Well I may be done. I’ve had a raw spot on one side where the flange rubbed wrong last week. I thought it was getting better but tonight there was blood immediately upon pumping. I may try again in the morning (or just enough to relieve the pressure) but if that’s not happening, I guess I’m done. Not how I planned it, but I’m not dealing with bloody breast milk when he’s drinking straight cow’s milk twice a day.
@CoolWife are you using the “brick” storage method? Freezing the bags completely flat in even numbers (like 5oz bags) and then grouping them in large ziplocks so it totals 50oz and forms a brick? It can save space that way.
Yes @moose we are, mostly. I freeze it flat in 6oz bags and then stand them on end in bins. On top of that we put ziplocks of more. @Comet that’s looking like what I’ll do. Plus maybe drop a pump. If I can still get 30oz pumping 6 times then I’m happy with that. I just asked at the milk room and I have 8 bins with about 90 bottles each. 32,000ml.
Thanks Google, that’s about 8.5 gallons in bottles that hold less than 3oz. Doesn’t seem like that much for as much of my life as it took to produce, but also fuck that’s a lot of bottles.
It’s bittersweet and freeing and sad and relief and nostalgia and everything in between. And that’s ok.
Good Jeff Goldblum I am starving. I had two pop tarts and a frapp at like 6:30 and 3 hours later imma chew my arm off. Breakfast better hurry. C2 is way more into eating than C1 ever was, so yay. He’ll nurse for up to 30min after his bottle. A little frustrating because he still can’t even come close to it without a shield, but whatever. And they want him on fortified feeds for 6wks+ after we leave. Which means pumping and mixing and ugh I don’t wanna. It’s short term, it’s not forever, I just keep telling myself. But then I’m left with the same dilemma. Maintain a supply, for how long and how much? I don’t want to buy another freezer but if he’s taking 10oz and I’m pumping 40+ it’s going to be full next week, not counting all the stuff here.
Damn, that's awesome output though. How much total is he taking per day, BM and formula combined? Not considering whatever he gets from nursing of course. Maybe you could drop one of your pumps at least? I think I remember you saying you can't donate because of a med you're on, right?
Correct on the not donating. I’m pumping 5-6 times a day now. I’d expect my output to go down because I just went down from 7, but not yet. Right now he’s usually taking 1.5oz every 3 hours. So like 12oz a day. I think I’ll just ask an LC to stop by later. Hopefully it’s not the woman who told me to pump more! Longer! Power pump! Like ok but now...
@Rico Suave many ERs are at low census right now because people are afraid to go. Also, most hospitals and urgent cares are screening for covid and separating patients who may have it from those who are screening negative. Hopefully that helps bring the anxiety down some.
We had to go to the ER Sunday morning for C (he is fine), and they do have a lot of safeguards in place. They screened us outside - only one parent (me) could go with him and I had to wear a mask. They moved us into a private room immediately even though there was barely anyone else there. They did all testing and X-rays in that room so we didnt have to move about the hospital. I didn't see another patient the whole time we were there either. I understand the anxiety though. He needed to go, but it was definitely nerve wracking. I hope that you get in & out quickly and get some relief asap.
Ugh everything about that is my fear right now. I hope you get in and out safely and quickly, and that your mastitis resolves ASAP.
@Rico Suave I’m so sorry you’re going through that. Mastitis is so awful already, but to get it twice and with all the other circumstances, it’s too much. @Comet Sorry you had to go in but I’m very glad to hear C is okay and that they were so safe. I’ve been processing a lot of fear about hospitals and getting sick/preterm labor/something happening to E lately so it does help to hear how many safeguards they had in place when you went.
I hope you’ve been and you’re back and resting up! So sorry you’re dealing with this especially now. Even in normal times mastitis is awful.