Woah.
I didn’t mean to disappear for a week, but I guess that’s what happens when you add a baby + pumping regimen to an already-full work life, or a nearly-full-time job to home life with 2 big kids + a baby. It has been an adjustment, to say the least.
Work me vs Home me:
Yes, that’s a bathroom pic on the left – not sure where else to take work selfies . . .
I’m smiling in both pictures, but there has been plenty of stress and fatigue.
taken at the end of my niece’s bday party. napping.
I only have a few minutes before the kids are up, but to summarize:
– My full patient days are HARD when pumping is added to the mix. I had my first ‘real’ one Tuesday and have another one today. Having Wednesday off in the middle was really helpful (I used my day off to finish my notes!), but unfortunately not all of my weeks are structured like that.
– I am pumping 4x/day (1 before work, 3 at work). No, still not pumping on commute, but I may try it next week (in the AM). I have been able to make enough every day. I have decided NOT to pump on days that I am not working. It’s just better for G and my own sanity, because otherwise she’s playing catchup all day. Reminding myself that the goal is to make ENOUGH, not feed the freezer. I have a reasonable stash already.
– G seems to be doing better overall — she had gone through a really fussy phase in the evenings that was REALLY stressing me out. But the last few nights have gone well. Last night she went to bed at 6:45 pm (though I did top her off at 7:15 pm when she cried, but she went right back down).
– I have several big work projects that I’m excited about. I am looking forward to July when I am officially 25% GME (graduate medical education).
– MATCH DAY IS TOMORROW! We found out our program filled (fantastic news for a brand new program!) on Monday.
– I have made the decision to really push hard on the pumping until June, when G will be 6 months. Then I will re-evaluate. This means keeping other commitments fairly minimal (workouts, nights away, conferences, etc).
– Don’t worry, blog / podcast aren’t going anywhere 🙂 But there may be fewer posts for a while. Laura was very smart and basically forced us to get a month ahead in the podcast recording department, so this will be a bit slower for a while too. (Although I still love receiving your questions! Keep them coming, we’ve got several slated for upcoming shows already!)
– I basically have to go to bed at 9 pm if I have work the next morning. Accepting this as the new normal. For now.
We will figure it out. Together.
CLEARLY RELATED.
(interestingly — to me anyway — A&G have the same hair + skin tone; C is my outlier!)
8 Comments
You are doing awesome! My goal was also 6 months for both my kids. I did manage that although just barely with my second. I remember reading somewhere that almost all of the immunity benefits happen in those first six months. After that you deserve to cut yourself some leeway and because it is so intense with work and pumping to be ok with whatever you choose.
I love the pictures I have of my son holding his sister when she was a baby. Until he figured out having a sister is not always fun. 🙂
Ha! Annabel seems to be pretty much in the fun camp! Cameron is undecided . . .
Aww. Just remember, this IS hard, so don’t feel badly about thinking that it’s hard (does that make sense?). I’m glad G moved past her fussy stage; I believe that 12-14 weeks coincides with a stormy period in the Wonder Weeks and a growth spurt. Perfectly timed for moms to go back to work! We had the same thing going on with B at that age, too.
As for pumping for 6 months – you can do it, and it’s so reasonable to want to decrease/quit after that! I dropped from 3x at work to 2x at work when B turned 6.5 months and I am SO much happier and work feels less hectic. I also started a bottle of formula at that point (even tough I still have a decent freezer stash) just so that he’d be used to it and I’m planning to drop another pump in a few weeks. We’re still going strong with our morning and bedtime nursing, and I can feed him about once a day on the weekends. He also still nurses for comfort when he’s sick or tired, which is also really comforting for me to know that we can bond that way even if he’s not necessarily getting nutrition. I hope you can find a good middle ground.
I read a study recently about how breast milk has a sugar that cow’s milk does not that is exclusively used by a beneficial gut microbe that is good for immunity, but the benefit is about 6 months and once a baby starts to eat more solids their gut microbiome becomes more heterogeneous and that bacterium becomes less dominant/important. Interesting! I read it on the plane to my work trip in San Diego and I instantly felt less guilty for adding in some formula at 6.5 months 🙂
You have been such an inspiration to me (and I’m sure so many others!), and I always really appreciate your honestly in the great times, as well as the challenging moments. Sounds like you are adjusting to all the many recent changes quite well!
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Taking care of a baby closely is a waste of time and time.
Exclusive pumper here – I have the Spectra S1 (battery) and pumping and driving has saved me so many times. Try it!! Once you drop to 2 pumps at work it”ll become much easier. My mantra is that every month will become easier – and it”s true!
it”s hard to be a professional in a demanding job while having 3 little ones at home. You”re doing great and I love reading your blog!
Thanks so much Jillian! I’m going to try the AM car pump and see what I get — will report back! But I think maybe for non-exclusive pumpers might not be as fruitful because I will have JUST fed G (and pumped before that at 4-5 am after the prior feeding). But worth a shot . . . I guess even an oz is valuable!!