just do it for the sake of our babies.
ReplyDeleteI truly salute and envy Zara.. for having such an ardent/zealous mummy like yourself.
ReplyDeleteI myself did not breastfeed chloe.. and it was my greatest regret.
thumbs up, mummy
ReplyDeletei breastfed karen for oni a month..then 6 weeks after delivery , i went back to work.. no such facilities at the work place la..and oso , the main thing was , i was very lazy..*slap myself*..
ReplyDeleteHahahaa..., thot I was the only one who would pump in toilet. Colles used to tease me when they hear the pumping sound. In the end, I decided to use the handicap toilet. At least I can have some peace to finish off my business.
ReplyDeleteno wonder i see you carrying soo many things when you go into the office!
ReplyDeletewahh..the room looks very nice huh. I never go there cause was so lazy to walk so far. I just did the job in the toilet hahaha...
ReplyDeletethat's a big bag u have for all ur milk, and a double pump too!! Cool. BTW, how u transport the milk home? U got a cooler with ice packs?
Wow!! 17months! I breastfeed Damien for about 6months, my supply just dwindle...
ReplyDeleteLucky Zara...and it's great that your co. is very supportive of breastfeeding mummies..:)
Good time to stop. Especially if you want to consider getting pregnant again. I wish you all the best.
ReplyDeleteeverything so hi-tech. the room so hi-tech, the equipment so hi-tech. 17 months is really long.... I am also pumping once a day and am wondering how long I can last. To wean off very heart-sick lah... Eryn is now 10 months old
ReplyDeleteha,ha,ha- your post just reminds me of those days. actually i'm one of the earlier bf mum b4 the room were set up. Since REWs sit at my flr, i bug him almost on a daily basis to get the nursing room up and running asap back then.
ReplyDeletei still remember when he 1st took me to have a look at the room (not rooms), he intend to put some tables and comfortable chairs in the room and my 1st reaction- "pls don't expect mummies to pump conveniently staring at each other, we need more than one room" and that's when it hit hm that we need smaller but very private room.ha,ha- man-ma, this type of things never occur to him.
btw dear, i noted that your gears are soaked in hot water. there are easier ways. you see, milk don't spoil under cold temperature. so, what i did is- after pumping..rinse with drinking water (av'ble in office)..put the bottles and pump inside a ziplog bag and store in the fridge until the next pump. will only wash with detergent and sterilise at the end of the day at home.
ReplyDeletesince ziplog bag is so much smaller than a tupperware, you can store it on top of the carrier bag (i'm using the same pump). i got the tips from someone in kellymoms.
WOw! I admire your persistence. I'm one of those who stopped after 3 months of breastfeeding. Just too dead tired to continue.
ReplyDeleteGoodness. The sight of your machine made me SNORT out loud at work. Then I had to pretend to cough. My co-workers are probably wondering what kind of work I'm doing that is soooo funny.
ReplyDeleteWow...ur work place is sooooo good to have such facilities! *envious*
ReplyDeleteMy boss says if I get preggy again and needs to pump, he can only lend me his personal fridge for storage...as for pumping...I need to source for a location myself...most likely the toilet :(