Dear Doula,
I’m an exclusively pumping mom.
I knew from the very beginning that I wanted my baby to have breastmilk, but I didn’t want to nurse.
The idea of a baby being on me constantly for months didn’t spark joy in me the way it does in some women. Truthfully, after 39 weeks of this baby taking up space inside me, sharing my body for another year sounded overwhelming.
And it’s important for me that my partner be involved in the feeding. Or really, anyone else that wants to love on my son. I don’t want to be the one responsible for it all the time.
Anyway, my point is that I didn’t want to nurse my baby. And we haven’t.
My husband, my mom and I alternate the bottle feeding, and I pump every 3-4 hours. Some days he’s fussier than others. But it seems like my supply has matched what he’s needed, and he’s regained his birth weight.
It’s been a good two weeks. Truth be told, I’ve ended up with a baby on me plenty, but I like the snuggles.
What I don’t like is all of this bottle washing and sterilizing breast pump parts.
I’m a bit of a germaphobe, so we sterilize every day. We boil the pump parts and the bottles in water, and let them dry. I didn’t think it’d be a big deal- it’s just boiling water, right. But it’s an entire additional project on top of the pumping routine. It takes up so much time, and I’d rather just chill.
But if I don’t do it, I’ll worry about if things are clean enough.
Any recommendations? (Other than to just nurse, please. I know I’m choosing the “hard way” but that’s not the issue.) There has to be a better way than spending as much time at my sink, as with my baby boy.
Signed,
Tired Exclusively Pumping Mama
Dear Tired,
Congratulations! You made a baby, and you’re keeping it alive. With your body! Whoa! I’m pretty sure you’re amazing.
I’m also pretty sure that you must have gotten a lot of crap for exclusively pumping, because you laid out all of your reasoning for it. For the record- you don’t owe that to anyone.
I trust that exclusively pumping is the right choice for your family. You’re good.
I also empathize. As a postpartum and infant care doula, I’ve boiled plenty of baby bottle and breast pump parts. It can be intense. And I specifically pack lotion in my bag to account for the drying affects of scrubbing washing nipples every 3 hours. Solidarity sis.
Thankfully though, there are other ways to do this.
How do you feel about gadgets? I’m going to guess okay because you’re taking a modern approach to feeding your son. So, here are a few tools that may help:
I recommend a set of microwave steam sterilizer bags.
Several brands make them. We often see our clients with the ones by Medela. Each bag can be used 20 times, and it’s much simpler than boiling your breast pump’s duck bill valves and trying to fish them out of the point. These are also very portable, for the days when you’re pumping at work or out with friends.
As an alternative to the bags, some people prefer an electric sterilizer, like this one from Tommee Tippee. They’re great if you have the counter space.
Or, if you have an Instant Pot pressure cooker, you can use it to sterilize bottle parts too!
I know we’re talking about sterilizing, but you also must be washing baby bottles constantly too. Did you know that you can use the dishwasher?
There are lots of baskets that hold baby bottle parts so that they don’t fall to the bottom of the dishwasher and melt. But this net is my favorite. It’s the same green as the grass bottle drying mat that everyone seems to have (same company, makes sense), and I like color coordination! Plus, it can be used as your infant becomes a toddler to hold onto those little bowls and plates.
Hopefully this helps. I know you may still be a tired mama, but know this- both technology and your doulas are on your side.
Now go chill!
Sam
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