The Yellow Beauty :: My Relationship with my Pump

We meet again. It’s been a little over 5 years since I’ve seen you. Your noise is unforgettable and your bright yellow color is as vibrant as before. What am I referring to? It’s my Medela pump.

I pumped for 6 months with my middle son and I won’t lie, it wasn’t my favorite thing to do. It was quite the labor of love, and I’m now back at pumping for my baby, Luke.

Every 3 hours or so, I put on my favorite pumping bra, grab something to drink and attach myself to this yellow beauty whether I want to or not. 

I’ve pumped multiple times day and night over the past 6 months. Some of those times I would be in tears (cue NICU stay), barely able to keep my eyes open or trying to bottle feed my newborn while pumping at the same time (it is a juggling act).

pump

Our relationship is for sure one that is both love and hate. I love how this pump gives me the ability to express milk to feed to my baby when latching wasn’t possible when he was a little 1 pound micro-preemie attached to multiple wires. However, the time commitment is one that I don’t love. 

I’ve approximately been hooked up to this pump a thousand times. ONE THOUSAND TIMES. The amount of time I pump is between 15-30 minutes each time. This blows my mind. Over these countless hours, I’ve played games on my iPad, watched Friends on Netflix, and I don’t even want to know the amount of time I’ve wasted on Facebook and Instagram.

My yellow pump and I spent many hours pumping in the bed post surgery in the hospital, bedside in the NICU, a couple times in the car, and our favorite spot … the corner of my bedroom.

While our relationship is surely love and hate, I’m grateful for this modern machine to be able to grow my 1lb 11oz micro-preemie to the thriving 6 month old he is today.

Are you a pumping mom? Do you love it or hate it?

Mary Olivio
Mary is a caffeine addicted boy mom to Noah, Liam and Luke. This “stay at home” mom can typically been found cruising in her minivan, jamming to Beyonce with a Starbucks in hand on her way to carpool or after school activities. Mary has been married to her high school sweetheart since 2007. She is a founder of Delivering Hope NOLA and the Vanessa Wolff Scholarship Fund at her Alma Mater. Mary is passionate in the local preemie community and has been heavily involved with the March of Dimes since her sons Liam and Luke were born premature.

2 COMMENTS

  1. I know that life and those feels! I’m 10.5 months into pumping for my little girl, after she was born 6 weeks early and also spent 4 weeks in the NICU. I’ve got no end in sight, as I plan/hope to continue for a good while longer, but I also am extremely grateful to be able to provide this for her. Thankfully, I’ve gotten to the point where I only need to pump about every 5-6 hours, and can sleep through the night, and still meet her daily need. My relationship with my pump is pretty special, and crazy as it sounds, I imagine I’ll miss it one day.

  2. I love nursing at home and on the weekends but pumping in my car (I work home health) is a chore! I’m fortunate that I make enough for him so I try to keep my complaining to a minimum because when I think about it I want to quit! ?

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